Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical Therapy is a profession that promotes optimal health and physical function. A physical therapist assistant (PTA) performs patient care directly under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
The PTA uses physical treatment procedures to help improve mobility and relieve pain and disability caused by disease or injury. Treatments may include therapeutic exercise, therapeutic activities, neuromuscular re-education, gait training, soft tissue mobilization, ROM, and modalities in accordance with the plan of care. The PTA communicates regularly with the supervising physical therapist, nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, and other medical staff.
The purpose of this PTA Program is to train and graduate knowledgeable, competent, self-assured, adaptable, and service-oriented patient care providers. The PTA Program is designed to prepare graduates to perform selected components of treatment interventions and data collection under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist (PT) in an ethical, legal, safe, and effective manner. Additionally, graduates of the PTA Program must be prepared to communicate with other members of the health care delivery team, interact with members of the patient's family and caregivers, and work cooperatively with other health care providers. PTA graduates work with their supervising PT to coordinate care with other health care providers as well as provide psychosocial support for patients, their families and caregivers with respect to individual, cultural, and economic differences.
Students in the PTA program participate in simulated clinical scenarios in the classroom as well as in selected off-site clinical affiliations to apply their knowledge.
Physical therapist assistants may work in rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, private outpatient practices, schools, and patients' homes.
The FCC PTA Program is seeking accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone: 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org).
The program has submitted an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status nor does it assure that the program will be granted Accreditation.
*This program will be available at the Brandon campus beginning in October, 2010.
