Chapter 5: Direct Patient Care
Karen Piette and Kristen Hosey
The goal for Physical Therapy Assistants (PTAs) is to improve the quality of life for individuals and patients. This can include working with people of all ages in their recovery from devastating injuries, their management of chronic conditions like arthritis, helping people post-surgery or helping people to avoid surgery by creating healthy habits.
PTA’s are educated and licensed clinicians that provide care under the supervision of a graduate-prepared Physical Therapist (PT). The PTA’s job is to help the PT implement patient care, therefore, a team-based approach is vital. PTA’s may work in areas like collaborating with the PT to modify a patient’s care or assist the team of therapists in helping Implement interventions with the patient.
PTA’s assist patients in regaining their range of motion following an injury, improve movement and quality of life and pain management. Neuromuscular rehabilitation following injury and stroke rehabilitation are commonplace in physical therapy offices.
PTA’s often utilize equipment such as resistance bands and exercise balls when working with patients. They may provide exercises to patients, use manual therapy and manipulation as well as hot, cold and electricity during a patient’s visit. PTA’s also educate patients on fitness and injury prevention as well. They may provide postural education and provide suggestions in order to improve a patients’ ergonomics.
Employment Opportunities for Physical Therapist Assistants
A PTA finds employment working under a PT in a hospital or in the community setting under a physical therapist, or group of physical therapy providers. According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) approximately 72% of PTAs work in hospitals and private physical therapy practices, while others can work in school districts, rehabilitation units, skilled nursing facilities, and even home health.
PTA’s can work in pediatric rehabilitation settings as well. Neuromuscular diseases that result in muscle weakness, nerve damage, seizures are often rehabilitated in physical therapy settings. Orthopedic issues that result before or after birth can be treated as well as bone, joint or muscular irregularities in children.
This is an active job that often involves helping patients train muscles to improve, work on balance, or complete stretches and exercises that improve range of motion or mobility. To be a PTA you will need to have physical stamina to support patients as they work through exercises under the supervision of a PT. This could even include working in pools or bodies of water with patients as well.
Physical Therapy Assistant Requirements and Qualifications
Many PTA programs require prerequisite courses prior to entry. Prerequisite courses often include coursework in anatomy and physiology, English composition, and communications and math coursework. These programs also can be competitive, so an application to the program is likely.
The PTA degree is an associate degree program and should take roughly 2 years to complete. Coursework includes applied anatomy, ethics, kinesiology, pathophysiology. At the end of year 2, students attend a clinical affiliation internship [KP1] [KP2] at a physical therapy office or hospital. Attending a school that is accredited with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) is required. Sometimes students will take online programs that are not accredited, then have difficulty finding employment options. Some community colleges have part-time PTA programs depending on the state. These programs may take longer to complete.
After completion of the associate degree, PTA candidates can sit for the licensure examination. The National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) offers a physical therapy assistant examination to become a licensed PTA. Following examination, PTA’s require continuing education and lifelong learning. Continuing education is expected to maintain state certifications.
Attributions
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