All PTA program courses may be attempted only twice and the minimum passing grade is a C+.

Grading:

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Text(s):

Required:

Please refer to the PTA Program Textbook Listing and Check with your instructor prior to the purchase of any textbooks to make sure you have the most recent information.

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Course Description:       PTA  Clinical Education I

         This is the first clinical experience within the Physical Therapist Assistant Program curriculum.  Students will be investing 40 hours per week for 4 weeks in a physical therapy clinical setting within the local geographic area.  It is designed to provide the student with an opportunity to observe the clinic environment, PT/PTA interaction, time management techniques, professional deportment and the organization of patient chart information. Additionally, students are expected to perform limited physical therapy techniques as deemed appropriate by the clinical instructor (CI). (Students have already successfully completed Pathology, Therapeutic Measurement and Kinesiology. Earlier in this Fall semester they have completed the majority of content in PTA Techniques and Physical Agents)

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Course Goals:

The student/learner will be able to:

1. Discuss the organization of the physical therapy department of the clinical facility and the responsibilities of physical therapy department personnel.
2. Describe the sequence of events for physical therapy services from patient entry through discharge
3. Perform and document limited physical therapy techniques as deemed appropriate by the clinical instructor.
4. Summarize the role of the PTA in the physical therapy clinical setting.
5. Describe the relevance of patient safety, professional deportment, time management, and verbal/non-verbal communication within the physical therapy clinical setting.

Course Objectives:

                  Following the successful completion of this course with a grade of "C+" or higher, the student/learner will possess skills in the following domains:

Cognitive/Knowledge

• describe the measurements taken during an initial evaluation of a patient
• describe the sequence of events from the first visit to physical therapy through patient discharge from physical therapy
• define the responsibilities of physical therapy department  personnel
• describe strategies for patient scheduling in a physical therapy department
• identify at least three types of 3rd party payer systems in physical therapy
• present a sound rationale for clinical problem solving
• present sound clinical decisions with the plan of care to ensure patient safety while maximizing patient outcomes

Psychomotor

• perform manual muscle tests (MMT), range of motion (ROM) using a goniometer, and vital signs measurements on patients
• prepare patients for physical therapy treatment interventions
• apply physical agents (thermal and electrical) to patients to accomplish therapeutic treatment goals
• document all relevant information in SOAP note format in a method that is accurate, concise, legible, grammatically correct and timely
• recognize individual and cultural differences and respond appropriately in all aspects of physical therapy services
• take appropriate action in an emergency situation (or discuss the steps to take during an emergency situation)
• adjust interventions within the plan of care (POC) established by the PT  in response to patient clinical indicators and report this back to the supervising PT
• recognize when intervention should not be provided due to changes in the patient’s status and report this back to the supervising PT
• prepare a written case study of a patient being treated in physical therapy
• recognize when the direction to perform an intervention is beyond the scope of practice for a PTA student/learner
• submit accurate billing forms in a timely manner
• ensure patient safety by the use of universal precautions, proper body mechanics, proper guarding techniques, and maintaining a safe environment
• demonstrate an awareness of one’s own limits by asking for assistance when necessary and asking appropriate questions
• maintain patient confidentiality, dignity, and modesty in the clinical environment
• establish realistic weekly goals in an effort to improve clinical skills
• performs physical therapy interventions in a competent manner including therapeutic exercise, therapeutic activities, neuromuscular re-education, gait training and modalities as appropriate for the clinical site
• review patient data prior to treatment interventions, demonstrating the ability to identify data which is pertinent and its importance for that patient

Affective

• demonstrates initiative by arriving early each day, arriving prepared and asking relevant questions
• exhibit conduct that reflects practice standards that are legal, ethical, and safe
• interact appropriately with other members of the healthcare team in patient care and non- patient care activities
• communicate verbally and non-verbally with the patient, the physical therapist (PT), health care delivery personnel and others in an effective, appropriate and respectful manner
• maintain an open line of communication with the supervising PT to discuss patient and practice concerns
• accept feedback without becoming angry or defensive and use it to strengthen future performance as a PTA in the clinical setting

Course Outline:

Week 1  Orientation to the clinical setting

The student/learner is expected to observe the physical therapy department and personnel utilization until the student/learner and the CI determine that the student/learner is sufficiently acclimated to this setting.  The CI will be interacting with the student/learner and working with the student/learner to set up observations as needed.  The student/learner needs to initiate interaction with patients, seek out the components of departmental organization, and documentation style.  During this week the student/learner is expected to develop goals for the clinical affiliation, discuss and negotiate the goals with the CI, and determine a plan for implementation during the clinical affiliation. 

Weeks 2-4    Integration into the clinical setting

Expected experiences:

• an initial patient examination with a patient with an orthopedic diagnosis
• measurement of muscle strength, girth, and joint ROM
• measurement of vital signs
• gait training
• therapeutic exercise
• application of physical agents
• documentation of treatment
• patient chart organization
• patient education
• body mechanics techniques
• patient scheduling protocols
• 3rd party payer reimbursement structures
• plans for quality assurance
• a case study to follow the progress of a patient over at least 3 visits
• review patient chart information and compile a list of the medications and diagnoses, noting side effects that are observed by the physical therapy clinical staff.

PTA 224 PTA Clinical Education I:    

Paper Assignment

During the 4 weeks of your first clinical affiliation, you will have the opportunity to see a variety of patients with different diagnoses.  Over the course of the affiliation, you will be able to see several patients for more than one treatment session.  Choose one of these patients who has a diagnosis which intrigues you and use that patient for this paper assignment.  You will be preparing a mini case study of the patient.  Over the course of the affiliation, collect pertinent information from the patient’s chart, therapist, and the patient her/himself regarding diagnosis, treatment goals, treatment plan, and progress toward those goals.  Use that information to prepare your case study.

Components of the case study:

• Diagnosis (described in detail from the literature)
• Prognosis (also from the literature)
• Evaluation findings
• Treatment goals
• Treatment techniques
• Patient response to treatment
• Discussion (interpretation of all of the above data)
• References:  Minimum of 5 references with no more than 3 from WEB sites
  • use of the PTA Program Documentation Style Guide is STRONGLY recommended

Minimum Course Requirements

• Completion of Written Clinical Goals for Clinical Instructor
• 160 Clinical Hours in the assigned site
• Submission of completed Clinical Education forms:

          Student Performance Instrument

          Self Performance Assessment Instrument

          Clinical Experience and Clinical Instruction Evaluation

• Completion of a written Case Study