Organisation(s)

Bournemouth University

Alex Dunford

Physiotherapy lecturer and placement lead Bournemouth University

Summary of placement

During COVID-19 we ran a completely virtual placement for our 2nd year students in 2019.

The placement was a MSK based placement across 6 weeks. Each week the students developed their knowledge and understanding of different body regions in relation to MSK conditions.

Every week the students would be given a number of cases studies and be involved in telehealth/virtual assessment with patients (non NHS).

They covered subjective/objective (virtual) assessment, clinical reasoning and treatment planning and management.

Their final assessment was a subjective assessment and viva on treatment and management

Benefits

Students get experience of:

  • MSK case management

  • Working in a virtual environment

  • Communiation skills

  • Clinical reasoning

Challenges

  • Time to set the placement up and over see the placement

  • Resources for the set up and staff time to oversee the groups

Advice you’d give to others

  • Face to face practical sessions would have benefited the students handling skills

  • Online platform to upload all the information for the students

  • Online patient assessment were also very beneficial