PTAS 101 - Introduction to the Physical Therapist Assistant

1. Communication
   • Identify effective strategies of verbal and non-verbal communication (7D7)
   • Duplicate effective oral communication strategies in simulated patient and peer education 7D7, 7D12, 7D5)
2. Behavior and Conduct
   • Identify components of the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant (7D4)
   • Identify the roles of the Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistant within the practice act of a given jurisdiction (7D1, 7D4)
   • Imitate the ability to safely perform designated therapeutic techniques in simulated patient scenarios within the scope of a Physical Therapist Assistant (7D27)
   • Imitate the ability to interact in an ethical, legal, and professional manner in simulated patient scenarios within the scope of a Physical Therapist Assistant (7D6)
3. Plan of Care - Understanding [toward goals and intended outcomes]
   • List the components of the patient/client management model including the Plan of Care (7D17, 7D18)
   • Identify the components of a Physical Therapist developed Plan of Care (7D17)
   • Identify the role of the Physical Therapist Assistant in patient/client management within designated portions of the Plan of Care (7D17)
4. Plan of Care - Implementation [under the direction and supervision of a Physical Therapist]
   • Functional training
     • Identify the assistive devices for gait related to patient care , safety, and given diagnoses (7D23)
     • Identify gait sequencing and weight bearing with assistive devices of gait (7D23f)
     • Duplicate instructional techniques for assistive devices for gait for safe intervention with simulated patient scenarios (7D23g, 7D24e)
     • Explain the principles of proper posture, body mechanics, and lifting techniques (7D23d, 7D23h)
     • Duplicate principles of proper posture, body mechanics, and lifting techniques for safe intervention with simulated patient scenarios (7D23d)
     • Explain the forms, indications, contraindications and assistance levels of patient transfers (7D24m)
     • Demonstrate effective instructional techniques and procedures of safe transfers in a simulated patient scenario (7D23g, 7D27)
     • Demonstrate effective instructional techniques for patient understanding and compliance with weight bearing status in a simulated patient scenario (7D24e)
     • Identify wheelchair components and their functions (7D23f)
     • Identify wheelchair component measurement and fit for optimal patient positioning and mobility (7D24d)
     • Demonstrate effective techniques and procedures in safe wheelchair mobility tasks in simulated patients (7D24e, 7D27)
   • Infection control procedures
     • Identify the components of the cycle of infection including means of transmission (7D27)
     • Identify the components of Standard Precautions (7D27)
     • Identify the components of the regulations of Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) related to the practice of physical therapy and infection control (7D23i, 7D26)
     • Demonstrate ability to conduct proper hand washing (7D27)
     • Identify the basic measures of infection control and personal protective equipment (PPE) (7D23i)
   • Manual therapy techniques
     • Define the forms, indications, and contraindications of range of motion (7D23e)
     • Identify the planes and axes of the motions of the upper and lower extremities and spine (7D24g)
     • Name the basic components of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) diagonal patterns of the upper and lower extremities (7D23e)
   • Demonstrate ability to safely and effectively apply range of motion in a simulated patient scenario (7D23e, 7D24j, 7D24k, 7D24l, 7D27)
5. Plan of Care - Competency in Data Collection [under the direction and supervision of a Physical Therapist]
   • Aerobic capacity and endurance
     • Identify the common vital signs and normal ranges measured in physical therapy (7D24a, 7D24j)
     • Demonstrate ability to safely and accurately measure respiratory rate, pulse rate, and blood pressure (7D24a, 7D24n)
     • Calculate respiratory and pulse rate in a simulated patient scenario (7D24a)
   • Anthropometric characteristics
     • Identify procedures for measuring height for appropriate fit of assistive devices (7D24b)
     • Demonstrate ability to accurately measure weight for appropriate measure of weight bearing status (7D24b)
     • Identify and define weight bearing status types (7D24e)
     • Demonstrate ability to monitor weight bearing status in a simulated patient scenario (7D24e, 7D27)
   • Integumentary integrity
     • Explain the importance of the types of patient positioning (7D24f)
     • Identify bony prominences at risk in each type of patient positioning (7D24f)
     • Demonstrate ability to safely and effectively apply bed mobility and patient positioning in a simulated patient scenario (7D23d, 7D24j)
     • Explain the importance of skin inspection (7D24f)
   • Self, home, community, and work reintegration
     • Identify basic components of the Americans with Disability Act ADA (7D24m)
     • Describe the history of the ADA (7D1)
6. Scope of Practice - Plan of Care: monitors, adjusts, determines, reports, clarifies with supervising PT
   • Summarize the history of the physical therapy profession, including the development of the roles of the Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistant (7D20, 7D21)
   • 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) (7D13)
   • Identify the educational requirements and responsibilities of the Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Physical Therapy Aide (7D1, 7D4)
   • Explain the levels of supervision (7D1, 7D4)
7. Plan of Care - education of patient, caregiver and non-healthcare others with supervising PT
   • Duplicate patient education in simulated patient scenarios (7D8, 7D12)
8. Emergency Response
   • Identify the common emergency hospital codes (7D26)
9. Documentation and discharge planning with supervising PT
   • Name the common forms of documentation in physical therapy (7D18, 7D22, 7D25)
   • Identify components of a legal medical document and the role of documentation in providing quality care (7D3, 7D25, 7D29)
   • Identify the information that belongs in each component of the SOAP note (7D25, 7D31)
10. Healthcare Literature
    • Identify and locate available healthcare literature regarding the practice of physical therapy and current events affecting physical therapy (7D10, 7D11)
    • List common classification systems (Nagi, IFC, etc.) utilized in the practice of physical therapy (7D17, 7D24m)
    • Review and discuss major practice areas of physical therapy: Musculoskeletal, Neurological, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary, Integumentary, Pediatric, and Geriatric (7D4)
    • Identify the role of physical therapy over the life span including expected aging process and related data collection and therapeutic interventions (7D16, 7D24c)
11. Education - other healthcare members; role of PTA
    • Identify and explain aspects of care in each major practice area: population served, disorders, diseases, tests and measures, interventions and the role of the Physical Therapist Assistant (7D28)
12. Administration
    • Identify components of various payer sources for physical therapy services (7D31)
    • Identify other members of the interprofessional healthcare team and management team (7D28, 7D30)
13. Career Development
    • Identify the role of the PTA in the supervision of the student PTA (7D14)