Physical Therapist Assistant

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1.  About the Program

2.  Mission, Philosophy, Goals Objectives

Mission:

In keeping with the College's mission, the mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program is to prepare students from diverse backgrounds to become caring and responsible practitioners who are competent and professional in the provision of Physical Therapy services.

Philisophy:

The PTA Program is committed to treating each student with dignity, respect, and fairness, and to considering each student's individual personality, ability and learning style.  The PTA Program faculty strives to develop PTA graduates who are compassionate and caring health care providers who understand their responsiblity to the individual patient, to patient families, and to members of the health care and physical therapy communities.  The PTA Program is committed to developing Physical Therapist Assistants who are active in improving the overall level of health care for all people through service to their communities, who are active in seeking additional professional and personal growth opportunities beyond the associate degree level, and who are active in the professional organization of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

The PTA Program assures equal opportunity for all qualified students.

Goals:

The goals of the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program are the following:

1. To provide academic and clinical educational experiences for each PTA student as outlined by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that enable the students upon graduation to be competent, skilled, and ethical in the provision of physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist within the scope of practice of the PTA as set forth in the Louisiana Physical Therapy Practice Act and the American Physical Therapy Association Standards of Ethical conduct for the PTA and Guide for conduct of the PTA.
2. To provide students with the ability to be successful on the PTA licensure exam.
3. To provide students with the skills to perform in an entry-level position as a PTA.
4. To maintain formal program accreditation with the commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
5. To have students prepared to enter the PTA Program with a defined set of admission criteria.

Objectives:

At the conclusion of the PTA Program, the graduate should be able to:

1. Communicate with the patient and others in an effective, appropriate, and capable manner.
2. Recognize individual and cultural differences and be able to respond appropriately in all aspects of PT services.
3. Exhibit conduct that reflects a commitment to meet the expectations of the public and the profession of physical therapy.
4. Exhibit conduct that reflects practice standards that are legal, ethical and safe;
5. Communicate an understanding of the plan of care developed by the PT to achieve short and long term goals and intended outcomes;
6. Demonstrate competence in implementing selected components of interventions identified in the plan of care established by  the PT;
7. Demonstrate competence in performing components of data collections skills essential for carrying out the plan of care;
8. Adjust interventions within the plan of care established by the PT in response to patient clinical indications and to report this to the supervising PT;
9. Recognize when intervention should not be provided due to changes in the patient's status and to report this to the supervising PT;
10. Report any changes in the patient's status to the supervising PT;
11. Recognize when the direction to perform an intervention is beyond that which is appropriate for a PTA and to initiate clarification with the PT;
12. Participate in educating patients and caregivers as directed by the supervising PT;
13. Provide patient-related instruction to patients, family members, and caregivers to achieve patient outcomes based on the plan of care established by the PT;
14. Take appropriate action in an emergency situation;
15. Complete thorough, accurate, logical, concise, timely and legible documentation that follows guidelines and specific documentation formats required by state practice acts, the practice setting, and other regulatory agencies;
16. Participate in discharge planning and follow-up as directed by the supervising PT;
17. Read and understand the health care literature;
18. Under the direction and supervision of th PT, instruct other members of the health care team using established techniques, programs, and instructional materials commensurate with the learning characteristics of the audience;
19. Educate others about the role of the PTA;
20. Interact with other members of the health care team in patient-care and non-patient care activities;
21. Provide accurate and timely information for billing and reimbursement purposes;
22. Describe aspects of organizational planning and operation of the PT service;
23. Participate in performance improvement activities;
24. Demonstrate a commitment to meeting the needs of the patients and consumers;
25. Demonstrate an awareness of social responsibility, citizenship, and advocacy, including participation in community and service organizations and activities;
26. Identify career development and lifelong learning opportunities;
27. Recognize the role of the PTA in the clinical education of PTA students.

Core Program Objectives

Upon successful completion of the Delgado PTA Program, each student is expected be entry-level proficient in the following professional behavior objectives.  to help the student master these professional objectives they are included in the objectives of every course in the Technical component of the PTA Program.  The student is expected to become more proficient in each of the following professional behavior objectives as he/she progresses through the program.

1. Communicates with others in an effective, appropriate, and capable manner.
2. Recognizes individual and cultural differences and responds appropriately
3. Exhibits conduct that reflects a commitment to meeting the professional expectations of the public and the PT profession
4. Demonstrates a commitment to meeting the physical therapy needs of patients and consumers
5. Demonstrates awareness of social responsibility, citizenship, and advocacy, and participates in community and service organizations and activities
6. Identifies career development and lifelong learning opportunities.
7. Recognizes the role of the physical therapist assistant in the clinical education of physical therapist assistant students

3.  Program Facts

• 24 students were accepted into the 2008-2009 class

• 84% of those students who were accepted into the program during the last 3 years graduated from the program.

• 94% of those students who graduated from the program during the last 3 years passed the licensing exam for physical therapist assistants.

• 100% of those students who passed the licensure exam over the last 3 years were successful in securing as PTAs.