The overall purpose of these experiences is to expose the student to a variety of clinical settings and patient populations prior to the full time clinical rotations. In clinics, students are exposed to a variety of traditional and nontraditional service delivery models, including acute and rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient clinics, private practices, school system physical therapy, pediatric and geriatric residential facilities, and introducing the student to different patient populations such as pediatrics and geriatrics, as well as patients with neurological, orthopedic, and medical conditions who require physical therapy services. In addition, students are able to see first hand the application of clinical practices discussed in class, such as evaluations and the use of modalities and exercises, and exposure to other aspects of clinical practice such as patient care conferences and rounds. The UIC Department of Physical Therapy currently has affiliations with over 125 clinical facilities. While the majority of these facilities are located in Illinois and the Midwest, there are facilities in the East, the South, and the West.
Facilities are in urban, suburban, and rural locales.
The Department is continually expanding its affiliations across the country. With the changing climate of health care, the Department is looking to further enhance its repertoire of nontraditional and community-based clinical affiliation sites. During the eighth semester all classes involve integration and application of material presented throughout the program. The advanced classes in the eighth semester will be seminar in nature and require small class sizes to be effective. The two groups will then change places.