I wanted to post on this blog to inform you of my
career and a career in the United States Army as a physical therapist. I have been a physical therapist for almost
10 years and have spent all of those years working in the United States
Army. The first thing that attracted me
to the Army was the fact that they paid for my initial physical therapy
education and paid me as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army. The Schooling was 2 years and provided me the
ability to deliver care to the soldiers and their families. There are differences between the practices
of physical therapy in the Army and in the civilian sector that make Army
Physical Therapy a valuable service to soldiers.
The
first difference is that Army therapists are able to order limited medications
necessary for management of the conditions referred to physical therapy. This ability allows us to provide all the
treatments necessary and does not requiring us to refer back to your physician,
saving money and time. This ability is given
with extensive training and under supervision of an orthopedic surgeon and
senior therapist. The real advantage of
this ability is being able to readily obtain medications for common rehabilitation
treatments such as iontophoresis and phonophoresis.
The
next difference is that Army therapists are able to order imaging necessary for
assessment of conditions referred to physical therapy further. This ability allows us to order the necessary
imaging without referral back to the PCM.
Extensive training on when to order, how to interpret, and where to
refer patients with conditions not treatable by physical therapy occurs with
regards to imaging. Additionally,
orthopedic surgeons provide supervision and mentorship. Senior therapists provide additional
supervision and guidance to newer therapist.
Finally,
therapists in the Army are trained in emergency medical conditions, especially
ones that may be encountered while deployed or in remote areas with Army
units. Emergency conditions include
wound management, dislocations, broken bones, and concussions. The training occurs over a 3-year period and final
supervision is through an orthopedic surgeon.
The number of emergency medical conditions encountered varies but
increases with deployments to war zones.
Army
physical therapists are working in infantry brigades and have been providing
care to deployed soldiers in OIF and OEF since the onset. In most deployed settings, the physical
therapy is the only orthopedic trained personnel that is available to see
patients with orthopedic and sports injuries.
Therefore, the extensive training beyond skills of a civilian therapist
is necessary in order to keep soldiers safe and able to continue to fight. This training has also enabled therapist to
help provide excellent care in the setting of universal healthcare present in
the military for decades. It has been my
honor to serve my country in the capacity of the physical therapist and the
Army has provided me with training that would cost an individual over 200,000
dollars. The only cost I have had to pay
is service to the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen of this country.
