Development, Implementation, and Outcomes of an Acute Care Clinician Scientist Clinical Placement: Case Report

Purpose: This article presents the development, implementation, and outcomes of an innovative clinician scientist (CS) placement for a 2nd-year, entry-level MSc(PT) student at McMaster University. Client Description: All physiotherapy students participating in the third 6-week clinical placement at McMaster University were eligible to apply for one CS placement. A placement description and expectations were developed collaboratively by the clinical site and the MSc(PT) programme before placement matching. Intervention: A shared supervisory model between one acute care physiotherapist and a critical care CS was developed to provide supervision in both clinical and research-related activities during the placement. Measures and Outcomes: The first CS clinical placement in the MSc(PT) Program at McMaster was completed between November and December 2015. The student was evaluated using the same process as a traditional student placement. Over 6 weeks, the student gained clinical experience in an acute care setting; accumulated more than 100 cardiorespiratory hours; participated in research activities for a randomized controlled trial, which led to a submission to Physiotherapy Practice; and applied for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Health Professional Student Research Award. Implications: The CS is a developing role for Canadian physiotherapists. A CS placement gave the physiotherapy student the opportunity to apply traditional skills and knowledge as well as to develop advanced research skills. The success of this placement has established a foundation for future placements.