PTA.-291 Didactic Capstone

Credits 1 / 1 Contact Hours
Pre-requisite: Placement into RDNG-030 (ACSR-030), completion of ELAP-110 with a minimum grade of 2.0, or successful completion of RDNG-016 or ACLT-074 with a minimum grade of 3.0; Division signature  required. Students must attend Board Review weekend on announced date. Pre-requisite: PTA.-202, PTA.-210, PTA.-270, PTA.-271, PTA.-204, PTA.-212, PTA.-205, PTA.-208, PTA.-280 and PTA.-281.  Co-requisite: PTA.-290.
This course will follow a weekend long board exam preparation course conducted by an outside vendor, and review critical categories in didactic PTA education to ensure solid understanding and application to high level questions.  The course will require students to utilize prior learning, test taking strategies, and independent and group study.

Course Outcomes
Didactic Capstone Review:  The student will discuss, explain, and demonstrate ability to answer high level questioning, and perform self assessment in areas needing improvement, in the following areas: (per CAPTE standards and elements for PTA programs)

Ethics, Values and Responsibilities

7D1Adhere to legal practice standards, including all federal, state, and institutional regulations related to patient/client care and fiscal management.

7D2Report to appropriate authorities suspected cases of abuse of vulnerable populations.

7D3Report to appropriate authorities suspected cases of fraud and abuse related to the utilization of and payment for physical therapy and other health care services.

7D4Perform duties in a manner consistent with the Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant (APTA) and Standards of Ethical Conduct (APTA) to meet the expectations of patients, members of the physical therapy profession, and other providers as necessary.

7D5Perform duties in a manner consistent with APTA’s Values Based Behaviors for the Physical Therapist Assistant.

7D6Implement, in response to an ethical situation, a plan of action that demonstrates sound moral reasoning congruent with core professional ethics and values.

 7D7Communicate effectively with all stakeholders, including patients/clients, family members, caregivers, practitioners, interprofessional team members, consumers, payers, and policymakers.

7D8Identify, respect, and act with consideration for patients’/clients’ differences, values, preferences, and expressed needs in all work-related activities.

7D9Apply current knowledge, theory, and clinical judgment while considering the patient/client perspective and the environment, based on the plan of care established by the physical therapist.

7D10Identify basic concepts in professional literature including, but not limited to, validity, reliability and level of statistical significance.

7D11Identify and integrate appropriate evidence based resources to support clinical decision-making for progression of the patient within the plan of care established by the physical therapist.

7D12Effectively educate others using teaching methods that are commensurate with the needs of the patient, caregiver or healthcare personnel.

7D13Participate in professional and community organizations that provide opportunities for volunteerism, advocacy and leadership.

7D14Identify career development and lifelong learning opportunities, including the role of the physical therapist assistant in the clinical education of physical therapist assistant students.

Patient/Client Management

7D15Interview patients/clients, caregivers, and family to obtain current information related to prior and current level of function and general health status (e.g., fatigue, fever, malaise, unexplained weight change).

7D16Use the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to describe a patient’s/client’s impairments, activity and participation limitations.

Plan of Care

7D17Communicate an understanding of the plan of care developed by the physical therapist to achieve short and long term goals and intended outcomes.

7D18Review health records (e.g., lab values, diagnostic tests, specialty reports, narrative, consults, and physical therapy documentation) prior to carrying out the PT plan of care.

7D19Monitor and adjust interventions in the plan of care in response to patient/client status and clinical indications.

7D20Report any changes in patient/client status or progress to the supervising physical therapist.

7D21Determine when an intervention should not be performed due to clinical indications or when the direction to perform the intervention is beyond that which is appropriate for the physical therapist assistant.

7D22Contribute to the discontinuation of episode of care planning and follow-up processes as directed by the supervising physical therapist.

Intervention

7D23Demonstrate competence in implementing selected components of interventions identified in the plan of care established by the physical therapist. Interventions include:

1. Airway Clearance Techniques: breathing exercises, coughing techniques and secretion mobilization
2. Application of Devices and Equipment:  assistive / adaptive devices and prosthetic and orthotic devices
3. Biophysical Agents: biofeedback, electrotherapeutic agents,  compression therapies, cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, superficial and deep thermal agents, traction and light therapies
4. Functional Training in Self-Care and in Domestic, Education, Work, Community, Social, and Civic Life
5. Manual Therapy Techniques: passive range of motion and therapeutic massage
6. Motor Function Training (balance, gait, etc.)
7. Patient/Client Education
8. Therapeutic Exercise
9. Wound Management: isolation techniques, sterile technique, application and removal of dressing or agents, and identification of precautions for dressing removal

Test and Measures

7D24Demonstrate competence in performing components of data collection skills essential for carrying out the plan of care by administering appropriate tests and measures (before, during and after interventions) for the following areas:

1. Aerobic Capacity and Endurance:  measurement of standard vital signs; recognize and monitor responses to positional changes and activities (e.g., orthostatic hypotension, response to exercise)
2. Anthropometrical Characteristics: measurements of height, weight, length and girth
3. Mental Functions: detect changes in a patient’s state of arousal, mentation and cognition)
4. Assistive Technology:  identify the individual’s and caregiver’s ability to care for the device; recognize changes in skin condition and safety factors while using devices and equipment
5. Gait, Locomotion, and Balance: determine the safety, status, and progression of patients while engaged in gait, locomotion, balance, wheelchair management and mobility
6. Integumentary Integrity:  detect absent or altered sensation; normal and abnormal integumentary changes; activities, positioning, and postures that aggravate or relieve pain or altered sensations, or that can produce associated skin trauma; and recognize viable versus nonviable tissue
7. Joint Integrity and Mobility:  detect normal and abnormal joint movement
8. Muscle Performance: measure muscle strength by manual muscle testing; observe the presence or absence of muscle mass; recognize normal and abnormal muscle length, and changes in muscle tone
9. Neuromotor Development: detect gross motor milestones, fine motor milestones, and righting and equilibrium reactions
10. Pain: administer standardized questionnaires, graphs, behavioral scales, or visual analog scales for pain; recognize activities, positioning, and postures that aggravate or relieve pain or altered sensations
11. Posture: determine normal and abnormal alignment of trunk and extremities at rest and during activities
12. Range of Motion: measure functional range of motion and measure range of motion using an appropriate measurement device
13. Self-Care and Civic, Community, Domestic,  Education, Social and Work Life:  inspect the physical environment and measure physical spaces; recognize safety and barriers in the home, community and work environments; recognize level of functional status; administer standardized questionnaires to patients and others
14. Ventilation, Respiration and Circulation: detect signs and symptoms of respiratory distress, and activities that aggravate or relieve edema, pain, dyspnea, or other symptoms; describe thoracoabdominal movements and breathing patterns with activity, and cough and sputum characteristics

7D25Complete accurate documentation that follows guidelines and specific documentation formats required by state practice acts, the practice setting, and other regulatory agencies.

7D26Respond effectively to patient/client and environmental emergencies that commonly occur in the clinical setting.

Participation in Health Care Environment

7D27Contribute to efforts to increase patient and healthcare provider safety.

7D28Participate in the provision of patient-centered interprofessional collaborative care.

7D29Participate in performance improvement activities (quality assurance).

Practice Management

7D30Describe aspects of organizational planning and operation of the physical therapy service.

7D31Describe accurate and timely information for billing and payment purposes.