Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Clinical Residency Program?
The APTA defines a clinical residency as 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.
What is a Clinical Fellowship Program?
The APTA defines a clinical fellowship as a planned program of post-professional clinical and didactic education for physical therapists who demonstrate clinical expertise, prior to commencing the program, in a learning experience in an area of clinical practice related to the practice focus of the fellowship. (Fellows are frequently post-residency prepared or board-certified specialists.) A fellowship program must possess a curriculum that: 1) is focused, with advanced clinical and didactic instruction within a subspecialty area of practice; 2) is intensive and includes extensive mentored clinical experience; and, 3) provides a sufficient and appropriate patient population to create an environment for advanced clinical skill building.
What are the differences between a Residency and Fellowship?
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.
A fellowship program is designed to provide greater depth in a specialty or subspecialty area than that which is covered in a residency program. Additionally, applicants of a clinical fellowship program must be licensed as a physical therapist and possess one or more of the following qualifications: 1) specialist certification, 2) completion of a residency in a specialty area, or 3) demonstrable clinical skills within a particular specialty area.
Which residency program should I choose (Orthopedic or Sports)?
Each program will help you grow to be an expert clinician, but choosing one over the other depends on where your true passion lies. If you aspire to treat athletes and be on the sideline, then the sports residency would be most appropriate. On the other hand, if you are interested in treating a general mix of orthopedic patients in a clinical setting, then the orthopedic residency would meet your needs. The didactic programs are very similar for both residencies, but the sports residents learn specific sideline management and return to play guidelines. They also have a more rigorous schedule that requires them to attend games after hours and sports clinics on the weekends. The most important aspect a resident should consider is the acquisition of strong foundational knowledge in which he or she can later build on. Having the opportunity to work closely with other residents in the orthopedic and sports program as well as dual board certified faculty and manual therapy fellows provides our residents a significant advantage in this area.
Who is eligible to apply to the MSLH Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency?
Any physical therapist with a passion to increase their knowledge in Orthopedic Physical Therapy and meets the minimum eligibility requirements stated above for application is welcome to apply. New graduates are encouraged to apply.
I don’t have my license yet, can I still apply to the MSLH Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency?
Yes, residents do not need to be licensed to apply for the residency. However, since residents will be fulltime employees engaged in direct patient care, residents must have a Texas Physical Therapy license by the start of the program.
How many residents are accepted each year?
The program will accept 1-3 residents per calendar year. The number of residents accepted will increase as the number of mentoring faculty and overall program grows.
Where will the main clinic location be?
The Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has 2 outstanding locations that will be available for the resident based on the curriculum. One location will be the outpatient therapy department of the Methodist Orthopedics Specialists of Texas, and the other will be the Methodist Spine Center located in the hospital.
How qualified are the faculty and mentors?
The qualification of our faculty is a defining strength of the MSLH Orthopedic Residency. All faculty mentors are Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedics and have also completed a residency and/or fellowship program. We feel this allows our mentors to better relate, understand, and communicate clinical and didactic knowledge to the resident. In addition, all faculty mentors have extensive experience in working with a variety of patients with orthopedic and sports related injuries, and a true passion for advancing the profession through evidence based practice and clinical education. Click here for to view current Faculty.
Will I be able to sit and pass the OCS Exam after completing the residency?
The goal of the residency is to effectively prepare the resident to sit for the OCS exam. Actually passing the exam is the responsibility of the resident. The resident cannot use OPTION B until the residency achieves APTA credentialing.
What kind of resources will I have to assist my independent learning process?
As fulltime employees of The Methodist Hospital System, the resident will have full access to the TMHS computers, electronic library systems, and other necessary educational equipment. This system allows access to one of the largest online health and medical libraries available.
I am really interested in Manual Therapy. Will I be able to learn some Manual Therapy interventions?
One of the unique characteristics of the MSLH Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency is the availability of not only Board Certified Orthopedic and Sports Specialists, but also to therapists who have completed Fellowships in Manual Therapy and are current Fellows of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. The residency program is specifically developed based on the APTA’s Description of Specialty Practice in Orthopedic Physical Therapy, but will also have a strong manual therapy component to the curriculum.
What is the salary for the resident and will I be eligible for benefits?
As a full-time employee of The Methodist Hospital System, residents will receive a very competitive residency salary and will be eligible for the following benefits:
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Flexible Spending Account
- Short/Long Term Disability
- Paid Time Off and Holidays
- Tuition Reimbursement
Will I be able to work a part-time job as well?
The demands of the residency program are quite intense and can be time consuming. Effective time management will be an important characteristic of each resident. Although we cannot mandate against the resident working a second job, we strongly discourage it.
Does the hospital provide any housing or transportation benefits?
The hospital does not provide assistance with housing or transportation.
