WESTERN TECHNICAL COLLEGE
PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT PROGRAM
COURSE SYLLABUS
Phase 20 Clinical PTA III
Course Number: PTHA 1561
Credit hours: 5.0 hours
Affiliation hours: 245
Subject Description:
Provides a final practical general workplace training supported by an individualized learning plan
developed by the employer, college and student.
Instructors and
Phone numbers:
Suzanne Nolan, PTA/ACCE
Richard Flores, PT/Director
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday, 1 to 2 pm or by appointment
Subject Hours:
Students clinical hours are to be representative of the clinical instructor to which they are assigned and
approved by the ACCE. If the student is absent and does not notify the ACCE professionalism points
will be deducted for each incident.
915-231-4935
915-231-4936
Performance Objectives: See below
Prerequisites:
Completion of the 3rd Mock National Board Examination with a 70% successful completion or better
(offered during Phase 19, Professional Issues course). In lieu of the Mock Examination issued by
Western Technical College, we encourage you to take either the Practice Exam and Assessment Tool
(PEAT) through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy OR the PTAEXAM Academic
version from Scorebuilders. Acceptance in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program and successful
completion of MATH 1314, HITT 1305, PHYS 1401, PTHA 1409, ENGL 1301, SPCH 1315, BIOL
2401, and BIOL 2102, PTHA 1513, PTHA 1321, PTHA 1531, PTHA 2301,PTHA 1261, PTHA 2305,
PTHA 2509, PTHA 2435, PTHA 1361, PTHA 2431, PTHA 2339.
Required Textbooks:
Physical Therapist Assistant Manual for the Assessment of Clinical Skills. (PTA MACS)
Instructional Methods: Clinical Affiliation under the supervision of a Clinical Instructor and overseen by the ACCE.
Maximum Student/Instructor Ratio:
24:1
Materials and Media:
Clinical tools, including goniometers, laboratory coats, name tag and appropriate texts pending
the clinical affiliation site, and home exercise notebook.
Basis of Grades:
PTA MACs score = 70%, Documentation = 20%, Inservice/presentation = 5%, Professionalism= 5%
Course Objectives:
In addition to the mandatory skills above, every attempt should be made to acquire the following skills
during all clinical affiliations. Upon completion of the PTA Program, all skills must be completed for
successful completion of the program. Site specific skills will be made mandatory. The following is a
list of skills and corresponding objectives to be met for consideration of mastery at entry level.
Objectives are based on the Normative Model of Physical Therapist Assistant Education V.99
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to demonstrate all of the available skills at their
clinical affiliation site and operate with full autonomy and at a pace equivalent to an entry-level
Physical Therapist Assistant. These skills include:
A. Communicate verbally and nonverbally with the patient, the PT, health care delivery personnel, and others
in an effective, appropriate, and capable manner. NM 1.0, MACS Skills 2, 8, 10, 11
B. Demonstrates sensitivity to individual and cultural differences in all aspects of physical therapy services.
NM 2.0, MACS Skills 2, 8, 10, 11.
C. Exhibits conduct that reflects a commitment to meet or exceed the expectations of members of the
profession of physical therapy. NM 3.0, MACS Skills 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13.
D. Exhibits conduct that reflects a commitment to meet or exceed the expectations of members of the
profession of physical therapy. NM 3.0
E. Within the process of patient management established by the PT, adjusts or withholds intervention based on
patient status as determined through observation, data collection, and interpretive process. NM 4.0
F. Possesses the requisite knowledge to identify the situation, weigh alternatives, and select appropriate
responses within the plan of care established by the PT. NM 4.0
G. Demonstrates problem-solving skills. NM 4.0
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1
H. Participates in patient status judgments by reporting changes to supervising PT and requesting patient reexamination or revisions to interventions. NM 4.0
I. Instructs aides, volunteers, peers, and coworkers using established techniques, programs, and instructional
materials commensurate with the learning characteristics of the audience. NM 5.0
J. Educates others about the role of the PTA.
K. Demonstrate competence in performing specific data-collection techniques as delegated by the supervising
PT. NM 6.0
L. Performs data collection through review of the patient medical record after patient history and systems
review has been performed by the PT. NM 6.0
M. Performs data-collection measurements with an established screening tool as delegated by the supervising
PT. NM 6.0
N. Uses information from data collection to progress patient interventions with the plan of care established by
the PT, and reports changes to the supervising PT. NM 6.0
O. Understands the plan of care written for the individual patient. NM 7.0
P. Implements delegated interventions to achieve the short and long-term goals and outcomes identified in the
plan of care. NM 7.0
Q. Uses information from data collection to monitor patient status and progress toward short and long-term
goals and outcomes, and reports to the PT who established the plan of care and , when appropriate, to the
supervising PT. NM 7.0
R. Participates in education patients and caregivers. NM 7.0
S. Participates in discharge planning and follow-up. NM 7.0
T. Provides safe interventions competently based on the plan of care established by the PT to minimize risk to
the patient, self, and others. NM 8.0
U. Implements the delegated interventions within the plan of care established by the PT, monitor the patient
response and responds accordingly. NM 8.0
V. Recognizes when interventions have been inappropriately delegated, and initiates clarification and
modification with the PT. NM 8.0
W. Adjusts interventions within the plan of care established by the PT in response to patient clinical indications
and in compliance with state practice acts, the practice setting, and other regulatory agencies. NM 8.0
X. Recognizes when intervention should not be provided due to changing clinical conditions, and defers to the
PT. NM 8.0
Y. Provides patient-related instruction to patients, family members, and caregivers to achieve patient outcomes
based on the plan of care established by the PT. NM 8.0
Z. Completes 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. NM 8.0
AA. Takes appropriate action in an emergency in any practice setting. NM 8.0
BB. Uses data collection and communication to participate in determining a patient’s progress toward specific
outcomes as established in the plan of care by the PT. NM (.0
CC. Participates in performance improvement activities (quality assurance) and clinical outcome audits. NM 9.0
DD. Provides services under the direction of the PT in primary, secondary, and tertiary settings. NM 10.0
EE. Utilizes human and material resources and services to provide high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective
physical therapy services based on patient goals and outcomes. NM 10.0
FF. Interacts with patients, family members, other health care providers, and community-based organizations
and resources for the purpose of coordinating activities to facilitate efficient and effective patient care. NM
10.0
GG. Supervises the physical therapy aide in patient-related activities as delegated to the aide by the PT and in
non-patient care activities, as defined by the policies and procedures of the practice setting. NM 11.0
HH. Provides accurate and timely information for billing and reimbursement purposes. NM 11.0
II. Participates in the organizational planning and operation of the physical therapy service. NM 11.0
JJ. Participates in the implementation of established public relations activities. NM 11.0
KK. Demonstrates a commitment to meeting the needs of the patients and consumers. NM 12.0
LL. Demonstrates social responsibility, citizenship, and advocacy, including participation in community and
service organizations and activities. NM 12.0
MM.
Participates with the PT in the provision of pro bono services. NM 12.0
NN. Participates in career development based on self-assessment, performance appraisals, work setting, and
special interests. NM 13.0
OO. Recognizes the role of the PTA in the clinical education of PT and PTA students, and prepares to assume
that role. NM 13.0
Revised June 2010
2
I.
II.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Manual for the Assessment of Clinical Skills (MACS) will be utilized for the final
grade of this affiliation. The MACS is worth 60 % of the final grade. Mandatory Skills required for each affiliation
must be mastered to obtain a passing grade of a (C).
The following are a list of the mandatory skills required for this affiliation. Skills 1-13.
A. Professional Behaviors
Objectives
Skill 1.Commitment to learning
All
Skill 2.Interpersonal Skills
All
Skill 3.Commuication Skills: Oral & Written
All
Skill 4.Effective use of time and Resources
All
Skill 5.Use of Constructive Feedback
All
Skill 6.Problem Solving
All
Skill 7.Professionalism
All
Skill 8.Responsibility
All
Skill 9.Critical Thinking
All
Skill 10.Stress Management
All
Skill 11.HealthCare Provider Education
All
Skill 12.Safety
All
B. Data Collection
Objectives
Skill13. Patient History & Chart Review
All
In addition to the mandatory skills above, every attempt should be made to acquire the following skills during all clinical
affiliations. Upon completion of the PTA Program, all skills must be completed for successful completion of the program.
Site specific skills will be made mandatory and the number will be determined by taking the total number of mastered
skills and subtracting from the total number of avail skills. The student must score an 80% of the total skills check off to
receive full credit for the PTA MAC grade. Points will be deducted from the final grade if not met. In order to be
considered passed the student will have to be at entry level and the skills will be signed off on the Master List by the CI.
The following is a list of skills and corresponding objectives to be met for consideration of mastery at entry level.
B. Data Collection
Skills 14 – 14.3
14.1
14.2
14.3
14.4
14.5
14.6
14.7
14.8
14.9
14.10
14.11
14.12
14.13
C. Intervention
Skills 15-21
15.1
15.2
15.3
15.4
16.1
16.2
16.3
16.4
16.5
16.6
16.7
16.8
16.9
16.10
Revised June 2010
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
3
17.1
17.2
17.3
17.4
17.5
17.6
17.10
17.15
17.16
18.1
18..2
18.3
19
20.1
20.2
20.3
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D. Site Specific Skills
Skills 22-24.10
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
All
E. Students will be evaluated on their performance mid-term and at final. It is the students’ responsibility to schedule a mid-term
meeting and final meeting with their clinical instructor. The evaluation will be based on the PTA MACS skills acquired and skills
remaining that are in need of further practice or proficiency. The Master List in the front of the MACS is to be filled out and
signed by the clinical instructor after mastery of the skill has been demonstrated. If a skill is not available at the affiliation site,
N/A should be recorded on the skill sheet. If N/A is not recorded, points will be deducted from the final grade. Students will
continue to develop their home exercise notebook. This will be handed in at the end of the clinical rotation to be graded as part of
their documentation requirement.
Revised June 2010
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