A.T. Still University Center for Occupational and Physical Therapy opens on Arizona campus
Posted: July 31, 2019
The A.T. Still University (ATSU) Center for Occupational and Physical Therapy is now open on the University’s Arizona campus. ATSU students and faculty provide free occupational (OT) and physical therapy (PT) services to community members in an interprofessional learning environment. Each therapy session is led by students and directly supervised by licensed occupational and physical therapists. Students run all aspects of clinic operations, including marketing and scheduling, to prepare them for the logistics of running a business.
Many health insurance plans do not cover OT and PT services, or limit the number of visits. The center advances ATSU’s mission to serve the underserved by providing free care to community members who may not otherwise be able to afford it.
“It has been very impressive how the student board members have worked with fellow students and faculty to address the logistics and details for the OT/PT Center,” says Jim Farris, PT, PhD, chair of physical therapy at ATSU’s Arizona School of Health Sciences. “Both OT and PT faculty have also contributed by being available on week nights to guide and direct treatment sessions that enhance student learning. A number of community members and ATSU employees have been patients at the center. So far, they’ve provided a great deal of positive feedback. We are building community connections, while center operations and its teaching focus are working well.”
ATSU employees and their dependents are welcome to schedule two appointments with the center. For employees and their dependents, the first visit will include an initial evaluation and treatment, and the second will consist of a treatment session and referral to a local rehabilitation clinic. Appointments are not yet open to ATSU students. For more information, call 480.219.6180 or visit the center’s website. The center is open Monday-Thursday from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Outside of these hours, prospective patients can leave a voicemail. Calls will be returned during operating hours.