Physical Therapist Assistant

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2010-2011 (pdf)

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Mission of the PTA Program

The mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program supports the ARCC philosophy and mission statement. The PTA faculty will seek learning experiences that will help the student to acquire the needed skills, knowledge, and attitudes to enable them to be successful as an entry-level Physical Therapist Assistant and to competently perform physical therapy treatments and related duties as assigned by the supervising physical therapist. Students will be encouraged to develop capacities as a citizen and as a socially responsible person.

The foundation for the education of the PTA students is based on criteria and performance expectations described in A Normative Model of Physical Therapist Education: version 99 by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

This will be accomplished by using a learning system that progresses from simple to complex material. Integration of general education courses and professional course work will continue throughout the curriculum. The PTA program promotes opportunities for lifelong intellectual, professional, and personal learning by incorporating skills learned in general education courses into the PTA core courses.

PTA Program Goals & Objectives:

The Physical Therapist Assistant program has established specific goals and objectives that are closely evaluated and modified as needed to best serve the students, the community, and to comply with the standards of the APTA. The PTA goals and objectives include:

1. Provide students with an academic program leading to licensure/credentials to practice as a Physical Therapist Assistant.
2. Provide students with curriculum content and clinical experiences consistent with the guidelines of CAPTE and the APTA Evaluation Section for PTA programs. The objective is to allow graduates to practice as competent, safe and ethical practitioners of physical therapy services.
3. Provide students with a balanced curriculum of liberal arts and occupational courses. The objectives are to have students develop writing and communication skills essential for documentation, skills tests, and clinical affiliations. Also, to have students recognize the relationships between concepts from the social and natural sciences and humanities and their relevance to medical and physical therapy practice.
4. Keep curriculum current with up-to-date techniques and theories, based upon input from the PTA advisory committee and clinical instructors. The objective is to address the physical therapy education needs of the community and prepare students to be successful during their clinical experiences.
5. Educate and train students with marketable skills to gain entry-level employment as a Physical Therapist Assistant. The objective is to use a curriculum structured through cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains to enhance the marketability of the student.
6. Promote the need for continuing personal and professional development and involvement in professional organizations such as the APTA. The objective is to continue the process of learning and to encourage networking with other physical therapy professionals.
7. Provide a service to the college and the general community to improve health education and fitness.

GOALS OF THE PTA PROGRAM

The student will be able to:

1. Begin practice as an entry-level physical therapist assistant.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of his/her role as a physical therapist assistant with its privileges and limitations.
3. Perform skillfully and safely all treatment procedures of superficial and deep heating modalities, cold applications, ultraviolet radiation, mechanical traction, electrical stimulation, and selected mobility, stretching, and strengthening exercise to demonstrate a knowledge of treatment precautions and contraindications in carrying out these activities.
4. Competently perform manual therapy techniques such as NDT, PNF, and inhibition facilitation techniques with the neurologically involved patient.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of the structure and function of the human body including kinesiology as applied in physical therapy procedures and describe the essential features of selected pathologies of the cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems.
6. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the psychological effects of disease and injury on a patient and treat each patient appropriately, respecting the patient's dignity and individuality.
7. Communicate verbally and in writing the reactions and progress of the patient in treatment procedures and report to the supervising physical therapist any unusual reactions or occurrences in the treatment process.
8. To teach physical therapy treatment procedures and functional activities to patients, family members, and other health care workers.
9. Contribute to the overall effective management of a physical therapy department through responsible actions and attitudes.
10. Interact skillfully with the geriatric patient and pediatric patient.
11. Recognize the cultural and ethnic differences within society and the health care profession.
12. Demonstrate ethical behavior and awareness of legal responsibilities in patient care and acts accordingly in interpersonal relationships with co-workers.

JOB DESCRIPTION

As a health care provider, the Physical Therapist Assistant will be able to:

1. Provide physical therapy services as specified in the plan of care developed by the physical therapist that include:

   a. Preparing patients, treatment areas, and equipment.
   b. Implementing treatment programs that include:

   1. Therapeutic exercises.
   2. Gait training and techniques.
   3. ADL training techniques.
   4. Administration of therapeutic heat and cold.
   5. Administration of ultrasound.
   6. Administration of therapeutic electric current.
   7. Administration of ultrasound.
   8. Application of traction.
   9. Performance of intermittent venous compression.
   10. Administration of pulmonary hygiene techniques.
   11. Application of external bandages, dressings, and support.
   12. Performance of goniometric measurement.
   13. Performance of manual muscle therapy.

   c. Modifying treatment techniques as indicated in the plan of care.

2. Respond to acute changes in physiological state.
3. Teach other health care providers, patients, and families to perform selected treatment procedures and functional activities.
4. Identify architectural barriers.
5. Interact with patients and families in a manner which provides the desired psychosocial support by:

   a. Recognizing his/her own reaction to illness and disability.
   b. Recognizing patients' and families' reactions to illness and disability.
   c. Respecting individual cultural, religious, and socioeconomic differences in people.
   d. Utilizing appropriate communicative processes.

6. Demonstrate appropriate and effective written, oral, and nonverbal communications with patients and their families, colleagues, and the public.
7. Recognize his/her own strengths and limitations and interpret for others his/her scope and function.
8. Demonstrate safe, ethical, and legal practice.
9. Understand basic concepts related to the health care system including multidisciplinary team approach, quality care, governmental agencies, private sector, role of other health care providers, health care facilities, issues, and problems.
10. Understand basic principles of levels of planning, authority and responsibility, time management, supervisory process, performance evaluations, policies and procedures, and fiscal consideration (provider and consumer).

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