Geriatric Residency

The University of Minnesota Geriatric Residency has been in existence since 2010. We contract with two sites for the clinical practice aspect of the residency. The didactic curriculum is provided through the University of Minnesota by faculty and specialists/experts from the local community of therapists. It is accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) as a post-professional residency program for physical therapists in geriatrics.

This is a full-time residency program, with residents practicing four days per week in the clinic and one day per week devoted to the didactic curriculum. 

Timeline

The University of Minnesota's Geriatric Residency is a 12-month program, currently September 1 through August 31 of each year. Under special circumstances a resident would be able to start the 12 month period on January 2. The initial application cycle ends January 31st of each year. Interviews are scheduled in February and admission decisions are made by the middle of March. Our rolling application deadline allows people to apply after the January deadline if there are still placement slots available. The academic portion of the residency schedule follows the University of Minnesota academic calendar. 

Didactic Curriculum

The didactic curriculum runs concurrently with the clinical experience. It is designed with both weekly and program long modules. The module topics are drawn from the Description of Specialty Practice for Geriatric Physical Therapy, published by the Specialty Council on Geriatric Physical Therapy. This is the same document that is the basis for the geriatric board-certified specialty exam (GCS). ABPTRFE standards set a minimum of 300 hours for the didactic program.

The modules are taught by residency faculty who are either University of Minnesota academic faculty or are local clinical experts. About 20% of the modules are self study, the remainder are scheduled either in person or remotely with a faculty member and involve both lecture based and active learning. 

Written assignments are associated with monthly journal club, the research module, geriatric service learning assignment, a facility continuous improvement project, and a teaching lecture within the University of Minnesota DPT program. Each semester includes a live patient exam/evaluation with the resident’s mentor and a written content exam. 

Residents must successfully complete all components of the didactic curriculum in order to graduate from the residency program. 

1:1 Clinical Mentoring

The standards from ABPTRFE set a minimum of 150 hours of 1:1 clinical mentoring. Residents receive 1:1 mentoring on a weekly basis, generally in 4 hour sessions with a physical therapist who is either board certified in geriatrics, a graduate of an accredited geriatric residency, or who demonstrates significant and current clinical experience in geriatric physical therapy practice.  During this time, the mentor observes the resident during patient care (both evaluations and treatment sessions) and provides individualized feedback to the resident, both during and outside of direct patient care. Mentoring in a clinical residency requires an in-depth reflective process and active direction by the resident. 

University of Minnesota Student Status

Residents will be non-degree seeking graduate students at the University of Minnesota. The program requires registering for one 2-credit course each semester. Residents are guaranteed in-state tuition rates. As an enrolled student, residents are eligible for traditional University of Minnesota benefits which include full University library services.

Salary and Benefits

As an employee of the contracted clinical site, residents will earn a salary (commensurate with experience) payable at the employment percentage of .8 FTE.  As employees, residents earn benefits including malpractice insurance, health insurance, vacation, and holidays consistent with the specific clinical site's benefits package.

Upon successful completion of each semester, residents earn CEU credits for all of the didactic content from that semester. This totals more than 300 CEU credits which apply towards annual license renewal. Residents are eligible for student rate APTA membership. Other unique residency benefits include paid registration to the following conferences:

• MN Chapter APTA Annual Conference
• APTA Combined Sections Meeting
  
  • APTA Early Bird Rate for registration 
  • Travel assistance to CSM up to $500

Clinical Residency Defined

According to the APTA, a clinical residency is "a planned program of post-professional clinical and didactic education for physical therapists that is designed to significantly advance the physical therapist resident's preparation as a provider of patient care services in a defined area of clinical practice. It combines opportunities for ongoing clinical supervision and mentoring with a theoretical basis for advanced practice and scientific inquiry.

A clinical residency program is designed to substantially advance a resident's expertise in examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and management of patients in a defined area of clinical practice (specialty). This focus may also include community service, patient education, research, and supervision of other health care providers (professional and technical). Often, the residency experience prepares an individual to become a board-certified clinical specialist."

The two hallmark components of a clinical residency include comprehensive didactic education and 1:1 clinical mentoring in the defined specialty area of clinical practice.

Geriatric Residency Mission Statement

To prepare licensed physical therapists for clinical mastery in geriatric practice through a rigorous curriculum of advanced mentorship and evidence-based education. We are dedicated to elevating the health of older adults in Minnesota and beyond by fostering specialized expertise through advanced knowledge, skills, clinical reasoning, leadership, and professionalism to achieve superior clinical outcomes and foster the continuous evolution of our professional and educational standards.

Geriatric Residency Goals

• Support and promote the mission of the University of  Minnesota in the areas of research and discovery, teaching and learning, and outreach and public service.
• Residents will engage in a comprehensive didactic curriculum that addresses all areas of the current American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) Geriatric Description of Specialty Practice (DSP) and Geriatric Description of Residency Practice (DRP).
• Provide residents with high quality experiences at all clinical sites.
• Prepare graduates to contribute to the profession beyond direct patient care. 
• Maintain accreditation through the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship (ABPTRFE)

• Provide a program that is sustainable and demonstrates responsible stewardship of resources.

   

Policy and Procedure Manual

Geriatric Residency Program Outcomes

• Provide patient care and patient management, demonstrating comprehensive skills in clinical reasoning and utilizing evidence informed practice.
• Demonstrate comprehensive skills in communication with patients, families, caregivers, and interdisciplinary healthcare team. 
• Demonstrate comprehensive skills in advocacy for older adults
• Demonstrate comprehensive skills in research methodology, implementation and dissemination
• Demonstrate value added service provided to the contracted clinical site
• Be prepared to sit for and successfully pass the ABPTS Geriatric Clinical Specialist Exam.

Outcome Data:

• Completion of Program: 100% (27/27)
• Pass Rate for ABPTS Geriatrics Specialist Exam: 100% (27/27)

Our Clinical Partners include Pro Rehab and Ascend Rehab (at St. Therese New Hope and St. Therese Woodbury). Residents are employed by their respective clinical sites, receiving a salary and benefits at the level of 0.8 FTE, commensurate with experience. Our clinical partners determine the capacity of the residency. This is guaranteed to be one resident with each company (2) but can increase based on their staffing needs.

Applications submitted by January 31st of each year will guarantee first priority for participation in the interview and selection process. The rolling application deadline allows later applicants an opportunity if a clinical position is still available up until July 31st. 

Interested candidates, in addition to completing the centralized application form for clinical residencies (RF-PTCAS), are encouraged to contact the residency director via email.

Requirements for applicants are outlined in the Application & Selection Process document. This document also describes the timeline for processing applications, scheduling interviews, and selection of residents. 

The residency program is structured to include one 2-credit course each semester.

• Fall Semester: PT 7010 Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation I
• Spring Semester: PT 7011 Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation II
• Summer Semester: PT 7012 Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation III

As noted previously, residents are guaranteed in-state tuition rates.

Residency Financial Fact Sheet