Physical Therapy students provide pro-bono services to 25 Berks County residents

Third-year Alvernia University Doctor of Physical Therapy candidates provided pro-bono services to 25 Berks County community volunteers during the second annual American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Annual Visit for Older Adults. Students conducted a formal wellness screening and provided health and wellness recommendations to each patient.

"I registered, came in for the class and I was astounded," said Barbara Flowers, Berks County resident who volunteered as a patient. "They did a great assessment of what my deficiencies were. I didn't want to admit them, but I had them. And when I left, they were more in control. I wasn't at risk of falling, which is a problem for me... it didn't stop there because they gave me a packet to continue at home on my own."

The goal of this performance-based physical therapy education experiential learning opportunity is to promote the practical application of knowledge and the development of clinical skills to ensure that graduates will be prepared to have an immediate impact on the lives of others. In this case, individual screening visit results may lead to a referral for a physical therapist evaluation and treatment plan or to another health care professional depending on the potential health risks identified during the visit.

"I love working with people in the community," said Collin Barndt, a Doctor of Physical Therapy candidate, "It's also great to have first-hand experience to see how it is to interact with patients in the real world. When we work with just our classmates, it's a little tough to interact that way. It's always great to see the smiling faces of these people in the community when we work with them."