Collection Policies

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY
Physical Therapy

PURPOSE

(program background)

The collection supports research and teaching in the School of Physical Therapy. The School of Physical Therapy offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. Approved on March 20, 2002, this new doctoral program follows the nation wide trend and focuses on pathophysiology, differential diagnosis and evidence-based practice in the field of physical therapy. The DPT program consists of 9 semesters including summers and replaces the former Masters program as the entry-level into the profession. The Motion Analysis Laboratory and the Standardized Patients Program provide simulated practice and observational opportunities for students.

The School of Physical Therapy was ranked 28 th in the nation in 2000 (5-way tie) by U.S. News and World Report in their issue for Best Graduate Schools. Others in this grouping were: MCP Hahnman University (PA), Thomas Jefferson University (PA), University of Kansas Medical Center and University of Minnesota.

GENERAL COLLECTING GUIDELINES

Language Guidelines :   English will be the primary language of the collection. English language translations of foreign works will be collected on a selective basis. Non-English language materials will generally not be collected except in special circumstances.

Chronological Guidelines:   The collection focuses on works of current practice and research in physical therapy, physical medicine, gait, massage, exercise therapy, biomechanics, occupational and rehabilitation therapy and trends in the overall health care system. Historical works will be collected selectively.

Geographical Guidelines:   In all subject areas American practice is emphasized. However, in order to stay current with new procedures and trends in the profession, materials published internationally are selectively reviewed.

Treatment of Subject:   The collection focuses on materials at the doctoral and graduate levels and materials that support specialty areas of faculty research.

Types of Material:   The Library will collect scholarly monographs including bibliographies, conference proceedings and reference works. Serials that support the curriculum will be collected with an emphasis on those involving physical therapy, gait, biomechanics, exercise therapy, massage, rehabilitation therapy, sports medicine and physical medicine. Many state and federal publications support research in this area. For detailed information please refer to the Other Resources section of this policy.

Indexes to scholarly journal articles may be available in print or via the Internet. Online databases available via FirstSearch, Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, PubMed, InfoTrac and CINAHL support research in the library, distance learning and authorized remote access. Ovid's Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins electronic journal collection provides many full text journals in nursing and allied health.

Date of Publication:   Current materials published within the past five years will receive priority, particularly in the areas of physical therapy, gait, exercise therapy, physical medicine, physiotherapy, imaging, rehabilitation therapy, evidence-based practice and promotion of wellness.

Other General Considerations:

· Related Subject Policy Statements:

Exercise Science
Nursing
Community Health

•  Other Resources:

United States Federal Documents:  The federal documents collection offers a number of publications that are useful in statistical research in the areas of vital statistics, health care financing, elder care, rehabilitation and general health care guidelines. Some of these include the Statistical Abstract of the United States , Centers for Disease Control publications, releases from National Library of Medicine, and the National Institutes of Health. General publications from the National Institutes of Health also focus on topics related to promotion of wellness.

Laws and regulations governing health care provision, health care financing and reform are also collected. Key resources for laws and regulations include: Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, Statutes at Large, and the United States Code. Many full text publications and data series related to physical therapy and allied health professions can be found via the Internet. Two key sites include the Dept. of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control .

The Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) project offers a number of electronic resources that will assist patrons in locating articles in scholarly journals, including some full text articles and dissertations. FirstSearch's (Medline & Dissertation Abstracts), Cambridge Scientific Abstracts' (Medline), InfoTrac's (Health Reference Center Academic & Health and Wellness Resource Center), Ovid's (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health [CINAHL]), Ovid's Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins (online journal collections) are key resources that would be helpful for research particularly in the areas of allied health, physical therapy, and health care management.

SUBJECT DIVISIONS

(1) Physical Therapy: Works are collected that cover the treatment of disorders with physical agents and methods such as massage, manipulation, therapeutic exercises, cold and heat, hydrotherapy, electrical stimulation and light (also known as physiotherapy).

(2) Physical Medicine: Works are collected that cover the use of rehabilitation specialties including physical therapy, occupational therapy and recreation therapy to return patients to their maximum potential.

(3) Sports Medicine / Exercise Therapy:   Works are collected that cover medical issues and practices in sport and exercise including rehabilitation.

(4) Gait: Works are collected that cover factors that govern an individual's locomotion. Pelvic rotation, pelvic tilt, knee and hip flexion, knee and ankle interaction and lateral pelvic displacement affect gait.

(5) Rehabilitation Therapy:   Works are collected that cover treatments designed to facilitate the process of recovery from injury, illness or disease.

  Collecting Codes

key to collecting codes

  Federal Government Publications
 

 
 Bibliographer:  Janet L. Justis
11/11/03