PTA.-270 Clinical Practice I

Credits 2 / 6 Contact Hours
Pre-requisite: Placement into ENGL-100 (ACSR-100), completion of ELAP-120 with a 2.0, or completion of RDNG-030, ACLT-075 or ACLT-076; PTA.-104. Note: Division signature required. Co-requisite: PTA.-271, PTA.-202 and/or PTA.-210
Clinical application of professional behaviors therapeutic interventions and data collection techniques.

Course Outcomes
Clinical Components: It is not expected that each student will have exposure to all of the following clinical objectives. 1. Communicate verbally and non-verbally with the patient, the physical therapist, health care delivery personnel, and others in an effective, appropriate, and capable manner. 2. Recognizes individual and cultural differences and responds appropriately in all aspects of physical therapy services. 3. Exhibits conduct that reflects a commitment to meet the expectations of members of society receiving health care services. a. Maintains patient privacy and modesty b. Maintains confidentiality 4. Exhibits conduct that reflects a commitment to meet the expectations of members of the profession of physical therapy. a. Interacts professionally with others. b. Accepts constructive criticism c. Modifies behavior based on self-evaluation and constructive criticism d. Conducts self in a responsible manner. e. Punctual and dependable f. Follows facility policies and procedures g. Demonstrates initiative h. Adapts to change 5. Exhibits conduct that reflects practice standards that are legal, ethical and safe. a. Recognizes the role of the PTA in the clinical education of PTA students b. Demonstrates awareness of own strengths and limitations c. Practices in a safe manner that minimizes risk to patients, self and others 6. Communicates an understanding of the plan of care developed by the physical therapist to achieve short and long term goals and intended outcomes. 7. The student will demonstrate competence in implementing selected components of interventions identified in the plan of care established by the physical therapist, including: a. Functioning training including activities of daily living including, body mechanics, mat activities, and transfer activities b. Gait training: Fitting of assistive devices (walker, axillary crutches, cane) Basic gait patterns (standard and modified 3 point) Demonstrate safe technique and progression Describe the safety, status, and progression of patients while engaged in gait c. Infection control procedures including universal precautions, isolation techniques and sterile technique d. Manual therapy techniques including PROM and therapeutic massage e. Physical agents and mechanical agents including athermal agents, cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, superficial and deep thermal agents f. Therapeutic exercise including aerobic conditioning, breathing exercise and coughing technique, conditioning and reconditioning, posture awareness training, ROM exercises for spine and upper extremity, stretching exercises for spine, strengthening exercises for spine g. Wound management including application and removal of dressing or agents, including precautions 8. The student will demonstrate competency in performing components of data collection skills essential for carrying out the plan of care: a. Measurement of standard vital signs b. Measurement of height, weight, length and girth c. Describe the safety, status, and progression of patients during gait d. Recognizes absent or altered sensation e. Recognizes normal and abnormal integumentary changes f. Recognizes activities, positioning and postures that aggravate or relieve pain or altered sensations. g. Recognizes viable vs. nonviable tissue h. Recognizes normal and abnormal joint movement i. Measures muscle strength by MMT j. Observe the presence or absence of muscle mass k. Recognizes normal and abnormal muscle length for spine and upper extremity l. Administers standardized questionnaire, graphs, behavioral scales or visual analog scales for pain m. Describes resting posture in any position n. Recognizes alignment of trunk and extremities at rest and during activities o. Measures functional and goniometric ROM p. Recognizes cyanosis q. Recognizes activities that aggravate or relieve edema, pain, dyspnea or other symptoms r. Documents sputum characteristics 9. Adjusts interventions within the plan of care established by the physical therapist in response to patient clinical indications and reports this to the supervising physical therapist. 10. Recognizes when intervention should not be provided due to changes in the patient’s status and reports this to the supervising physical therapist. 11. Report any changes in the patient’s status to the physical therapist. 12. Recognizes when the direction to perform an intervention is beyond that which is appropriate for a physical therapist assistant and initiates clarification with the physical therapist. 13. Participates in educating patients and caregivers as directed by the supervising physical therapist. 14. Provides patient-related instruction to patients, family members and caregivers to achieve patient outcomes based on the plan of care established by the physical therapist. 15. Takes appropriate action in an emergency situation. 16. Completes thorough, accurate, logical, concise, timely and legible documentation that follows guidelines and specific documentation formats required by state practice guidelines, the practice setting and other regulatory agencies. 17. Participates in discharge planning and follow-up as directed by the supervising physical therapist. 18. Educates others about the role of the physical therapist assistant. 19. Interacts with other members of the health care team in patient care and non-patient care activities. 20. Provides accurate and timely information for billing and reimbursement purposes. 21. Participates in performance improvement activities (quality assurance). 22. Demonstrates a commitment to meeting the needs of the patients and consumers 23. Implements career development and lifelong learning opportunities. a. Participates in learning experiences within the practice setting b. Reads and understands the health care literature. c. Seeks guidance to address limitations. d. Seeks opportunities to learn. 24. Recognizes the role of the physical therapist assistant in the clinical education of physical therapist assistant students.