Kootenai | Kootenai Health | Issue 1, 2018

Get help from our experts Read up on the physical therapy and other rehab services Kootenai Health provides: KH.org/ rehabilitation-services . To schedule an appointment with Rehabilitation Services, call (208) 625-5311 . Weston Vik, DPT “There has been an explosion of research in the physical therapy field just in the last couple of decades,” he said. “We are learning more every day, and we want to make sure each one of our physical therapists is up-to-date and prepared to make the most of the knowl- edge that’s out there.” Elevating from eachother The journal club also serves as an excellent forum for clinicians to learn from each other. “The club brings together people with a myriad of educational backgrounds and professional experi- ences,” Weston said. “It’s a great opportunity to educate each other in our own pro- fession and elevate our level of practice and expertise as a team.” Weston hopes to expand the journal club to include other Kootenai Health providers—including physicians, nurses, medical residents and therapists in other specialties—who also make decisions about physical therapy for patients. “It takes a village to treat any one person,” Weston said. “I think it would be valuable to expand knowl- edge in our field and to build relationships with phy- sicians, nurses and anyone else who might share in the treatment of that patient.” Better patient outcomes “This is what it’s all about: using the knowledge that’s out there to best serve the people we are treat- ing,” Weston said. “Things are changing all the time. Our patients put their trust and faith in us to help them get better, and it’s our responsibility to know we are using our time with them as efficiently and effectively as possible.” KH . ORG 19