Friday, December 30, 2011

Physical Therapy Education

Most people talk about keeping fit and undergoing therapy of different types but no one talks about giving therapy education. If the thought has ever crossed your mind, let's look at some of the things that can help you make up your mind fully about it. We will look at what it really means to be a physical therapist.

Physical therapy varies the world over, in great proportions too especially in the conditions treated and the level of independence in practice. You just have to see the variation across the world from the name only. Some refer to it as physical therapy, other like physiotherapy. These are the people who deal in areas such as wound care, geriatrics, respiratory, orthopedics, home care, neurology, pediatrics, sports and more.

People undertaking physical therapy educations are educated in comprehending the interaction of your body parts. The hands on approach that they are taken through start with examining, diagnosis and treatment of the current problem. You are then taught how to take care of yourself through exercises and using your body appropriately to acquire strength and motion while you avoid injury.

Modern physical therapists offer aid to everyone from infants to elderly on every part of the body. They are also advising on the appropriate posture and motion of the body in our work places, treating injuries, consulting on fitness and administering physical therapy even in the homes. There are no limitations. Once you complete your education, you can practice anywhere, anyhow.

A career in therapy can be very rewarding. According to trusted sources on salary reviews the average salary to be expected by a typical physiotherapist in the United States is $75,000. It is now common to find therapists able to command salaries in six figures especially by individuals who are involved in other activities bar the patient treatment. These activities could be teaching or owning a clinic.

There are too may good schools offering physical therapy degrees but the most important thing is to ascertain that the school you are considering to join is accredited in your region. Entrance into a physical therapy program is very competitive and in some instances demands a mark higher than one required to join a medical school though every application process is different in different regions.

Job description includes helping rehabilitate patients such as the accidents victims and people with disabling ailments such as low back pain and heart disease, fractures, head injury and cerebral palsy.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

How Educational Institutions Can Sustain Success For The Long Term

Three successful educational institutions are concerned about their recent gradual decline and the impending termination of government funding. Why were they originally successful; why has their success declined; and what should they do to reverse the downward trend?
As an education and business consultant, I conducted a review of three non-American educational institutions receiving American Government funding: (1) a private secondary school funded for seven years; (2) a private post-secondary college funded for nine years; and (3) a post-secondary independent institution funded for fourteen years. Due to the global financial crisis and the re-alignment of funds to the country involved, funding was to be terminated for all three institutions within the next twelve months.
In the initial years of funding assistance, there were virtually no competitors. All three institutions were leaders in their field with solid reputations and international respect. They still are. They produced top-class graduates who gained work easily. They still are. They brought international experts to their country as guest lecturers, whose advanced "free-thinking" knowledge was well sought after. They still are. Over eighty percent of graduates of each institution either continued their studies in America and Europe or gained leadership positions in private and government organizations. They continue to do so.
All three successful institutions took a downward trend in the previous two years. Their competitive edge waned, enrolments declined, the urgency to seek funding from other sources put a strain on lecturers, and attracting international guest lecturers cost more each year. Why? Conflict with their neighboring country made tourists and international investors nervous and the global financial crisis impeded the capacity of participants to afford elite, quality education. However, these two factors weren't the cause of the institutions' downward trend. The quality of courses, lecturers, training, and services did not decline - to their credit they all maintained their strict selection criteria. But they were all facing tough times amid continual and rapid government reforms.
The key factor is this: over the past ten years other institutions in the country emerged and existing ones strengthened, rising to nudge the three institutions off their unique perch. The three institutions no longer have a market niche, no longer have a monopoly on the delivery of education and training, and no longer enjoy a unique reputation. They are all under threat of losing their "number one" status in their field. Not only that, the funding provided by the American Government is due to cease.
Did complacency, lack of foresight, lack of innovation, or a rigid adherence to their niche market hamper their continued success? One of their failures was not being intimately familiar with their competition. By the time they realized that they had competition, it was almost too late. Institutions that are not successful spend time and money on becoming successful. Institutions that are successful at their outset often don't.
To address their downward trend, the institutions have been focusing on reducing their debt, re-locating to cheaper premises, providing shorter fee-paying courses, establishing programs outside their core business, aggressively marketing their core programs, fundraising, and writing submission for additional funding.
Should they stick with their niche or diversify? Should they offer more of the same or seek to innovate? Should they chase fads (become opporttnistic), do only the "tried-and-true" strategies, or re-define their business strategy? Should they now charge for services that were once free? Should they reduce or increase their fees? Should they become more homogenous within the market? Should they change or are they in danger of throwing the baby out with the bathwater? How good is progress if customers aren't buying into it?
With one year to the end of their main source of funding, now is the time to think and act strategically to reverse the downtrend before it becomes an irreversible decline and a disaster. What needs to happen? What do institutions need in these competitive and changing times?
1. Diversify: They need flexibility, diversity, and quality (of selection criteria, products, and services). Not only do they need to be responsive to the changing market, but they need to be "one step ahead" of ht - just like they were when they were first established.
2. Review Portfolio: Not only do they need to be innovative in course and service development, but they also need to discard, restructure or reinvigorate what has not been performing - and who have not been performing.
3. Review Management: They need to take a rigorous review of management - staffing, philosophies, goals, objectives, communication strategies, and roles and responsibilities (the "whole package"). This may involve making difficult decisions.
4. Plan for the Unexpected: They need to plan for the unexpected - plan for when activities don't go according to plan.
5. Monitor the Opposition: Monitor competitors to know where the institution is placed in terms of pricing, courses, parental influence, student performance, and student satisfaction in comparison with others.
6. Self-monitor and evaluate: They need to effectively and efficiently monitor and evaluate their own progress, either internally or through an independent external evaluator. Done effectively, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are not just fancy (and complicated) activities; they are useful in taking an honest perspective on what is working, what is not working, and why. M&E can determine benchmarks and set realistic targets. Then institutions can strategize how to reach their goals and objectives, step by manageable step. And they can continuously refine and improve their plans to keep one step ahead of the competition.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Why Should You Join Accredited Physical Therapy Schools?

Research has indicated that most of the deaths occurring today especially among young people are as a result of unhealthy lifestyles. People are no longer active in terms of physical exercises. This has in turn led to the emergence of serious medical conditions that continue to take a toll on people's lives. Experts argue that, unless people adapt to new, healthy lifestyles, this toll is definitely going to rise. The demand for more qualified physical therapists has also hit a top notch. You can actually achieve a lot by becoming a professional physical therapist. But how do you succeed in that? There is only one option; to join one of the best physical therapy schools.

For your information, there are very few accredited schools that offer training in corporeal treatment. This means that you have to be very careful about the kind of institutions you join. Some of these institutions are only interested in making a buck. They careless about the kind of training they offer to their students. To be sure, if you ever join these institutions, then you can count yourself a second class therapist. It is also worthwhile for you to learn about the benefits of joining accredited physical therapy schools so that you can make a well informed decision.

Importance of Recognized Physical Therapy Schools

• Quality training: There are many institutions offering courses in corporeal treatment. However, not all of them are reliable. To be on the safe side, therefore, you should join only the accredited institutions since you will be assured of quality training. Many people fail to join the well established institutions for fear of being overcharged. Though the amount of money you pay for training is a major factor, it should not hinder you from getting quality training that is likely to change your life forever.

• Learn from experts: Like in any other career field, physiotherapy requires special skills as well as enough experience to be able to perform ultimately. You can only achieve this by learning from experienced individuals who have worked in the same field for a considerably long period of time. In most cases, these individuals are only found in well established institutions. Thus, you have to be willing to make some financial sacrifices in order to get the right kind of training. It will pay in the end. The good thing about learning from professionals is that they will be in a position to break everything down professionally for easier comprehension.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Best Institution to Pursue a Nursing Degree

Nursing is one of the most secure careers in the modern world. As such, many people are looking for the best places to pursue a good nursing degree program. Today, there are many institutions offering this program. However, not all of them are suitable for every one to pursue their career dreams. Choosing a good institution where to pursue your dream is very important as it makes it easy for you to achieve your dreams. This will also enable you prepare for an adventure that will see you through endless professional growth. As such, you need to consider the following to ensure that you enroll for the best program:
• Make sure that you take the right program. This is because a student may choose to be a practical professional, a licensed practical professional or a registered professional. Basically, the opportunities one get after their graduation depends on their educational level.
• You also need to know which field you want to specialize in. this is very important as it will enable you to know which area to major in during your hospital practical. You will also know how to balance course work and class work. If you specialize in more distinct fields, you may be able to offer care to patients in the hospitals directly.
• You also need to consider your current competencies. This is because some fields allow students to pursue a nursing degree through an associate program. Students pick courses in this program during their extra schooling period. Such courses include microbiology where students can pursue courses like geriatric later. This implies that students have to spend extra hours in class.
• A student should also consider the reputation of institution they enroll for the program. This is because the most important thing is to ensure that you get the best education from your money. Therefore, make sure that you learn more about an institution before enrolling for their program. This will also ensure that you get education that will help you in future. Internet has made it easy to do such research. You can do more research online about an institution. Find out more about achievements of the institution. Are they successful? What do they say about the institution's programs? This will guide you in choosing the best institution.
• You also need to find out about the fee you need to pay for the program. Sometimes fee can be too much for some students. As such, they may need some funding from associate institutions. Find out if the institution you join has such affiliate institution. Know the modalities they have in place to help you pay for your fee.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6895309

Thursday, December 1, 2011

The Best Institution to Pursue Your Nursing Education

Many parents want their children to pursue well paying careers. Careers that will make it easy for them to get jobs without much hassle and earn money that will cater for the needs of their families. Nursing education is one of these careers being pursued by many people today. Nursing career has become very popular in today's world. This is because in some places, there have been reports on the shortage of professionals in this field.

However, getting a good and accredited institution where to pursue this career is very important. It will ensure that you get quality education that is very relevant in the realization of your career goals. As such, you need to consider the following when choosing the institution where to pursue your career:

• You need to ensure that the institution where you enroll for the program is accredited. This is very important because for any institution to get accreditation of relevant authority, it much meet required standards. As such, it will enable you pursue your dream career and relevant competency that will see you realize your dream professional goals.

• You also need to consider practicals available in the college where you enroll for your program. Make sure that it has sufficient clinical rotation to equip you or your child with adequate training as you prepare for your examinations.

• It is also important that you consider the overall performance of the institution. Find out how the students have been performing in examinations. Also find out about the success of graduates from the institution. This is very important because you are most likely going to perform like them once you join the institution.

• Also find out about the fee for the program. Nursing education can be costly for some people. This is because some programs can take one to eight years. Some institutions have special programs to help students in paying their fees. If you have such financial challenges, make sure that you know more about fee payment from the institution before enrolling for their program.

• If you want to pursue your career online, make sure that you consider the quality of the classroom. To know more about this, you can request for a demo. This will give you some knowledge of the online learning environment before you enroll for a program. Many institutions are also offering online courses in this field. This makes it easy to get this education with ease.