Practicum I Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

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Course

PTHA-2567-001 Practicum I

Prerequisites

Course Description

Practical general workplace training supported by an individualized learning plan developed by the employer, college and student.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(5 sem hrs; 35 clinical)

Class Type

Clinical

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Physical Therapist Assistant Manual for the Assessment of Clinical Skills (PTA MAC'S)

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\      Texas Alliance of Physical Therapist Assistant Educators, Inc.

Supplies

The student will be required to dress in professional attire as indicated by the assigned clinical facility. The student is also expected to have a student ID from Amarillo College. The student is also responsible for following dress code as indicated

Student Performance

COURSE GOALS AND COMPETENCIES

1. The student will demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
2. The student will adhere to federal/state and institutional legal standards
3. The student will demonstrate the ability to apply the principles consistent with APTA’s Values Based Behaviors for the Physical Therapist Assistant
4. The student will demonstrate the ability to communicate to patients, family members, caregivers, and health practitioners using medical/lay terminology as appropriate.
5. The student will utilize correct medical terminology and abbreviations
6. The student will ask relevant questions of his/her patients to gain an understanding of their present condition and feelings
7. The student will know and understand the diagnosis, prescription, and precautions from the initial evaluation for all patients he/she is treating.
8. The student will demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge and principles received from courses taken in the PTA curriculum.
9. The student will identify and integrate appropriate evidence based resources to support clinical decision making for progression of the patient within the plan of care.
10. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the plan of care to achieve short and long term goals for the patient
11. The student will be able to state objectives of his/her exercise programs and functional expectations for the patients he/she is treating.
12. The student will provide verbal evidence of knowledge of indications and contraindications for all techniques he/she is utilizing.
13. The student will review the initial evaluation and plan of care thoroughly prior to treating a patient.
14. The student will be able to obtain relevant information concerning his/her patient from ward and clinical charts
15. The student will recognize when an intervention should not be performed due to clinical indications
16. The student will recognize when an intervention is outside the scope of the physical therapist assistant
17. The student will monitor interventions in the plan of care to ensure proper treatment is maintained with patient status.
18. The student will adjust interventions in accordance with the plan of care as necessary in response to patient status and clinical indications.
19. The student will observe and report to the supervisor clinical signs, symptoms condition changes, setbacks, of the patient he/she is treating and when appropriate suggest treatment changes.
20. The student will report progress to the supervisor for adjustment in short and long term goals when met.
21. The student will verbalize a plan to work toward discharge goals with all patients seen under their care.
22. The student will perform tests and measures according to the plan of care to gather information for the discharge process.
23. The student will ensure that the patient has a follow up plan in place (HEP, transfer orders, etc.) prior to discharge
24. The student will write documentation notes on a number of patients to provide evidence that he/she can observe and record appropriate signs, symptoms, and treatment objectives.
25. The student will write documentation appropriate to the individual setting, Texas Practice Act, and other regulatory agencies.
26. The student will demonstrate basic knowledge of the following by responding correctly to clinical instructor’s questions related to procedures being performed:

• Human anatomy and physiology
• Relationship to anatomical structures to normal and abnormal movement
• Pathophysiological conditions resulting from injury and disease and psychological reactions
• Basic physical principles for electricity, heat, cold, water, light, and simple machines as related to the physical therapy procedures.
• Operation and maintenance of equipment being used

27. The student will demonstrate satisfactory progress in treating patients using the skills acquired in the PTA courses including:

• Therapeutic exercise
• Physical agent modalities
• Massage and postural drainage
• Gait training
• First aid
• Vital signs
• Wound care
• ADL training
• Assistive device training
• Body mechanics
• Rehab techniques

28. The student will receive Clinical Instructor approval for all skills on Section I: Professional Behaviors, Section II: Data Collection Techniques, and Section III: Interventions of the PTA MACs Master List.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

\ ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Students demonstrating academic dishonesty as defined in the “Students Right and Responsibilities” handout will receive a grade of “F” in the course and will be subject to all PTA program policies regarding course failure.

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\ STUDENT GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

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\ A student who has a problem with the course or the course instructor should make every attempt to resolve the problem with the course instructor. If that is not successful, the student may appeal the decision of the instructor to the program director, chairman of allied health division, the dean of instruction, and the president - IN THAT ORDER.

Grading Criteria

GRADING CRITERIA

Students will be expected to have met all the required skills in the PTA Macs with a minimum level of competency.  Additional comments from the Clinical Instructor both on the PTA Macs form and through interview will be the basis for a percentage of the student’s grade.  The student will also receive a grade from the ACCE, which is based on the interview of the CI as well as student comments. Upon collection of this information from all three areas the grade will be averaged and determined for a grade of no less than 74.5%.  Student is required to be at entry level at the completion of the second 7 week clinical rotation. If the student is not at entry level the student will receive a grade of 50% by the ACCE. This grade will be formulated on the basis of the student’s performance as well as the interview with the CI. If the student is deemed to be below entry level upon completion of the second 7 week clinical rotation, the student will receive an incomplete and be required to complete a fourth full time rotation. If unsuccessful at the end of the fourth full time rotation the student will be dismissed from the PTA Program and unable to sit for the licensing exam.

 

Skills*                       33.3%

Clinical Instructor**    33.3%

ACCE***                   33.4%

                                 100%

GRADING SCALE:

A=100-92.5

B=92.4-83.5

C=83.4-74.5

F=74.4-0

 

I. SKILLS*

100% Skill Approval is required on all skills on the PTA MAC’s Master List as well as two from the site-specific section IV, and completion of the skills must be accurately documented. 100% of the key indicators on each skill must be completed by a check mark, if at all possible. If the facility does not observe a particular key indicator, however student has mastered all other key indicators the skill may be considered mastered.

CRITERIA FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PTA MAC’S

Please note that on Skills # 21, as many physical agents as possible should be applied during the rotation. Each physical agent should be listed and rated separately. This guideline also applies for Skills 14.8, 14.10,16, and 24.

A. *Acceptance for each approved skill will be subject to the following:

1. Approved items are to be checked appropriately.
2. Skills left blank (without appropriate documentation) are considered unapproved items. The student will lose 3 points for any skill, which is left blank.
3. NA (not applicable) designation may be used by the CI if a skill could not be completed secondary to the lack of patient population, equipment, or opportunity at a particular rotation, or the CI may document NO OPPORTUNITY in the Comment Section of each skill for any skill where the student has not had an opportunity to perform that activity. However, the student is responsible for requesting the chance to optimize experiences at each site because future opportunities may be even more limited for gaining proficiency in a certain skill. The student will not be penalized for documented NA or NO OPPORTUNITIES in the PTA MAC’s comment sections, or the Skills Criteria Form.
4. The student will not be penalized for documented NE’s.
5. The student will have ten (10) points deducted for each NI.

II. Clinical Instructor**

a. The following criteria will be used by the clinical instructor in order to provide a letter grade for the student at the completion of the his/her full time rotation.

    Excellent or "A" student

• The student provides the CI with identified skills to be addressed during the rotation and updates the skills as necessary.
• Takes initiative in learning unfamiliar skills, techniques.
• Researches literature during rotation on new treatment interventions.
• Exudes professionalism, responsibility, interpersonal skills, and demonstrates commitment to learning.
• Upholds integrity.
• Initiates completion of one additional site-specific skill or other skill on PTA Master List. (This does not include the two each student is to complete for the skills grade.)

             b.Good or above average student is equal to the letter grade of a “B”.

• Initiates completion of one additional site- specific skill or other skill on PTA Master List. (This does not include the two each student is to complete for the skills grade.)
• Adheres to professional behaviors, which include, professionalism, responsibility, interpersonal skills and demonstrates commitment to learning.
• Upholds integrity.

            c. Average student is equal to the letter grade of a “C”.

• Completes all skills on the Master List.
• Requires counseling for professional behaviors, which includes: time management, interpersonal skills, professional behavior, responsibility and commitment to learning.

III. ACCE***

a. The student is expected to be prepared for the final faculty visit, either by phone or in person site visit. This expects the student to have completed the Self-Assessment in the PTA MAC’s. Upon completion of the rotation the student will have the SECEE forms (green sheets) filled out and all questions answered (no blanks) with appropriate signatures on the final page. The student is also expected to have all documents properly signed by the designated parties. (The pink sheets and the attendance sheet). The student is to follow the instructions provided by the ACCE in regards to the mailing/delivery method of the pink/green sheets or have the documents completed and ready to be pick up by the ACCE, as well the attendance form. If completed unsatisfactorily the student will receive a 10-point deduction from his/her ACCE final grade. (Worth 10% of ACCE grade)

            b. The student will submit a weekly journal via Blackboard through the Content portal.  HIPAA guidelines MUST be followed when journaling. Journal entry is due no later than Sunday at 11:59 pm every week of rotation. (Worth 10% of ACCE grade)

c. Upon completion of the rotation the student will turn in the PTA MAC’s, so the ACCE can verify all remaining documents in the PTA MAC’s have been completed properly. (Proper completion of the Master List). If not completed satisfactorily the student will receive a 10-point deduction from his/her ACCE final grade. Due date for these documents to be turned in will follow the completion of the final 7 week rotation. Exact date and time will be provided prior to the completion of the final rotation. (Worth 13.4% of final grade)

FAILURE OF PTHA 2567 MAY BE CAUSED BY:

1. An inability to accomplish the 100% approval on all skills on the PTA Master List, with the exceptions of NA or No Opportunity.
2. A failure to submit 75% of the other required Grading Criteria (SECEE form, Computer generated journal, PTA MAC’s, mailing of pink/green sheets, all required signatures).
3. A failing evaluation by the Clinical Instructor.
4. Non-compliance with Facility and Program Attendance Policy Requirements without special permission given by the Clinical Instructor at the Facility, as well as by the Academic Coordinator for Clinical Education of the Program who additionally serves as the instructor for PTHA 2567.
5. Request from the Clinical Instructor or representative of the Clinical Facility to withdraw the student from the facility.

Attendance

Attendance: "Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class."

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Attendance is required for successful completion of all practicum courses in the Physical Therapist Assistant program. The student is expected to attend all clinic days in each of the  the seven-week rotation. Tardiness will not be accepted during either of the seven-week full time rotations. One tardy will be considered one absence. For each absence/tardy a 5-point deduction will be made on the final grade. For example a student who is absent twice or is tardy two times will have a total of 10 points deducted from his/her final grade. Exceptions to this policy will only be made under extenuating circumstances and only if the ACCE and clinical instructor receive the appropriate written documentation to support the event within 2 days of the absence. You will be required to make up any and all missed time from the clinic rotation for the rotation to be considered complete. The ACCE is to be informed regarding any missed clinic dates as well as the arrangement to make up the missed clinic time.

Calendar

Additional Information

Practicum 1 is coordinated by the ACCE of the Physical Therapist Assistant program. 

Instruction methods: Clinical experience

Each student is expected to frequently check for announcements/e-mails through Blackboard for updated information. This will also be the primary form of communication for the student to contact me if there are any questions or concerns while they are on the rotation. I may also be contacted by office phone: (806)354-6003. Please share this phone number with CCCE as well as CI.

Last day to Drop/Withdraw: April 21, 2016. Any student not withdrawn by April 21, 2016 will receive the grade earned.

http://www.actx.edu/allied_health/index.php?module=article&op=print&id=33  This website is to be used for student injuires while on clinical rotation.

Amarillo College Resources link: https://www.actx.edu/resources