Fostering Independence and Increased Mobility: Physical Therapy at Medstar's Lafayette Clinic

Presenter: Maya Moshkatal, Kinesiology, Global Public Health Scholars

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Physical Therapy at the Medstar Lafayette Centre focuses on the rehabiliation of injuries, in order to enhance individuals’ daily life activities. Firstly, I would shadow the physical therapists during initial evaluations with patients. This provided me insight into what my hopeful future career would be like. Furthermore, I was given multiple hands-on tasks to build experience in the field and patient relationship skills. Firstly, there is a health and safety standard that must be maintained in the gym. All examination tables must be cleaned and equipment must be put away. Being tasked with maintaining these standards, I was able to ask questions about equipment I had never seen before and how crucial and time consuming it is to ensure the cleanliness of a health care center. Secondly, I would help patients with exercises when therapists were busy. Through this, I learned how to effectively describe body movements and mechanisms for patientes to easily understand. Sometimes, it can be difficult to explain something you already know how to do yourself, especially when talking to someone whose first language is not English. Physical therapy connects to public health by supporting the phsycial recovery, improving mobility, and assisting individuals in returning to their daily routine with minimal pain and discomfort. The clinic plays a role in reducing the risk of long-term complications, meaning less future doctors appointments and missed shifts at work, and promoting overall community health and wellness. Keeping the facility clean and organized is also an important part of protecting patient health and preventing the spread of illness. Gaining experience in patient communication, especially with individuals from diverse backgrounds, contributes to making healthcare more inclusive and accessible, which is a core value of public health.