Final Hours and Progress Update

As of right now I have about 13 hours spent doing work with and without my mentor signed off. I plan to do the rest of my hours by the rest of spring break fairly easily because of the surplus of free time I will have. So far what I have done with my mentor, is gotten a good understanding of physical therapy. I have sat in on about 8 appointments with real patients and real confidential situations, and observed and noted how a patient is led on their path to recovery. This includes having evaluation appointments to figure out what is wrong, and rehabilitation appointments to check in, and to demonstrate exercises that can better help rehabilitation. Outside of being with my mentor I have been provided with small assignments to do after school or on weekends. One example of this is that I had to watch a video of surgery for a total knee replacement, and also take notes on how a physical therapist would treat this patient, and how often these cases and others come up. My axis STEM product is going to be a rehabilitation plan for a total knee replacement, that me and my mentor composed together. So far the progress is going well and it is almost finished. The product connects with the project because it directly relates to what physical therapists do daily, developing plans and noting on their patients. I hope to have it all done by the end of spring break!

Project Update #1

Reflection- So far I have met with my mentor on four different occasions for a total of five hours. I have observed how he works with patients, and how an appointment with a physical therapist occurs.  On my first visit, it was during football season and I just met my doctor for the first time and we talked about the future of the project. The second visit was about a woman treating dizziness. The third visit was about a man recovering from a stroke. Finally my fourth visit was for two patients, and I observed another woman suffering from dizziness, and a man suffering form back muscle spasms and cramps. As I mentioned in my first blog post, the biggest hassle was playing football, and never having time to meet up until just recently. Another large hassle is that physical therapists do not work on weekends, and the only time I can come in is after school, or as I am planning on doing, coming in during a break. Some successes I have had so far are being able to meet up with my mentor after school very well since football finished, and actually getting the hang of what physical therapy actually consists of, which was one of my largest goals to begin the project. So far I have learned many things. About the path to becoming a physical therapist (college, high school classes etc.). The main format of an appointment. Some simple treatments, at least to the clients I have observed be treated. What being a physical therapist entails. Some traits that a physical therapist should have. And if this is actually something I should consider doing in life.

Some pictures of the inside of the establishment

Plan- During winter break I plan to get at least two hours each week, and continue to search for a patient that comes in every week to begin my recuperation plan project. I should be close to 3/4 of my hours by January. Once we do find a patient that I can continue to observe their appointments weekly, I will compose the recuperation plan with my doctor.

Here's me just hanging out. We are required to dress professionally.

Here are my hours so far:

My junior project

• description of your project-

My mentor is a licensed physical therapist that just recently graduated for the University of Southern California, the number one school for physical therapy in the whole U.S. Over the course of the months I will observe how he treats patients, and helps them recuperate. Once I have a general understanding, I will develop a recuperation plan for a patient with aid.

• what you've accomplished so far

So far I have only met and contacted my mentor twice, and we have not done any of the actual work yet. It has been very difficult to meet up due to the fact I have football every day after school, and physical therapists do not work on weekends. 

• what you will work on next

We plan to begin as soon as football is over in the recent weeks. I will contact him once again, and set up observation dates to start to obtain a general understanding of the field, and what I will be doing in the rest of my project.