Starting the application

I have now begun to look closely at the application for credentialing a residency and going through the application resource manual that I accessed through the APTA website. These 2 documents are very extensive and a bit overwhelming but provide some examples for each section of the credentialing document that provide good insight into program development. This also helps to understand on a more global level what will be expected and involved in the credentialing process.

The owners of the clinic are working on the financial aspect of the residency so that we can figure out what we will offer a resident while taking into consideration the clinic and resident’s needs. We have also started a discussion about local physicians and surgeons that may be interested in participating in the program and what needs each person will be able to fulfill in accordance with the sports Description of Specialty Practice (DSP).

We have discussed as a clinic when we feel an appropriate start date would be for a resident being mindful of athletic schedules and PT school graduation dates to encompass appealing to a wide range of applicants. We have decided that early spring would be ideal as new graduates that finish school in December/January would be able to apply, and residents would be able to start prior to spring sports and not have to begin in the middle of a high school sports season. With this date in mind, I have started to develop an application for potential residents to fill out as we would like to have this completed and ready for distribution by early summer. This would allow us the ability to interview applicants in mid/late fall and then begin the program in February. Another advantage to this start date is that we could then submit our document for credentialing soon after with the hopes of being credentialed prior to our first resident graduating from the program. So with all of this in mind, it is my goal for the next week to research what other programs have included in the application and to determine any additional information we feel is of importance.

While keeping curriculum development in the back of our minds, we realize we will be able to meet all of the needs of the residency on one way or another. Therefore, we are starting to complete the credentialing application from the beginning in Section 1, rather than starting on Section 3 of the application that deals with the curriculum.

Jen Flug PT, DPT, OCS

Premier Physical Therapy and Sports Performance

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