HHSC 1020 - Physical Therapy Careers

Credit Hours: 1.00

Objectives: The student will:

1. Describe various types of health care settings.
2. Describe the provision of physical therapy in various settings.
3. Describe common types of health care reimbursement sources including Medicare, Medicaid, PPO, HMO.
4. List and describe members of the healthcare team.
5. Describe the manner in which members of the health care team interact to support patient management.

Outcome 2: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to discuss the history and function of the PT profession.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Define physical therapy.
2. Relate the definition of physical therapy to provision of service in various settings.
3. List historical facts that have supported the development of the physical therapy profession.
4. Describe the roles and functions of Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, and Physical Therapy Aides in various settings.
5. Discuss how the role of PT has evolved and changed.
6. Discuss the evolution of the Physical Therapist Assistant.

Outcome 3: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to describe the structure and function of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Discuss the value of a professional organization to its members and to the public.
2. Identify the mission and goals of the American Physical Therapy Association.
3. Describe the structure of the American Physical Therapy Association.
4. Describe the core documents of the APTA that relate to standards, values, and behaviors in the provision of physical therapy.
5. Describe the mission of the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in supporting the Physical Therapy Profession.

Outcome 4: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to describe the provision of physical therapy for various patient populations.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Describe the musculoskeletal physical therapy.
2. Describe neuromuscular physical therapy.
3. Describe cardiopulmonary physical therapy.
4. Describe physical therapy for children and in school settings.
5. Describe geriatric physical therapy.
6. Describe physical therapy in adult rehabilitation.
7. Discuss licensure and regulation in the provision of physical therapy.
8. Describe methods used to assure quality in the provision of physical therapy

Outcome 5: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to describe the education, roles, functions and relationships specific to Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant and Physical Therapy Aide.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Describe the education of the physical therapist and the physical therapist assistant.
2. Compare and contrast the roles of the PT and the PTA.
3. Describe preferred relationship between the physical therapist and the physical therapist assistant.
4. Describe the function of the physical therapy aide.
5. Describe the appropriate delegation and supervision of responsibilities for the PT, the PTA and the PT Aide.
6. Describe attributes and role of effective supervision in physical therapy.

Outcome 6: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate orally and in writing appropriate medical terminology.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Identify the elements of medical terms including word root, combining form, prefix and suffix.
2. Use word building to describe or define a medical term.
3. Define selected medical terms.
4. Define selected medial abbreviations.
5. Use medical terminology appropriately in written and oral communication.

1. Health Care Systems
   1. Preventative
   2. Primary Health Care System
   3. Secondary Health Care System
   4. Tertiary Health Care System
   5. Rehabilitative Health Care System
   6. Extended Care
   7. Home Care
   8. Reimbursement in Healthcare/Third Party payers
   9. Health Care Team
2. The Definition of Physical Therapy
   1. Definition of physical therapy
   2. Where PTs and PTAs practice
   3. Role of physical therapy in the overall provision of health care.
   4. Licensure and Regulation
   5. Physical Therapy as a profession
   6. PT/PTA demographics
   7. Role delineation of the physical therapist and the physical therapist assistant
   8. Scope of practice for the PTA
   9. Role of the PT aide/tech
   10. Education of the PT and PTA and the role of CAPTE
3. History of Physical Therapy
   1. Why learn history
   2. Pre-PT history
   3. European influence
   4. PT in the United States
   5. Evolution of PT in the 1900’s and 2000’s
   6. The emergence of the PTA
4. PT Practice Areas
   1. Musculoskeletal
   2. Neuromuscular
   3. Cardiopulmonary
   4. Adult Rehab
   5. School systems and children
   6. Geriatrics
   7. Home care
5. Roles of Physical Therapy Personnel
   1. Preferred relationship PT/PTA
   2. Delegation and supervision
   3. Responsibilities
6. APTA
   1. Overview of the APTA
   2. Mission and vision of the APTA
   3. Core documents of the APTA
   4. Career development, specialties, and advanced proficiency
   5. Membership eligibility and benefits
   6. MPTA and the Eastern District
   7. Information access via apta.org
7. Medical and Physical Therapy Terminology
   1. Definitions of commonly used words
   2. Abbreviations common in Physical Therapy