By attracting high-caliber faculty and involving hospital physical therapy staff members in research and clinical instruction, our community's residents can be assured they are receiving treatment at the highest level of expertise. Classes will be held in the former Alamance Memorial Hospital, which is now ARMC's Edgewood campus, until Elon's science building is completed in mid-1998. Elon, which will oversee the program, recently hired Dr. Elizabeth Rogers to serve as director. Calif. Additional faculty and support staff will also be employed by the college. At the same time, Alamance Regional Medical Center will be able to retain and recruit a very high level physical therapy staff, with opportunities in teaching and research that would not be available at other community hospitals or free-standing physical therapy clinics.
Officials say the program meets several of their respective institution's needs.
Statewide, there is a shortage of physical therapists. The need is particularly acute in public schools, health departments, home care and mental health agencies, which report that more than 40 percent of their physical therapy positions are vacant. According to a U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics 1995 report, the physical therapy profession is the nation's fastest growing health care occupation. An 88 percent growth in employment is projected for the profession through the year 2005. ARMC officials report that as the baby boom generation ages, physical therapists will be in even greater demand for the treatment of aging-related diseases, such as arthritis, stroke, heart disease and other chronic conditions.