PTAS 1031 - Physical Therapy Procedures 1-Laboratory

Credit Hours: 2.00

Objectives: The student will:

1. Demonstrate effective draping and positioning technique for comfort and integument protection.
2. Demonstrate the ability to identify indicated interventions in the established plan of care.
3. Demonstrate safe patient transport including the management of special equipment.
4. Demonstrate use of the patient record to assist in safe and effective treatment.
5. Demonstrate effective management, utilization, and organization of equipment and supplies necessary for patient treatment.
6. Demonstrate effective verbal communication skills for patient and family preparation for treatment.
7. Describe appropriate delegation and supervision in the provision of physical therapy interventions.

Outcome 2: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and performance of safety precautions necessary for the patient and PTA.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Demonstrate effective body mechanics and lifting techniques in all procedures and techniques.
2. Verbalize knowledge of safe equipment and environmental management.
3. Utilize universal precautions as appropriate in all treatment sessions.
4. Demonstrate safe handling, supervision, and guarding techniques consistent with patient’s age, disability, and linguistic and cognitive ability.
5. Recognize when interventions of patient complexity are beyond the scope of practice for the PTA.
6. Identify indications and contraindications and special precautions for selected physical therapy interventions.
7. Recognize the existence of an emergency and describe appropriate responses based on institutional policy.

Outcome 3: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate data collection skills necessary to implement and adjust the plan of care as designated by the physical therapist.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Measure vital signs including pulse, respiration, and blood pressure an P02 recognizing reportable findings.
2. Recognize signs of diminished neurovascular response and superficial sensation that may require adjustment in treatment.
3. Palpate and describe peripheral pulses.
4. Administer pain questionnaires appropriate to patient age, language and cognitive ability.
5. Describe the use of data collection in patient progression and outcome attainment.
6. Describe changes in mentation and cognition that may require changes to the PT plan of care.

Outcome 4: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate the safe application of selected procedural interventions.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Demonstrate safe and effective application of superficial heat including hot packs and paraffin.
2. Demonstrate the safe and effective application of cryotherapy including icepacks, ice massage, cold immersion.
3. Demonstrate the safe and effective application of thermal and athermal ultrasound.
4. Demonstrate safe and effective fitting and adjustment of assistive devices and guarding techniques appropriate to a given patient scenario.
5. Demonstrate effective hydrotherapy techniques including cleaning and preparation of equipment and special safety precautions.
6. Demonstrate understanding of advantages and disadvantages of pulsatile lavage in wound management.
7. Demonstrate the ability to apply, remove, and dispose of dressings and bandages considering special precautions.
8. Recognize viable and nonviable tissue in the management of wounds.
9. Demonstrate the ability to perform basic therapeutic massage techniques for the neck, back, and extremities.
10. Demonstrate understanding the use of diathermy as physical therapy modalities.
11. Demonstrate the application of pneumatic compression for the upper and lower extremity.
12. Explain the role of the PTA in complete decongestive physical therapy.
13. Demonstrate the ability to establish a sterile field.
14. Demonstrate the selection and performance of patient transfers appropriate to a case scenario.
15. Demonstrate how individual differences, preferences, and values might alter the application of procedural interventions.
16. Describe anticipated responses to treatment and possible adverse responses to selected interventions.
17. Demonstrate the ability to perform and instruct other in effective interventions related to self care including: gait training on various surfaces, transfers to chair, toilet, tub and in bed mobility.

Outcome 5: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate written, oral, and non‐verbal communication that is effective, appropriate, and confidential.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Utilize medical terminology appropriately in verbal and written communication with patients, families, health care providers, and others.
2. Recognize the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate care and describe standards for delivery related to PT.
3. Describe the impact of culture, age, disability, gender, and socioeconomic issues on communication and treatment.
4. Document a treatment session using the SOAP format.
5. Recognize how documentation requirements may vary depending on practice setting.
6. Recognize the relationship between accurate documentation and reimbursement.
7. Discuss HIPPA standards and describe compliance in various PT settings.

• Communication: The graduate can communicate effectively for the intended purpose and audience.
• Critical Thinking: The graduate can make informed decisions after analyzing information or evidence related to the issue.
• Global Literacy: The graduate can analyze human behavior or experiences through cultural, social, political, or economic perspectives.
• Information Literacy: The graduate can responsibly use information gathered from a variety of formats in order to complete a task.
• Quantitative Reasoning: The graduate can apply quantitative methods or evidence to solve problems or make judgments.
• Scientific Literacy: The graduate can produce or interpret scientific information presented in a variety of formats.

1. Preparation for Patient Care
   1. Introduction to patient care
   2. Preparation of treatment area
   3. Body mechanics
   4. Patient preparation
      1. Assisting/handling
      2. Draping
      3. Positioning
   5. Chart review
      1. Plan of care
      2. Identification of indications/contraindications
   6. Universal precautions
   7. Safety precautions
2. Vital Signs and Emergency Care
   1. Vital signs
      1. Pulse
      2. Respiration
      3. Blood pressure
   2. Documentation
   3. Emergency care
      1. Priority assessment
      2. Patient assessment
      3. Fainting
      4. Seizure
      5. Chest pain
      6. Diabetic reactions
      7. Heat stroke and exhaustion
3. Turning and Positioning
   1. Purposes of positioning and turning
   2. Positioning aides for comfort and skin protection
   3. Proper positioning: supine, side‐lying, prone and sitting
   4. Turning of the patient: supine to side‐lying, supine to prone, moving up and sideways, log rolling, supine to sitting
4. Transfers
   1. Intravenous and catheter care as it related to PT
   2. Stretcher and wheelchair parts
   3. Patient preparation, equipment, safety
   4. Transfers
   5. Special conditions/considerations
5. Wheelchair Mobility
   1. Stretcher and wheelchair safety
   2. Cart and wheelchair mobility activities
6. Gait Training
   1. Patient and family instruction ‐ tips on teaching
   2. Types of assistive devices and choosing an assistive device
      1. Walkers
      2. Axillary and forearm crutches
      3. Canes
   3. Gait patterns and choosing a gait pattern
   4. Patient preparation, equipment check
   5. Adjusting and fitting assistive devices
   6. Guarding and safety techniques
   7. Using assistive devices on levels and stairs
   8. Weight bearing status
7. Therapeutic Massage
   1. Principles of massage
   2. Types of therapeutic massage techniques
   3. Application of therapeutic massage to:
      1. Back
      2. Extremities
      3. Face
8. Introduction to Physical Agents Interventions
   1. General considerations of treatment
   2. Objectives of treatment
   3. Prior to treatment assessments
      1. Sensory tests ‐ light touch, hot and cold, sharp and dull
      2. Inspection and palpation
   4. Treatment procedures
      1. Preparation of PTA
      2. Preparation of patient
      3. Changes in physiological status ‐ normal and abnormal
      4. Patient observations
   5. Care, use, and maintenance of equipment
   6. Safety factors
   7. Role of the PTA in physical agent interventions
9. Cryotherapy
   1. Principles of cold
   2. Contraindications and indications
   3. Equipment and supplies
   4. Techniques of application
   5. Patient application
   6. Unique problems and precautions in the use of:
      1. Cold packs ‐ wet and dry
      2. Ice massage
10. Superficial Heat Agents
    1. Principles
    2. Indications and contraindications
    3. Equipment and supplies
    4. Techniques of application
    5. Patient application
    6. Unique problems and precautions related to the following superficial agents:
       1. Hydrocollator
       2. Hot packs
       3. Paraffin
       4. Contrast baths
       5. Fluidotherapy
11. Hydrotherapy
    1. Principles of application
    2. Indications and contraindications
    3. Equipment and supplies
    4. Whirlpool management
    5. Patient application
    6. Unique problems and precautions related to hydrotherapy
    7. Documentation
12. Sterile Technique, Wound Care and Bandaging
    1. Principles of sterile technique
    2. Sterile procedure
       1. Medical and surgical asepsis
       2. Sterile field
       3. Opening a sterile pack
       4. Adding objects to sterile field
       5. Sterile gown and gloves
    3. Isolation techniques and procedures
    4. Wound care
       1. Observing and describing the wound
       2. Types of dressing materials
       3. Superficial debridement and the role of the PTA
       4. Pulsative lavage and vacuum assisted wound closure
    5. Procedure for changing sterile dressing
    6. Bandaging techniques
       1. Circular
       2. Spiral
       3. Reverse spiral
       4. Figure of 8
       5. Safety and effectiveness of bandaging
    7. Documentation
13. Therapeutic Ultrasound
    1. Principles of ultrasound
    2. Indications and contraindications
    3. Equipment and supplies
    4. Selection of treatment parameters
    5. Techniques of application
       1. Contact technique
       2. Underwater techniques
    6. Patient application
    7. Unique problems
    8. Precautions
    9. Documentation
14. Diathermy
    1. Principles of diathermy
    2. Indications and contraindications
    3. Techniques of application
    4. Patient application
    5. Unique problems and precautions in the use of short‐wave diathermy
15. External Compression
    1. Principles of use
    2. Indications and contraindications
    3. Equipment and supplies
    4. Techniques of application
    5. Unique problems and precautions related to this modality
    6. Documentation
16. Emergency Situations
    1. Emergencies related to trauma, diabetes, cardiovascular and heat
    2. Correct response for patient and personal safety
    3. Appropriate documentation and report emergencies