PTAS 101 - Introduction to the Physical Therapist Assistant

7A2. Body system interactions, health, and surgical conditions across the life span, movement sciences, pain and pain experiences, and psychological aspects of health and disability.

BODY SYSTEMS:

• Cardiovascular
  • Identify the typical vital signs, associated systems, and normal ranges measured in physical therapy
• Endocrine and metabolic
  • Define the typical disease, disorders, and effects on patient functioning in physical therapy for endocrine and metabolic systems.    
• Hepatic and biliary
  • Define the typical disease, disorders, and effects on patient functioning in physical therapy hepatic and biliary systems.    
• Immune
  • Identify the components of the cycle of infection including means of transmission
  • Identify the role immune system dysfunction in musculoskeletal and other systems
• Integumentary
  • Identify bony prominences at risk in each type of patient positioning related to shearing or pressure injury
• Musculoskeletal
  • Explain the principles of proper posture, body mechanics, and lifting techniques
  • Define the forms, indications, and contraindications of range of motion
  • Name the essential components of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) diagonal patterns of the upper and lower extremities

OTHER:

• Review and discuss physical therapy practice areas: Musculoskeletal, Neurological, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary, Integumentary, Pediatric, and Geriatric, including typically affected systems related to physical therapy populations
• Identify and explain aspects of care in each physical therapy practice area: population served, disorders, diseases, tests and measures, interventions, and the role of the physical therapist assistant (PTA)
• Identify the role of physical therapy over the life span including expected aging process and related data collection and therapeutic interventions

7B. Ethics and values, professional development and responsibilities, service, leadership, lifelong learning, along with teaching and learning with an every-changing healthcare environment.

• Summarize the history of the physical therapy profession, including the development of the roles of the physical therapist (PT) and physical therapist assistant
• Duplicate patient education in simulated patient scenarios

7B1. Standards of Ethical Conduct (APTA) and APTA Core Values for the PT and PTA

• Identify components of the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the physical therapist assistant
• Explain and compare the APTA Core Values for the PT and PTA
• Imitate the ability to interact in an ethical, legal, and professional manner in simulated patient scenarios, with potential DEI and health disparity impacts, within the scope of a physical therapist assistant 7B2. Develop services and leadership skills and abilities that address legislative and pollical advocacy, community collaboration, and health care disparity.
• Describe the development, role, and services of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as well as the role of the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
• Identify the importance of participation in community organizations, legislative/political advocacy, and leadership as a healthcare provider.
• Identify opportunities for participation in community organizations, advocacy, and leadership in physical therapy and the local community

7B3. Practices within the legal framework of one’s jurisdiction(s) and relevant federal and state requirements.

• Identify the roles of the physical therapist and physical therapist assistant within the practice act of a given jurisdiction
• Imitate the ability to interact in an ethical, legal, and professional manner in simulated patient scenarios, with potential JEDI and health disparity impacts, within the scope of a physical therapist assistant
• Identify essential components of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA)
• Describe the history of the ADA
• Identify the educational requirements and responsibilities of the physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, and physical therapy aide
• Explain physical therapy supervision levels
• Identify components of a legal medical document and the role of documentation in providing quality care
• Identify the role of the PT and PTA in the supervision of the student PTA

7C. Lifelong learning, education, and health care disparities in the ever-changing health care environment.

• Identify continuing educational requirements and responsibilities of the physical therapist and physical therapist assistant

7C1. Contemporary physical therapy knowledge and practice including evidence-informed practice, interpretation of statistical evidence, and clinical reasoning and decision-making.

• • Identify and locate available healthcare literature regarding the practice of physical therapy and current events affecting physical therapy
  • Describe Evidence Based Practice application to physical therapy practice

7C2. Improve skills to educate and communicate in a manner that meets the needs of the patient, caregivers, and other health care professionals

• Identify effective strategies of verbal and non-verbal communication
• Duplicate effective oral communication strategies in simulated patient and peer education
• Demonstrate effective instructional techniques and procedures of safe transfers in a simulated patient scenario
• Duplicate instructional techniques for assistive devices for gait for safe intervention with simulated patient scenarios
• Demonstrate effective instructional techniques for patient understanding and compliance with weight bearing status in a simulated patient scenario
• Duplicate patient education in simulated patient scenarios

7C3. Advance understanding of health care disparities in relation to physical therapy, recognizing and adjusting personal behavior to optimize inclusive and equitable patient care and patient care environments.

• Identify social determinants of health
• Describe how health care disparities affect populations typically treated in physical therapy
• Identify strategies for inclusive and equitable physical therapy care

7D1. Implementation of the plan of care established by the physical therapist:

• Obtain and review current information from physical therapy documentation, health records, patient and clients, caregivers, and family members related to general health status, consults, prior and current level of function before carrying out the physical therapy plan of care.
  • Name the typical forms of documentation in physical therapy
  • List the components of the patient/client management model including the plan of care
  • Identify the components of a physical therapist developed plan of care
  • Identify the information that belongs in each component of the SOAP note
  • Identify the typical vital signs, associated systems, and normal ranges measured in physical therapy
  • Identify and define weight bearing status types
  • Identify the concerns related to the endocrine, metabolic, hepatic and biliary, and immune systems in the provision of physical therapy interventions
• Recognize need for clarification, supervision, or action by the supervising PT
  • Identify the role of the physical therapist assistant in patient/client management within designated portions of the plan of care
• Determine when an intervention is inappropriate
  • Explain patient transfer contraindications
  • Define range of motion contraindications
• Select interventions as determined by the supervising PT based on clinical data, goals, and intended outcomes.
  • Explain the types, levels, and indications of patient transfers
  • Define the forms and indications of range of motion
  • Name the essential components of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) upper and lower extremity diagonal patterns
• Modify, adjust, and discontinue interventions based on the patient response and clinical data in collaboration with the supervising PT
  • Identify the role of the physical therapist assistant in patient/client management for adaptations of the plan of care
  • Imitate the ability to safely perform designated therapeutic techniques in simulated patient scenarios within the scope of a physical therapist assistant
  • Explain the principles of proper posture, body mechanics, and lifting techniques
  • Identify deviations from normal vital signs
  • Identify bony prominences at risk in each type of patient positioning
• Contribute to the d/c and follow-up planning with the supervising PT.
  • Identify the role of the physical therapist assistant in patient/client management within the d/c and follow-up planning
  • Identify the typical vital signs, associated systems, and normal ranges measured in physical therapy
• Use the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF).
  • List typical classification systems (ICF, NAGI, etc.) utilized in the practice of physical therapy

7D2. Select and perform components of data collection using appropriate tests and measures for all phases of PT interventions in:

• Cardiovascular system
  • Identify the typical vital signs and normal ranges of the cardiovascular system
  • Demonstrate ability to palpate pulse and measure heart rate and blood pressure safely and accurately in a simulated patient scenario
  • Calculate pulse rate in a simulated patient scenario
• Pulmonary system
  • Identify the typical vital signs and normal ranges of the pulmonary system
  • Demonstrate ability to measure respiratory rate and pulse oximetry safely and accurately
  • Calculate respiratory rate in a simulated patient scenario
• Neurological system
  • Identify wheelchair component function, measurement, and fit for optimal patient positioning and mobility for patients with neurological conditions
  • Identify procedures for measuring height for appropriate fit of assistive devices for patients with neurological conditions
• Musculoskeletal system
  • Identify wheelchair component function, measurement, and fit for optimal patient positioning and mobility for patients with musculoskeletal conditions
  • Identify procedures for measuring height for appropriate fit of assistive devices for patients with musculoskeletal system conditions
  • Demonstrate ability to measure body weight for the appropriate calculation of a weight bearing status
  • Identify neutral spine position
• Integumentary and lymphatic system
  • Identify wheelchair components for optimal patient positioning in integumentary protection
  • Identify integumentary concerns  in patient positioning options
  • Explain the importance of skin inspection
• Pain and pain experiences
  • State the purpose of reporting subjective pain measurements
• Mental health aspects
  • Identify factors assessed for mental health

7D3. Select and perform physical therapy interventions for each of the following as identified in the plan of care established by the physical therapist to achieve goals and outcomes:

• Neurological conditions
  • Identify the appropriate assistive devices for gait related to patient care, safety, and given diagnoses
  • Identify appropriate gait patterns, weight bearing and assistive devices for gait aligned with designated strength and balance needs
  • Duplicate instructional techniques for assistive devices for gait for safe intervention with simulated patient scenarios
  • Explain the forms, indications, contraindications, and assistance levels of patient transfers
  • Demonstrate effective techniques and procedures in safe wheelchair mobility performance in simulated patients
  • Demonstrate ability to apply range of motion safely and effectively in a simulated patient scenario
• Musculoskeletal conditions
  • Identify the appropriate assistive devices for gait related to patient care, safety, and given diagnoses
  • Identify appropriate gait patterns, weight bearing and assistive devices for gait aligned with designated strength and balance needs
  • Duplicate instructional techniques for assistive devices for gait for safe intervention with simulated patient scenarios
  • Explain the principles of proper posture, body mechanics, and lifting techniques
  • Encourage principles of proper posture, body mechanics, and lifting techniques for safe intervention with simulated patient scenarios
  • Explain the types of assistance levels for patient mobility
  • Demonstrate effective instructional techniques and procedures of safe transfers in a simulated patient scenario
  • Demonstrate effective instructional techniques for patient understanding and compliance with weight bearing status in a simulated patient scenario
  • Demonstrate effective techniques and procedures in safe wheelchair mobility tasks in simulated patients
  • Demonstrate ability to apply range of motion safely and effectively in a simulated patient scenario
  • Demonstrate ability to monitor weight bearing status in a simulated patient scenario
  • Demonstrate ability to apply bed mobility and patient positioning safely and effectively in a simulated patient scenario
• Integumentary and lymphatic conditions
  • Demonstrate effective techniques and procedures in safe wheelchair mobility tasks in simulated patients
  • Explain the importance of the types of patient positioning
• Metabolic conditions
  • Define typical endocrine and metabolic diseases typical in the patient populations
• Pain and pain experiences
  • Demonstrate ability to monitor weight bearing status in a simulated patient scenario

7D4. Delivery of Physical Therapy Services: Complete documentation according to legal framework of one’s jurisdiction, practice setting, and regulating agencies.

• Name the typical forms of documentation in physical therapy
• Identify components of a legal medical document and the role of documentation in providing quality care
• Identify the information that belongs in various types of physical therapy documentation
• Identify typical medical abbreviations used in documentation

7D5. Delivery of Physical Therapy Services: Respond effectively to environmental emergencies that may occur in the clinical setting.

• Identify typical emergency hospital codes

7D6. Delivery of Physical Therapy Services: Educate others using teaching methods that are commensurate with the needs of the learner, including participation in the clinical education of students, incorporate cultural humility and social determinants of health when providing patient and/or caregiver education.

• Demonstrate the ability to interact with peers, faculty, and patients in an ethical and professional manner
• Display the ability to appropriately communicate self and role in a simulated patient care scenario
• Educate on therapeutic guidelines for various systems in a simulated patient care scenario
• Demonstrate effective instructional techniques and procedures of safe transfers in a simulated patient scenario
• Explain the principles of proper posture, body mechanics, and lifting techniques
• Demonstrate effective instructional techniques for patient understanding and compliance with weight bearing status in a simulated patient scenario

7D7. Health Care Activities: Participate in efforts to ensure patient and health care provider safety

• Identify the components of Standard Precautions
• Identify the components of the regulations of Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) related to the practice of physical therapy and infection control
• Demonstrate ability to conduct proper hand washing
• Identify the basic measures of infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Describe the effects of infectious diseases and the importance of infection control in healthcare settings
• Identify the role of the immune system in the infectious disease process
• Apply safe body mechanics while implementing patient interventions

7D8. Health Care Activities: Participate in patient-centered interprofessional collaborative care.

• Identify other members of the interprofessional healthcare team and management team
• Identify the role of the physical therapist assistant in various clinical settings

7D11. Community Health: Provide physical therapy services that address: JEDI, belonging, and anti-racism, and health care disparities, and social determinants of health.

• Recognize factors of equity and inclusion as they affect health care delivery
• Choose appropriate draping strategies to protect patient modesty and dignity associated with patient specific needs when applying physical therapy intervention

7D13. Practice Management: Participate in the financial management of the practice setting, including accurate billing and payment for services rendered

• Identify components of a legal medical document and the role of documentation in providing quality care
• Identify components of various payer sources for physical therapy services