WebPT in the Classroom

Educational Challenge

As a professor for Bellarmine University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Dr. Ennis noticed the continual frustration of both students and faculty using a server-based EMR system. Bellarmine also needed a solution for use in the pro-bono clinic and in the classroom. Students expressed frustration when trying to complete documentation. Professors were not satisfied with the functionality of the server-based system in that students could click through documentation with multiple-choice option. The faculty knew that the best learning experience would require students to sincerely think through their responses. In addition to student and faculty frustrations, the IT Department at Bellarmine was frustrated with the extra work created every time the server-based system had an update. Everyone needed an easier solution.

Solution

After successfully using WebPT in her private practice for over a year, Dr. Elizabeth Ennis and other faculty in the DPT Program at Bellarmine decided to make the switch from the server-based system to WebPT at the start of the 2011 academic year. Faculty are now able to use WebPT in the clinical and classroom settings, exposing students to a real-world EMR/EHR system. WebPT’s ease of use was most noticeable for students who had previously used the server-based system. Being web-based and intuitive lifted a level of frustration for those students. Dr. Ennis uses WebPT for pediatric patients in the University’s pro-bono clinic as well as for pediatric patients that her students work with in her classroom for eight weeks. The students use WebPT for a variety of patient types in the on-campus clinic as well as off campus locations.

In only a short amount of time, both students and faculty are over-whelmingly positive about using WebPT. Dr. Ennis says,

 It’s nice to have an EMR system that’s easy to use, doesn’t require a lot of equipment, and allows us to introduce students to real-world documentation. 

Benefits

• No upgrades for the IT Department to install and manage
• User-friendly system for both students and faculty
• Practical learning application in both classroom and pro-bono clinic settings
• Students gain real-world using an EMR system