Pediatric Outcomes Toolbox: Measures for Therapy Program Evaluation
Presented by Robin Dole
Meet your instructor
Robin Dole
Robin L. Dole, PT, DPT, EdD, PCS, is a professor of physical therapy and prior director of the Institute for Physical Therapy at Widener University. She currently serves as dean of the School of Human Service Professions at Widener. Dr. Dole has been involved in pediatric practice for nearly 30 years, and as an academician…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Benefits and Challenges of Program Evaluation
Program evaluation is a process that is different from other ways in which therapists are typically involved in data collection, evaluation, and outcome measurement with individual patients and clients. Important information can be obtained from program evaluation that informs decisions regarding intervention programs for specific populations. This chapter will define important concepts, discuss the various challenges to program evaluation, and suggest strategies for successful implementation.
2. Getting Started with Program Evaluation
With any undertaking that takes time, energy, and resources, it is important to have a well-crafted plan and strategies to create buy-in for key stakeholders. To get started with a plan for program evaluation, the first step is identifying the outcome of interest. Is the focus related to a specific intervention or a specific population? Is it important to demonstrate cost-effectiveness or client satisfaction of services? Would it help to know if children with similar diagnoses and similar goals achieve those goals at the end of intervention, or how many therapy visits are needed to obtain a desired outcome? By beginning with the end in mind, a successful plan for program evaluation can be initiated.
3. Following the Steps
Following some key steps in planning and implementing a program evaluation is key to success. This chapter will review important steps to consider, including the following: identify the common diagnoses or populations served by the program, identify the program/clinic’s goals for outcomes, select meaningful measures to help determine effectiveness at meeting goals, create a culture to support program evaluation, identify the type(s) of data that can inform the process, create a systematic method for data collection and analysis, and use the outcome data for decision-making and benchmarking.
4. Examples from the Literature: A Focus on Interpretation and Application
The rehabilitation and pediatric literature provides examples and models that can be duplicated and adapted for use by hospitals, clinics, and schools in order to engage in successful program evaluation. This final chapter will use two to three case examples to illustrate the process of selecting appropriate tests and measures for program evaluation. Tips will be discussed for planning, data collection, interpretation, and applying the results by “closing the loop.”
5. Q&A Session
This Q&A session includes a pediatric physical therapist and discusses program evaluations.
More courses in this series
Pediatric Outcomes Toolbox: Child & Caregiver Participation Measures
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Pediatric Outcomes Toolbox: Measures for Alternative Forms of Mobility
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Pediatric Outcomes Toolbox: Infant & Child Developmental Risk Screen
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Pediatric Outcomes Toolbox: Motor & Mobility Skill Activity Assessment
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Pediatric Outcomes Toolbox: Measures for Therapy Program Evaluation
Robin Dole
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