The Profession of Physical Therapy Syllabus for 2017-2018
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Course

PTHA-1301-001 The Profession of Physical Therapy

Prerequisites

Course Description

Introduction to the profession of physical therapy and the role of the physical therapist assistant.

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Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact your advisor, the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

The Role of the Physical Therapist Assistant:  Regulations and Responsibilities, 2nd edition by Holly Clynch, 2017, published by FA Davis

Supplies

Computer with internet access

 

Student Performance

This course is designed to provide student with a knowledge of the history, purpose, and scope of physical therapy and to help students recognize the roles and responsibilities of the Physical Therapist Assistant in physical therapy and the health care system.

Given the course textbook, personal notes, handouts and other material, the student should begin to demonstrate competence with components of the following requisite skills identified by CAPTE.

Course Objectives:

 

1. Demonstrate an understanding of physical therapy and the role of the physical therapist assistant.
2. Describe the history and development of the physical therapy profession.
3. Describe the American Physical Therapy Association, its function and structure.
4. Define the roles, responsibilities, and functions of the physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, and physical therapy aide.
5. Interpret the components of the APTA's Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant and laws governing physical therapy.
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the APTA's Professionalism in Physical Therapy: Core Values.
7. Recognize the components of Values- Based Behaviors for the Physical Therapist Assistant.
8. Demonstrate the performance of duties consistent with the APTA Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant.
9. Identify the benefits available from participation in professional and service associations.
10. Recognize the role of the PTA in the clinical education of the PTA student
11. Demonstrate an awareness of social responsibility and the non-clinical roles of the PTA.
12. Identify opportunities available for the licensed physical therapist assistant including specializations, continuing education, and research opportunities.
13. Recognize the role of the PTA in discharge planning and follow-up as directed by the supervising physical therapist.
14. Demonstrate an understanding of the health care delivery system and the physical therapist assistant's role within the system.
15. Identify various physical therapy settings within the delivery system.
16. Recognize legal, fiscal, and ethical issues that affect physical therapy and the health care delivery system as a whole.
17. Identify the members of the interdisciplinary team and the roles of each member.
18. Describe factors having legal/ethical implications on patient interactions in physical therapy.
19. Identify the importance of patient and family education.
20. List commonly held stereotype beliefs about the following groups (cultural/ethnic groups, injured workers, and physically challenged).
21. Compose a paper on cultural competence issues.
22. Demonstrate understanding of patient confidentiality requirements and regulations.
23. Identify components of the Texas Practice Act and Rules and Regulations regarding the role of the physical therapist assistant.
24. Recognize societal expectations of members of a profession.
25. Describe how cultural and age diversity can impact communication with patients and family members/caregivers.
26. Demonstrate the ability to effectively perform an interview with a patient and caregiver.
27. Recognize various models of disability, including the ICF model.
28. Identify the psychosocial aspects of patient care including disability and death/dying issues.
29. Recognize the signs of abuse of vulnerable populations. 
30. Identify and utilize abbreviations common to the medical profession, with emphasis on those used in physical therapy.
31. Identify quality assurance activities used in physical therapy settings.
32. Define concepts and principles of continuous quality improvement.
33. Recognize the role of both verbal and non-verbal communication in physical therapy.
34. Discuss professional behaviors appropriate in both the classroom and clinical settings.
35. Compose a research paper on a physical therapy related organization.
36. Review a peer reviewed journal article for basic concepts of validity, reliability, and statistical significance.
37. Outline the organization/structure of typical physical therapy departments and healthcare organizations.
38. Compare common reimbursers for physical therapy and other health services
39. Integrate appropriate resources on healthcare reimbursement for mock patient case scenarios.

 

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

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Expected Student Behavior

Grading Criteria

Attendance

ATTENDANCE: Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the learner to attend class. At the beginning of each lecture, learners will be expected to sign the roster provided by the instructor. Failure to sign in will result in the learner being marked absent for attendance purposes even if he/she is present in class and seen by the instructor.

Each learner will be allowed only one absence for lecture only courses. After the first absence, a penalty of five (5) points will be deducted from the final course grade for each subsequent absence. For example, a learner who misses two (2) lectures will have five (5) points deducted from the final grade for the course.

Full attendance of class time is also expected. A learner will be counted as "absent" if the learner is out of class more than 20 minutes of a class time. For example, if in a given day a learner arrives 10 minutes late to class, takes an extra 5 minutes for break and leaves class for 5 minutes for any reason (phone calls, appointments, bathroom breaks, illness), that is considered an "absence" for the day. This type of absence counts in the total number of absences resulting in lowering of the final course grade.

If a student is asked to leave a class due to disruption or lack of participation, the student will be counted absent for that entire class.

Following an absence, the student is responsible for getting missed notes/assignments/copies of handouts, etc. from classmates. The student is also responsible for getting any needed clarification of missed information from the course instructor.

Calendar

Additional Information

 

If you are in need of additional resources throughout the semester, please visit the following site https://www.actx.edu/resources/