2008 Woodie Awards
Students work to improve patient care
Jessica Grogan
Issue date: 9/21/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
By Jessica Grogan
staff reporter
The UTC physical therapy department has partnered with area health centers to perform clinical research meant to improve the way patients are treated.
Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation and UT Health Science Center of Memphis have joined with the university to form the Rehabilitation Research Alliance of Chattanooga. The purpose of the alliance is to conduct research related to physical rehabilitation
According to physical therapy professor David Levine, the alliance has three main goals: refine rehabilitation interventions, contribute to the development of rehabilitation technology and improve graduate and postgraduate education and training in the rehabilitation professions.
Levine said [the alliance] is a huge contribution to UTC's faculty and students because it allows them to engage in clinical research.
Siskin Hospital donated one of their laboratories within the hospital, and the Chattanooga Group donated equipment for the research.
"These partnerships are rare because of the time and money involved, but they produce the greatest likelihood for meaningful research that has an impact on the quality of life," he said.
Susan McDonald, assistant professor of occupational therapy, said so far, UTC master's level students have been doing preliminary research and taking research courses.
She also said students will be helping with research designs and writing proposals, and in the fall, they will be able to participate even more in the studies.
Although the experience will benefit students and faculty at UTC, McDonald said the main goal of the research is to "improve patient care."
According to Nancy Fell, associate professor of physical therapy, two important studies will be conducted this year.
One involves the effects on sensory level stimulation on function and recovery in post-stroke patients.
The second deals with the influence of consistent exercise participation on quality of life in persons with disabilities.
Fell said the alliance will start working with a few patients this spring.
For more information on the alliance, visit the UTC physical therapy Web site at www.utc.edu/academic/physicaltherapy.
staff reporter
The UTC physical therapy department has partnered with area health centers to perform clinical research meant to improve the way patients are treated.
Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation and UT Health Science Center of Memphis have joined with the university to form the Rehabilitation Research Alliance of Chattanooga. The purpose of the alliance is to conduct research related to physical rehabilitation
According to physical therapy professor David Levine, the alliance has three main goals: refine rehabilitation interventions, contribute to the development of rehabilitation technology and improve graduate and postgraduate education and training in the rehabilitation professions.
Levine said [the alliance] is a huge contribution to UTC's faculty and students because it allows them to engage in clinical research.
Siskin Hospital donated one of their laboratories within the hospital, and the Chattanooga Group donated equipment for the research.
"These partnerships are rare because of the time and money involved, but they produce the greatest likelihood for meaningful research that has an impact on the quality of life," he said.
Susan McDonald, assistant professor of occupational therapy, said so far, UTC master's level students have been doing preliminary research and taking research courses.
She also said students will be helping with research designs and writing proposals, and in the fall, they will be able to participate even more in the studies.
Although the experience will benefit students and faculty at UTC, McDonald said the main goal of the research is to "improve patient care."
According to Nancy Fell, associate professor of physical therapy, two important studies will be conducted this year.
One involves the effects on sensory level stimulation on function and recovery in post-stroke patients.
The second deals with the influence of consistent exercise participation on quality of life in persons with disabilities.
Fell said the alliance will start working with a few patients this spring.
For more information on the alliance, visit the UTC physical therapy Web site at www.utc.edu/academic/physicaltherapy.
