Clinical education model for staff training in orthopedic manual therapy

We designed a clinical education model for training staff orthopedic physical therapists to provide basic skills in orthopedic manual therapy. The program evolved in a health maintenance organization, where a large number of patients with acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders receive care. As physical therapy became primary in the treatment of these patients, the staff needed to develop specialized clinical skill. We divided the program into four phases: Phase I--Lecture Series, Phase II--Evaluation of Clinical Skill, Phase III--Self-directed Study, and Phase IV--Re-evaluation. This clinical education assures the staff physical therapist of a supportive learning environment. The program enhances clinical development by identifying individual strengths and weaknesses and providing a positive framework for improvement and self-evaluation.