Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)

Learning opportunities in this course assist the student to recognize the roles of physical therapy within various practice settings. Students differentiate functions of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants as members of the health care team through study of history of physical therapy, ethical and legal principles, evidence-based practice, documentation, and medical terminology important to the provision of services. Learning also includes development of knowledge and abilities within the domains of professional conduct, professional and interpersonal communication, and sensitivity to individual and cultural differences.

This lecture and lab-based course provides the student with introductory concepts and techniques regarding physical therapy interventions for function and mobility. Emphasis is placed on enhancing the student's problem-solving abilities and comprehension of the physical therapist assistant's role in delivering the plan of care. The importance of modification of physical therapy interventions within the plan of care developed by the supervising physical therapist is highlighted. The laboratory section of this course allows the student to develop psychomotor skills, critical thinking, and affective skills through simulated patient scenarios.

This course is designed to enable students to identify the structure and function of the human body including the spine, upper, and lower extremities through computer simulation and application. The course includes the study of skeletal, muscular, connective tissue, nervous, and circulatory structures involved in human movement. Students will understand movement control and elements of movement dysfunction. The student will also gain an understanding of biomechanical forces, neuromuscular control, and pathological influences through analysis of biomechanical forces on the body.

This course develops the student's competence with problem-solving and application of physical therapy interventions using physical agents, including therapeutic applications of heat, cold, water, electricity, light, and mechanical forces or devices. The student will be exposed to lecture-based facilitation and laboratory experiences regarding therapeutic application of physical agents that will include scientific theory, common pathologies that would reflect best practice usage of physical agent interventions, indications, contraindications, and precautions to use. Patient simulation and case scenarios allow for problem solving and discussion of expected patient outcomes from the use of physical agents, patient education and communication, and appropriate documentation for provided physical agent interventions.

This course uses a case study approach to enhance problem solving skills and provide integration of various patient examination, goal setting, and intervention techniques within the scope of physical therapist assistant (PTA) practice. Topics covered include foundational physical therapy (PT) skills of goniometric and muscle strength assessment and exercise prescription. The student will achieve competency in the following patient care techniques: data collection skills, exercise prescription, communication, and documentation skills including appropriate billing, and patient safety. Professionalism, verbal and written communication skills, and ethics are considered throughout.

This is the first course of a two-course pathology sequence designed to provide the physical therapist assistant student with the knowledge of human pathology of selected body systems including implications for patient management and the effects of exercise. Topics covered include inflammation, lab tests and values, and the immune, lymphatic, cardiovascular, respiratory, integumentary, and musculoskeletal systems. This foundational course promotes an understanding of the disease processes and guides the student in application and analysis of medical pathology to evidence-based patient care. Emphasis is placed on the relationship of medical presentation signs/symptoms/treatment and its implication on physical therapy treatment.

This course uses a case study approach to enhance problem solving skills and provide integration of various patient intervention techniques within the scope of physical therapy practice. Topics covered include interventions for special populations such as status post amputation, neurological diagnoses, and pediatric conditions. The student will achieve competency in advanced patient care techniques and will expand on knowledge from previous courses. Emphasis will be placed on appropriate application of advanced treatment techniques, critical thinking, and progression in order to facilitate patient recovery with the goal of improving functional outcomes.

This is the second course of a two-course pathology sequence designed to provide the physical therapist assistant student with knowledge of human pathology of selected body systems including implications for patient management and the effects of exercise. Topics covered include disorders of the nervous system, the hepatic, pancreatic and biliary systems, the endocrine and gastrointestinal systems, the male and female reproductive systems, as well as amputation, oncology, and hematology. This foundational course promotes an understanding of the disease processes and guides the student in application and analysis of medical pathology to evidence-based patient care. Emphasis is placed on the relationship of medical presentation signs/symptoms/treatments and its implication on physical therapy treatment.

This course is an introduction and preparation to clinical education experience for the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) student. Students will learn about the different types of physical therapy settings and become oriented with the clinical education process. Students will learn about legal and professional standard practices, PTA reporting responsibilities, responses to ethical situations, effective communication as healthcare providers,accurate and timely billing, and professional development opportunities to remain current in the physical therapy field.

This course is an integrated part-time clinical experience. Students will apply principles of the curriculum and physical therapy services as a Student Physical Therapist Assistant (SPTA). Students will implement general skills, data collection, and interventions in a physical therapy clinical setting under the direction and supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist.

This course is an integrated part-time clinical experience. Students will apply principles of the curriculum and physical therapy services as a Student Physical Therapist Assistant (SPTA). Students will implement general sills, data collection, and interventions in a physical therapy clinical setting under the direction and supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist.

This course is an advanced clinical experience designed forstudents to integrate and apply physical therapy concepts to effectively perform interventions and data collection as a physical therapist assistant under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Students will develop daily organizational and management skills of a patient caseload and effectively contribute to the health care team. This course is a full-time clinical experience (approximately 40 hours per week) in the first half of the semester.

This course is the final clinical experience designed for students to integrate and apply physical therapy concepts to effectively perform interventions and data collection as a physical therapist assistant under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Students will develop daily organizational and management skills of a patient caseload and effectively contribute to the health care team consistent with entry-level performance. This course is a full-time clinical experience (approximately 40 hours per week) in the second half of the semester.

This course will provide the physical therapist assistant (PTA) student with the necessary knowledge for understanding the healthcare processes of the clinical setting as well as facility standards and design. Research based decision-making will also be covered. Other topics such as licensure, continuing education, data collection, and problem-oriented management will be discussed.