PTA - Physical Therapist Assistant

Examines the basic patient care skills for the healthcare practitioner enabling understanding and demonstration of skills that include positioning, body mechanics, transfers, range of motion, palpation, vital signs, aseptic techniques, bandaging, medical terminology, activities of daily living (ADLs), wheelchair management, architectural barriers, and gait training.

Explores the history of the profession including definition, development, and areas of practice. The role of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the physical therapist assistant (PTA) and the relationship between the physical therapist (PT), PTA and other health care professionals are investigated. This course covers current issues and trends including professionalism, legal aspects, ethics, quality assurance, communications and reimbursement issues such as Medicare, Medicaid, Worker's Compensation and commercial insurance.

Examines the theory and principles of physical therapy modalities. This course includes therapeutic heat and cold, traction, hydrotherapy, and light therapies.

Investigates the functioning, disability and health associated with a variety of genetic, developmental and neuromusculoskeletal conditions. The course covers medical management including pharmacology, and its impact on physical therapy rehabilitation principles are discussed. The course investigates evidence-based practice for genetic, developmental, musculoskeletal, and neurological system diagnosis, as well as common medical and surgical conditions, will be reviewed as they relate to physical therapy rehabilitation.

Introduces oral and written professional communication in the physical therapy field. This course develops skills in verbal and non-verbal communication, performance evaluation, literature research, and presentation, use of editorial style and technology, and development of professional behaviors.

Investigates the functioning, disabilities and health associated with a variety of pathophysiological processes and conditions. Medical management, including pharmacology, and its impact on physical therapy rehab principles are discussed. Evidence based practice for cardiovascular, endocrine/metabolic, gastrointestinal, genital/reproductive, hematologic, immune, integumentary, hepatic/biliary, lymphatic, and respiratory system diagnoses as well as chronic pain diagnoses and common medical and surgical conditions will be reviewed as they relate to physical therapy rehab.

Explores the principles and application of electrical stimulation (ES) modalities currently used in physical therapy practice. This course enables the understanding of the electrochemical and physiological effects of electrical stimulation and identification of the various forms and applications of electrical stimulation modalities.

Focuses on the science of human motion, theories of biomechanics, and muscle and joint structure and function. This course emphasizes basic principles of therapeutic exercise and their application to specific body regions and includes the application of kinesiology and exercise principles.

Explores medical documentation of patient care as used in the profession of physical therapy throughout multiple practice settings. This course develops physical therapy documentation skills that use standardized formats and meet requirements of various payer sources and settings.

Explores the psychosocial aspects of the patient and or client and health care practitioner. Investigates recognition of and adjustment for psychological, sociological, educational, cultural, economic, and political concerns on the delivery of health care services. Communication skills and social and advocacy responsibilities of the health care practitioner are discussed enabling the development of skills necessary to meet expectations and needs of members of society receiving health care services.

Examines the theory, principles, and practices of orthopedic conditions. This course includes assessment and management techniques pertaining to orthopedic conditions, goniometry, manual muscle testing, gait analysis, and posture analysis.

Examines the theory and principles of physical therapy with an introduction to assessment, management techniques and advanced physical therapy procedures as they relate to neurologic, cardiac and pulmonary conditions.

Advances development and application of the written and oral communication skills utilized in healthcare and physical therapy workplace settings.

Provides students with an experiential learning opportunity.

Focuses on initial clinical exposure providing hands on patient practicum skills and techniques. Includes application of basic patient care skills including transfers, range of motion, modalities, bandaging, aseptic techniques, and gait training. Students demonstrate professional behavior and communication principles appropriate in the physical therapy setting. A designated clinical instructor in an acute care, geriatric or outpatient setting will provide supervision.

Focuses on an intermediate clinical experience providing hands on patient practicum skills and techniques. Includes continued application of physical therapy procedures of Internship I with the addition of therapeutic exercise, goniometry, manual muscle testing and motor learning techniques. Students demonstrate professional behavior and communication principles appropriate in the physical therapy setting. A designated clinical instructor in an acute care, rehabilitation, outpatient, geriatric or home health setting provides supervision. During the internship the student presents an in-service on a physical therapy related topic.

Incorporates advanced clinical experience providing hands on patient practicum skills and techniques. Students will refine all physical therapy skills in preparation to enter the field as an entry level physical therapist assistant. This final experience includes independent practice with an assigned caseload under the on-site supervision of a clinical instructor. The student will present an in service on a physical therapy related topic.