Is the DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) Degree a Joke?
Question by hyukracing: Is the DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) degree a joke?
Really, I have been reading into this and I have found that the DPT is a “fluff” degree and its a joke. Is it true that the Physical Therapist went from a BS to a Masters and now Doctor practically over night because it was all political and now they are trying to muscle their way into more money or what? I mean when its all said and done, you are still a therapist doing therapy and thats it.
Best answer:
Answer by mistify
Sorry you feel that way. First, the DPT does not result in higher salary. Second, the PT degree did not go to a doctorate overnight. Rather, it has been in process over the last decade.
The DPT is still recognized as an “entry level” degree and in no way influences political power. As more and more responsibility is shoved onto the physical therapist, the field has collectively realized that there were many components lacking in our education. Namely, more detailed knowledge in pharmacology, radiology, differential diagnosis, research, etc. It was done to make the practicioner better able to screen for other health issues that may arise during the course of therapy. These other health issues often require referral to another provider (often times back to the physician). This will be needed as direct access is pushed through…meaning we will need to be better screeners to rule in what is a neuromusculoskeletal problem and what isn’t. This is mearly to protect the patient.
The extra coursework went above and beyond the traditional master’s degree…and even though the DPT is still considered “entry level,” the APTA does recognize the fundamental differences in programs.
You can look for yourself to compare a DPT level program:
http://pt.creighton.edu/newptVer2/pt/entryDPTProgram.asp
and an MS level program
http://catalog.niu.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=7&poid=1101
Notice the difference in diagnostic and core science level classes. The DPT program is certainly above and beyond the MS level program…however, we recognize it as a DPT degree…We recognize that it is NOT, I repeat, NOT a pHD which is an entirely different field of specialization and practice.
Finally, recognize that many of the health care pracitices are showing this trend…audiology, pharmacology, and speech language pathology.
But if you’d rather go to a PT who has not had the training to recognize that you need to go back to your doctor…then it’s your life and wasted time/money.
ADDENDUM: A physiatrist is not a “real doctor of physical therapy.” A physiatrist is a MEDICAL doctor who is an expert in MEDICAL management of people who are underdoing rehabilitation. They are not, I repeat, not fully educated on the hands on techniques we apply during therapy. They have an UNDERSTANDING of what we do, but do not receive the most up to date information on techniques used in therapy.
Fianlly, PTs recognize that we cannot make a MEDICAL diasnosis, but it is imperitive that we make a “PT diagnosis”…this includes terms that describe functional limitations. For instance, a medical diagnosis might be “herniated nucleus pulposus” but the PT dx is: derrangement syndrome based on how the pain behaves with repeated movement testing. Another example is a medical diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease…here the PT dx would be “gait abnormality” which is based on the physical assessment. These are in no way medical diagnoses which SHOULD be left to the physician. The problem is that most non-professionals do not understand the difference between functional and medical diagnosis…nor the different between medicine and the professional practices.
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