Basic Patient Care Skills Syllabus for 2023-2024
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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

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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Course

PTHA-1405-001 Basic Patient Care Skills

Prerequisites

Corequisite: PTHA 1301, PTHA 1413 and BIOL 2401

Course Description

The application of basic patient handling, functional skills, communication and selected data collection techniques.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

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:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact 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

(4 sem hrs; 3 lec, 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

REQUIRED TEXTS:

• Johansson C, Ramsey C, Chinworth S. Mobility in Context, 3rd ed. F.A. Davis. 2022

ISBN 978-1-7196-4286-6

• Bircher W. Documentation for the Physical Therapist Assistant, 6th ed. F.A. Davis. 2022

ISBN 978-1-7196-4308-5

• Observational Gait Analysis, Ranchos Los Amigos Research and Education Institute. 2001

ISBN 0-9676335-1-6

Supplies

ADDITIONAL SUPPLES:  Student Basic Skills Kit (recommended) including BP cuff, stethoscope, goniometers, gait belts, measuring tape, stopwatch

Student Performance

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The application of basic patient handling, functional skills, communication and selected data collection techniques.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This course is designed to give the skills needed to build a foundation of knowledge upon which more advanced skills may be added as the student progresses in the program. The course also provides nursing care skills as applicable to the physical therapy clinic.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Students demonstrating academic dishonesty as defined in the “Student Rights and Responsibilities” handout will receive a grade of “F” in the course and will be subject to all PTA program policies regarding course failure. CUEING ANOTHER PERSON DURING AN EXAM, APPLICATION, OR SKILLS CHECK-OFF WILL BE CONSIDERED CHEATING.

COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Goals: Through the course textbook, personal notes, handouts, direct instruction, and other material, the student should begin to demonstrate competence with components of the following requisite skills identified by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education:

1. Apply the laws and regulations governing physical therapy practice to course-related skills.
2. Demonstrate appropriate professional behaviors in all interactions with classmates and instructors by displaying all Professional Behaviors at the beginning level

Communication

1. Utilize correct medical terminology and abbreviations
2. Identify strategies for guiding dialog with the patient/client to appropriate subjects and issues.
3. Demonstrate the ability to obtain essential subjective information from patients and/or family members through interviewing to obtain current information about patient’s level of function and status

Body Mechanics and Transfers

1. Identify types of transfers used in the clinical setting.
2. Demonstrate the ability to competently perform common bed mobility and patient transfer techniques.
3. Recognize the different levels of patient function during bed mobility and transfers.
4. Demonstrate the ability to effectively educate another person on body mechanics training.
5. Describe proper body mechanics to lift, reach, push, pull, and carry objects.

Patient Positioning

1. Describe proper positioning of the trunk, head, and extremities with the patient supine, prone, side-lying, or sitting
2. Identify positions and postures that aggravate or relieve pain or altered sensations.
3. Identify areas prone to skin breakdown in a variety of patient positions.
4. Demonstrate the ability to competently position a patient in supine, prone, side-lying, and sitting.

Documentation

1. Compare each section of a SOAP note.
2. Accurately document a patient’s activities in the objective portion of the SOAP note including the patient’s functional capabilities and progress toward goals.
3. Compose a SOAP note demonstrating an understanding of short and long term goals from the physical therapist's initial evaluation.
4. Demonstrate the ability to accurately locate information in the medical record, based on an understanding of how medical record content is organized.
5. Compare documentation and discharge planning responsibilities of the PT and PTA.
6. Discuss the importance of discharge planning when a patient begins physical therapy.
7. Identify standards and criteria for documentation set by federal and state governments, professional associations, accrediting agencies, and health-care facilities.
8. Identify HMOs, PPOs, Medicare (parts A through D) and Medicaid.
9. Differentiate types of reimbursement for the PT and the PTA in specific health-care settings.

Aseptic Technique

1. Recognize the principles and concepts of infection control.
2. Define and list indications for transmission-based precautions as well as understand the pathogens transmitted for airborne, droplet, and contact precautions.
3. Demonstrate the ability to work within a sterile field and to perform a sterile dressing change.
4. Demonstrate the ability to competently perform appropriate infection control techniques, including hand washing and donning and doffing personal protective equipment.
5. Compare infection control guidelines for the different patient isolation categories.

Wound Care

1. Identify the major types of wounds and ulcerations.
2. Recognize the indications and contraindications for various types of wound care treatments and dressings.
3. Demonstrate the ability to competently apply and remove wound dressings.
4. Identify precautions for dressing removal.
5. Recognize as viable and nonviable tissue.
6. Describe wound characteristics including bleeding, contraction, depth, drainage, location, odor, pigment, shape, size, tunneling, and undermining.

Assistive Devices/Gait Training

1. Identify the different assistive devices used in gait training.
2. Demonstrate common gait patterns utilized with walkers, crutches, and canes
3. Demonstrate the ability to competently perform appropriate gait training, including accurate fitting of the assistive device and appropriate patient guarding.
4. Compare the different levels of patient function during gait training.
5. Identify a patient and caregiver's ability to care for an assistive device
6. Recognize safety factors and potential changes in skin condition from while using assistive devices for gait

Wheelchairs

1. Identify the components and features of various wheelchairs.
2. List the standard measurements for an adult wheelchair.
3. Identify common problems with wheelchair fitting and positioning, including potential solutions.
4. Demonstrate appropriate wheelchair management and mobility techniques.

Vital Signs

1. Identify normal and abnormal vital sign values.
2. Describe the normal and abnormal changes in blood pressure, heart rate, breathing pattern, and respiration rate during exercise and positional changes.
3. Recognize responses to positional changes and activities
4. Recognize normal and abnormal changes in the direction and magnitude of patient’s state of arousal, mentation, and cognition

Anthropometric Characteristics

1. Demonstrate the ability to accurately assess height, weight, length, and girth.

ROM

1. Identify indications, contraindications, and precautions for passive range of motion, active assistive range of motion, and active range of motion.
2. Describe the planes of the body and the joint motions that take place within them.
3. Demonstrate the ability to competently perform passive range of motion for the major joints of the upper and lower extremities.

Special Equipment

1. Describe safe techniques when working with patients with catheters, IV’s, chest tubes, gastrostomy tubes, casts, telemetry, or traction
2. Identify the indications, contraindications and parameters of the tilt table and standing frame.

First Aid

1. Identify common signs symptoms, and the appropriate responses for various medical conditions, including fractures, severe bleeding, dislocations, shock, sprains, strains, orthostatic hypotension, hypoglycemia, and autonomic dysreflexia.
2. Describe precautions to improve safety and reduce patient and employee injury in the treatment setting.
3. Identify the appropriate response to common medical emergencies that occur in the clinical environment

Students 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

Expected Student Behavior

Students shall read the Amarillo College "Student Rights and Responsibilities" information with emphasis placed on the Academic Information, Student Conduct and Responsibilities, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Education/Prevention Program sections.

Students will not use cell phones in the classroom, unless the instructor allows use for a specific activity. All such devices must be placed on silent mode and kept stored. If a student expects that there may be some type of emergency situation, the student should inform the instructor prior to the beginning of class. Unauthorized use of cell phones in class will result in the student being asked to leave the class and being counted absent for the lecture/lab.

Student participation is a required element during Lecture and Lab classes. If a student refuses to participate actively or is disengaged in a discussion or activity, the student may be asked to leave class and will be counted absent for the day. Students do have the right to refuse the application of any specific treatment or activity for medical or personal reasons. This does not constitute a reason for absence from class. Alternate activities or assignments will be required.

At all times, students are obligated to demonstrate the professional demeanor expected of any health care provider. While in this educational program, the student must collaborate and cooperate with others in the classroom. Classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences will, to some degree, be performed as a class. What one class member does may reflect on all other members. Designated assignments are to be done individually. Failure to complete these assignments independently may result in a failing grade for the assignment. It is the student’s immediate responsibility to work cooperatively with peers and faculty. Active participation in the educational environment is essential to success in this program. All matters of non-participation, hindrances to the learning environment, and non-cooperation will be addressed by the faculty through a disciplinary process.

Dress Code:

Students in the PTA Program are expected to dress conservatively and professionally, as expected in the clinic. The student will attend class in clothing that is clean and neat. At times the student may be required to wear business professional dress including black, navy, or khaki pants and polo-type shirts. Closed-toe, closed-heel shoes with non-slip soles in good, clean condition should be worn during all class and lab activities. Amarillo College Badge/ID's should also be worn during all off-campus class and clinical activities. Student’ hair must be clean, secured back off the face, and styled in a manner that is professional in appearance. Hair color must be a naturally occurring color. All jewelry and cologne should be conservative and limited to a minimal amount. Hats must not be worn at any time in the practicum setting. Fingernails should be short and clean. Facial hair must be kept neatly trimmed to the standards required by the clinical setting. Students will always maintain good hygiene, with daily bathing/showering, oral hygiene, and use of antiperspirant required. The student's professional dress is subject to approval by the course instructor. If professional dress code is not followed, the student may not be able to participate in the scheduled activity, may receive an attendance penalty for the day, and/or may not have the option to makeup the assignment. 

Participation:

All students enrolled in the physical therapist assistant program are expected to participate in laboratory and classroom activities. Students may be asked to simulate patients or therapists during these activities. All students have the right to be informed of the activities required by a specific course and any limitations that would preclude them from participation. All students have the responsibility to inform the course instructor of any limitation(s) that may limit their ability to participate in an event. Students may be videotaped, audio taped, photographed, or otherwise recorded or imaged for instructional purposes.

It is the student’s immediate responsibility to work cooperatively with peers and faculty. Active participation in the educational environment is essential to success in this program. All matters of non-participation, hindrances to the learning environment, and non-cooperation will be addressed by the faculty through a disciplinary process.

All students enrolled in the physical therapist assistant program are expected to participate in laboratory and classroom activities. Students may be asked to simulate patients or therapists during these activities. All students have the right to be informed of the activities required by a specific course and any limitations that would preclude them from participation. All students have the responsibility to inform the course instructor of any limitation(s) that may limit their ability to participate in an event. Students may be videotaped, audio taped, photographed, or otherwise recorded or imaged for instructional purposes

Courtesy and respect are expected between the student and instructor. Students are expected to be attentive to instructor, guests, and other students during presentations. Students are required to extend highest respect to patients/clients/others when making off-campus contact. Lack of regard to this expectation at any time by any single student or group of students may result in immediate dismissal of the student/s from the situation by the instructor, guest lecturer, or patient/client/other. . Designated assignments are to be done individually. Failure to complete these assignments independently may result in a failing grade for the assignment.

Academic Honesty:

Students who demonstrate academic dishonesty as described in the Student Rights and Responsibilities handout will receive a grade of “F” in the course and will be subject to all policies for course failure. If there is evidence of any type of cheating on an exam, the student will receive an “F” in the course. Any assignment that is indicated to be submitted individually must be completed on an individual basis, or the student will receive a grade of “0” on the assignment. If any written assignment submitted through plagiarism software receives a score above 30%, it will be subject to further review and may receive a penalty or “0” for the assignment, at the discretion of the instructor.

Grievance Policy

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 PTA Program Director, Dean of Health Professions/Division committee, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the President – IN THAT ORDER.

Grading Criteria

Quiz/Assignments                       15% ***

Lecture Exams                             40%*

Final Exam                                    20% ****

Practical Exams                            25%**

• *Exam grades excluding the final grade will be averaged to create one exam average which will be 40% of the grade. It is the sole decision of the instructor to determine if any exam grade is excluded from course grade calculation. The total exam average will be calculated based on 40% for the exam average and 20% of the final score. 
• ** Students who do not meet minimum proficiencies during a lab practical, scoring a 75.9% or below, will be given one opportunity to re-test before the course is completed. If the practical is repeated to achieve competency, the highest grade that can be achieved is 76%. Students are required to demonstrate proficiency in ALL critical safety elements before being allowed to pass the course. If a student is absent on the day of a practical exam, the highest grade that can be achieved is 76% except in extenuating circumstances as determined by the instructor. 
• ***Quizzes may be in the form of a quiz or submission and will be graded. Assignments may be in the form of a quiz or submission and may be graded on a check-mark system for satisfactory completion. If unsatisfactory work is submitted, the assignment is returned to the student for correction and edits. FAILURE TO COMPLETE ANY SINGLE ASSr.IGNMENT TO A SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE WILL RESULT IN A ZERO FOR THAT ASSIGNMENT GRADE TO BE CALCULATED INTO THE FINAL GRADE AS WEIGHTED BY THE INSTRUCTOR. 
• ****Final exam is comprehensive and will not be excluded from the final course calculation.

Any student scoring a 79 or lower on an exam or practical is REQUIRED to contact the instructor to discuss remediation. IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO SCHEDULE THIS SESSION. The student will be required to schedule and attend tutoring at one of AC’s tutoring centers. Locations for tutoring can be found at https://www.actx.edu/tutoring/. The required number of tutoring sessions will be determined at the discretion of the instructor. The student will be required to bring verification of attendance at tutoring to the instructor.

GRADING SCALE:
A = 100-92.0
B = less than 92%-84%
C = less than 84%-76%
F = less than 76%

Note: A grade of C or better is required to complete the PTA major.

LATE WORK/MAKEUP POLICY

Attendance

ATTENDANCE: 

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class in accordance with the requirements of the course as established by the instructor. (Amarillo College Student's Rights and Responsibilities Publication). Absences and tardiness will be monitored and evaluated in the Student Engagement Portal to determine a student's final course grade. The instructor will take roll for each class and note absences for each student. Students who are not present at the beginning of class are counted absent. A student will receive TWO bonus points to the final grade for perfect attendance for all lecture and lab classes with a prior passing minimum average of 76%. Students are expected to be present for the entire class/lab time. Students must report any anticipated class/lab absence to the instructor. Habitual late arrivals after the scheduled start time of class, extended breaks during class, or early departures are disruptive to the class. The student must directly report the reason for any tardiness to the instructor. For each unexcused absence or for every 3 instances of missing class time, the student will be required to complete an additional assignment that will be included in the grade calculation. 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 and will have an additional assignment. An excused absence is granted at the discretion of the instructor. Verification documentation may be required. A period of extended absences may be considered for approval upon submission of a written request by the student. This will be determined by an ad hoc committee of the 3 faculty members. Following an absence, the student is responsible for obtaining missed notes, assignments, copies of handouts, etc. from classmates. The student is also responsible for obtaining any needed clarification of missed information from the course instructor. If there is a period where remote access to classes is required because of public health situations, the attendance policies will be revised.

Calendar

Additional Information

Instructional Methods include: lecture and Lab activities

USE OF CELL PHONES/ELECTRONIC DEVICES (I-PODS, MP 3 PLAYERS, ETC.): Students will not use cell phones in the classroom unless the instructor specifically allows an exception. All such devices must be placed on silent mode and kept stored. If a student expects that there may be some type of emergency situation, the student should inform the instructor prior to the beginning of class. Unauthorized use of cell phones in class will result in the student being asked to leave the class and being counted absent for the lecture/lab.

The student will bring a computer and textbook(s) as listed in the schedule. 

ASSIGNMENTS: All quiz submissions are due AT THE BEGINNING OF THE THURSDAY CLASS TIME on the assigned due date.  NO LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. 

REQUIRED READING: The student is expected to complete all reading assignments. All information is considered testable material, and may not be covered during lecture, therefore it is the student’s responsibility to discuss (at an appropriate time) with course instructor clarification of material as needed.  

LAB DRESS CODE: Appropriate dress is required during scheduled lab times.

Females: shorts, sports bra, halter, or swimsuit top (fasteners need to be in the back), athletic clothing or loose clothing as a cover-up

Males: shorts, T-shirt, athletic or loose clothing as a cover-up

LAST DATE TO DROP/WITHDRAW:   November 21, 2023

Any student not withdrawn by November 21, 2023 will receive the grade earned.

For successful completion of PTHA 1405 the following is required by each student: passing minimum average of all quizzes/quick checks, exams, Practicals, skills application; submitting all homework/documentation workbook assignments; and to participate in 1-2 body mechanics training session for other disciplines (outside of class time). The body mechanics training opportunities will be announced in advanced so each student has the opportunity to participate. During the body mechanics training opportunities, the student will be required to wear the PTA student shirt, black, navy, or khaki pants, and close-toe, closed-heel shoes with non-skid soles. The student will be expected to interact professionally with the other disciplines, classmates, and instructors.

SAFETY PROCEDURES: In case of an emergency, the student needs to call the Safety and Security department at 9-371-5163.  In an emergency situation, use the nearest phone that is available.  The student should also know in case of a medical emergency, the following procedure should be performed and in the order written:

1. call 9-911 for an ambulance
2. call safety and security

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

PHYSICAL RESTRICTIONS: The full participation in activities presented in this course may be limited by physical restrictions encountered by the student.  It is the responsibility of the student to let the instructor know if any of these restrictions apply to you.  All students are to avoid doing the VALSALVA maneuver during lifting activities.

If you have:

Asthma, cardiac problems, high blood pressure– avoid doing the Valsalva maneuver during lifting activities

Pregnancy– do not do any lifting that exceeds what your doctor has recommended.  Precaution needs to be taken when stretching due to ligament laxity.  All lifting is contraindicated if you have incompetent cervix, vaginal bleeding, placenta previa, rupture of the membrane, premature labor, maternal heart disease, hypertension, intrauterine growth retardation, and uncontrolled diabetes

Rheumatoid Arthritis– when in the inflammatory state, lifting is contraindicated.  It is recommended to rest and use splints to protect your joints during the appropriate activities as prescribed by your doctor

Thermoregulatory problems– clothing may need to be adjusted to accommodate the temperature of the environment.  If necessary, a misting bottle may be brought to lab

Diabetes/hypoglycemia– bring medication and snacks as needed

Latex sensitivity– latex gloves during sterile techniques are to be avoided.  Notify the instructor by the 3rd day of classes so that alternative gloves can be provided.

The lead instructor reserves the right to modify and edit the course plan by notifying students of the change as soon as the change is planned or implemented.