Physical Therapy Assistant

1. Physical Therapy Assistant Mark Tureson MHA, PT Assistant

2. Objectives • Be able to define what a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is and what education is required and salaries • Be familiar with responsibilities of the PT versus the PTA versus the PT aide • Be familiar with demographics associated with the PTA profession • Be familiar with what regulates the PTA profession

3. Physical Therapy Assistant • Health care provider who assists the physical therapist (PT) in delivering physical therapy services • Carries out delegated tasks • Regulated by the state, NOT federal • Ex: Amount of supervision • The above statement is always true except when… Medicare Speaks

4. Education • 2-year associate program • accredited educational institutions • Utah • Provo College • Salt Lake Community College • Dixie State College • Idaho • Idaho State University Pagliarulo, Michael A. Introduction to Physical Therapy. Third Ed. Mosby: St. Louis: 2007.

5. Education, cont. Prerequisites include: • Human Anatomy w/ Lab • Human Physiology w/ Lab • Intro to Physical Therapy • Medical Terminology • English Composition • Intermediate Algebra • Human Development • Communications

6. PT Assistants Salary • See website: http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes312021.htm • Range from $32,000-$71,000 ($51,000/ yr average) • Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) and Home Health usually offer higher wages • Management positions pay most ($75,000/ yr average)

7. Responsibilities of the PT • Interpretation of referrals from doctors • Initial examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and prognosis • Development/modification to the plan of care • Based upon the initial eval • Includes goals and outcomes • Discharge plans/summary or status • Oversight of documentation of services rendered

8. Responsibilities of PT Assistant • Functional training • Infection control procedures • Manual therapy procedures • Physical agents and mechanical agents • Wound management • Communication w/ Physical Therapist

9. Utilization of the PTA • When offsite from PT • PT must be accessible by telecommunications at all times when the PTA is treating patients • PT must see the patient for a supervisory visit • Dictated by the state • In Utah the PT must see the patient every 6th visit • Ex: PT = initial eval, then 5 visits by PTA, then PT must see the patient on 7th visit from initial eval • Whenever needed change in plan of care/goals

10. Demographics 2x as many PTAs employed in extended care facilities (nursing homes) than PTs • PTAs 16% • PTs 8%

11. Demographics • Males account for 79% of PTA’s • 58% of PTA’s under 40 yrs old • Most between 30-34 yrs

12. PT Aides • Different than PTA • No formal education or training needed • Very limited practice • Direct personal supervision must be continuous • By PT or some instances the PTA