Student and Alumni Experiences
 |
“My cardio resp placement helped me understand the importance of movement health throughout one’s lifetime and my neuro placement really drove home the importance of focusing on function. Throughout my clinical placements, I learned a lot about different illnesses, post-op surgical protocols, and communicating with physicians, surgeons and other healthcare providers. I use these skills all the time working in a private practice MSK setting. My advice for students is to keep an open mind going into clinical placements and have some fun out there. As a student you are not going to know everything, just be yourself and remember you’re there to learn.” - Kevin Britton, MPT Program Class of 2022 |
 |
"The clinical placements were absolutely imperative to truly developing physiotherapy skills. It's one thing to read a textbook and understand the theory, but to be able to put the theory and technical knowledge into practice is a skill in and of itself and this learning happens during the clinical placements. They provide the opportunity to practice hands-on skills, interact with real patients, and learn from experienced physiotherapists. My advice is to ask a lot of questions of your clinical instructors and to not be afraid to practice your skills and make mistakes. It's easy to look to your clinical instructor for the answer or for the next step, but the best way to learn is to first try to problem-solve and give it a go on your own!" - Ali Mario, MPT Program Class of 2021 |
 |
"During my clinical placements, I had the opportunity to apply my theoretical knowledge in real-life scenarios, gaining practical experience in assessing and treating patients. These placements also allowed me to communicate with patients, understand their needs, and tailor my treatments accordingly. Overall, my clinical placements played a crucial role in shaping me into a competent and confident physiotherapist. One of my most memorable placements was working alongside skilled medical professionals in the Geriatric Evaluation and Management Program. It was a fast-paced environment, and I was able to witness a wide range of medical cases. The experience challenged me to think on my feet and reinforced my passion for helping others in times of need. A few words of advice: Be open to feedback and continuously strive for improvement." - Holton Charters, MPT Program Class of 2023 |
Our Program
Students in our Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) program complete a total of five (5) clinical placements varying in duration from one to six weeks. This comprises one third of the program curriculum.
Develop skills working with individuals across the lifespan and treating musculoskeletal, cardio respiratory and neurological conditions
Placements occur in rural and urban locations, private clinics, hospitals, acute and long-term care sites and in communities; students are responsible for covering travel and accommodation costs
At least 1025 clinical hours must be completed within a specific requisite mix to complete the program
A Clinical Instructor (CI) is assigned for each placement; this person provides support, guidance and feedback as you begin working with clients
Overview of Clinical Education
| Clinical Placement Course | Duration and Location | Learning Focus | Assessment |
| CP 1 |
November (1 wk) School of Rehabilitation Science |
Introduction to clinical placement sites and contexts Exposure to patient and family experience Introduction to ACP 2.0 |
This course serves as an introduction to clinical education; graded as pass/fail |
| CP 2 |
April-May (5 wks) Clinical site (focus on rural, regional, remote locations) |
Broad clinical experience Manage or help manage a number of patients with a variety of diagnoses |
Student will progress from 'Beginner Performance' to 'Advanced Beginner Performance' on ACP |
| CP 3 |
Jan-April (6 wks) Clinical site |
Basic assessment and program planning in core systems |
Student will progress from ‘Advanced Beginner Performance’ to 'Intermediate Performance’ on ACP |
| CP 4 |
Feb-March (6 wks) Aug-Sept (6 wks) Clinical site |
Understand unique needs of different patient populations or diagnostic groups | Student will progress from ‘Intermediate Performance’ to 'Advanced Intermediate Performance’ on ACP |
| CP 5 |
Oct-Nov (6 wks) Clinical site |
Manage an increasingly complex caseload with multiple comorbidities, increasing injury and illness severity and some selected cases from specialized populations |
Student will progress from ‘Advanced Intermediate Performance’ to 'Entry level Performance’ on ACP |
The following policies apply to the clinical education component of the Master of Physical Therapy program.
- Dress/Appearance for Clinical Practice
- Guidelines on Use of Electronic Communications and Social Media
- Immunization Requirements
- Professional Behaviours and Expectations
- Special Requests for Absence from a Clinical Placement
- Student Presentations on Placement
There are a number of prerequisites required ahead of a student beginning a clinical placement. These include CPR certification, WHMIS training, Criminal Record Check, Respirator Fit Testing, WCB Agreement, Confidentiality and Privacy training, Safe Moving Practices of Patients.
Prerequisite requirements are discussed in-depth with students at the program orientation and revisited throughout the MPT program.
The clinical placement agreement for all health science students in placements at Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) sites can be accessed here.
The following document must be completed by the student prior to the placement beginning:
Clinical placement expectations:
- Clinical Placement 2 Expectations
- Clinical Placement 3 Expectations
- Clinical Placement 4 Expectations
- Clinical Placement 5 Expectations
- Student presentations during clinical placements
Assessment of learning:
Evaluation of clinical placement:
Contacts
Loading...