Physical Therapist Assistant - AAS
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of a physical therapist, to implement physical therapy treatment care plans, train patients, conduct treatment interventions, use equipment, and observe and record patient progress. Includes instruction in applied anatomy and physiology, applied kinesiology, principles and procedures of physical therapy, basic neurology and orthopedics, physical therapy modalities, documentation skills, psychosocial aspects of health care, wound and injury care, electrotherapy, working with orthotics and prostheses, and personal and professional ethics.
Careers
Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA) work as part of a team under the guidance and direction of a physical therapists. Physical therapist assistants provide patient treatments that improve mobility, relieve pain and reduce physical and functional limitations. Duties include assisting the physical therapist in implementing treatment programs to meet patient’s goals of recovery according to the physical therapist’s plan of care. They educate and instruct patients in exercise and activities of daily living, providing treatments using specialized equipment and administering modalities and other treatment procedures. PTA’s treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the aging adult, who present with medical conditions that limit their functional abilities to move in their daily lives and to return living life. Patients include those dealing with neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary and integumentary conditions in a variety of settings including outpatient, inpatient rehab, long-term care, home health and school settings. Physical therapist assistants record patient responses/outcomes of each treatment and make modifications in selected intervention either to progress the patient as directed by the physical therapist or to ensure patient safety and comfort.
Program Outcomes
- Demonstrate effective communication skills with patients, families, caregivers and the health care team.
- Exhibit professional behaviors and conduct that reflect physical therapy practice standards, demonstrating individualization and sensitivity to culture.
- Use critical thinking skills to implement and adjust a physical therapy plan of care and report changes to the physical therapist.
- Perform and document physical therapy data collection efficiently and accurately under the supervision of the physical therapist.
- Perform and document physical therapy interventions safely and accurately under the supervision of the physical therapist.
- Teach patients, families, caregivers and other health care providers to perform physical therapy interventions using relevant and effective teaching methods.
- Demonstrate a commitment to professional growth and life-long learning.
- Complete credentialing requirements and obtain employment in community health facilities.
Accreditation
Hutchinson Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
