Winter 2016 Clinical Education Update

A “New” Assessment Tool  is Now Web-based
There has been an extensive process by the National Association for Clinical Education in Physiotherapy (NACEP) to develop and test the Canadian Physiotherapy Assessment of Clinical Performance (ACP) to assess PT students in clinical education. NACEP has consulted the Academic Coordinators/Directors of Clinical Education and Academic Chairs/Directors at each PT school across Canada; interviewed experts, clinicians, recent graduates; and surveyed physiotherapists across Canada. We piloted the ACP in 10 schools across Canada in English and French from March – December 2013. The ACP demonstrated evidence of internal consistency reliability, construct validity and practicality and we feel we can confidently use the ACP to assess PT students in clinical education.

The ACP has replaced the Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI) which had been widely used prior to the development of the ACP. This year, the ACP is being rolled out in a fillable online version through HSPnet. Second year Dalhousie MScPT students have just completed their mid-placement self-assessments using this web-based version called 'ACPe.' Each student and clinical instructor received password protected access to a copy of the fillable form, and they worked on completing their assessments wherever they had computer access to the internet world-wide web. The clinical instructor chose to open a 'combined view' of theirs and their student’s ACP when they met to discuss the student’s clinical performance. The Dalhousie ACCE also had direct access to the completed assessments upon their submission. We’re excited about this major improvement in the distribution of the clinical assessment tool. The ACPe will also provide anonymous data collection nationwide which can be used for analysis to contribute to improvements in clinical education.

5 for 50 Challenge
The 5 for 50 Challenge promotion is here. For more information or to join the challenge, potential CI’s may contact the School's Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education, Ronald Renz at ronald.renz@dal.ca).