The Profession of Physical Therapy 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

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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-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.

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

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Introduction to Physical Therapy, 6th edition by Michael Pagliarulo, 2021, published by Elsevier

Medical Terminology Simplified, 7th edition by Gylys and Masters, 2023, 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. In order to successfully complete the Amarillo College Physical Therapist Assistant program, the student must successfully achieve a score of 600/800 points on the Capstone Exam. Successful completion of the Amarillo College PTA Program and achievement of a passing score on the National Physical Therapy Examination allows the graduate eligibility for licensure as a physical therapy assistant in all 50 states of the United States.

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 and medical terminology 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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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

Grading Criteria

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

 

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