Collaborations in Clinical Education: Coordinating Top-Down and Bottom-Up Efforts to Advance Best Practices in Physical Therapist Education

BACKGROUND: Preparing students for today's healthcare environment requires visionary leadership and strategic implementation at the grassroots level. This paper describes the process used in physical therapy (PT) to gather information about regional clinical education consortia, enhance networking, and improve connectivity with national initiatives. PROCESS: Twenty consortia shared information about their structures, processes, and outcomes during small-group discussions using a mixed methods approach. Two additional consortia were later identified and interviewed. FINDINGS: Consortia structure varied, but an average lifespan of 27 yrs with limited turnover was noted. Most consortia included both academic/clinical educators and PT/PTA educators. Commonly reported processes included holding meetings, serving as peer network, mentoring new members, and collaborating on research. The most frequent outcome was education of stakeholders. Consortia supported national initiatives but voiced need for more engagement at the grassroots level. DISCUSSION: Regional consortia play a vital role in shaping the future of clinical education but increased coordination between top-down and bottom-up efforts is needed. Recommendations were developed to use technologies, develop systematic communications, facilitate regional and national networks, and promote inclusion of all stakeholders. CONCLUSION: A systematic process engaging grassroots organizations can prove valuable for coordinating top-down and bottom-up efforts in all health professions.