Mark Tureson MHA, PT Assistant

 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

 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

 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.

Prerequisites include:  Human Anatomy w/ Lab  Human Physiology w/ Lab  Intro to Physical Therapy  Medical Terminology  English Composition  Intermediate Algebra  Human Development  Communications

 See website: tm tm  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)

 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

 Functional training  Infection control procedures  Manual therapy procedures  Physical agents and mechanical agents  Wound management  Communication w/ Physical Therapist

 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 6 th visit  Ex: PT = initial eval, then 5 visits by PTA, then PT must see the patient on 7 th visit from initial eval  Whenever needed change in plan of care/goals

2x as many PTAs employed in extended care facilities (nursing homes) than PTs  PTAs 16%  PTs 8%

 Males account for 79% of PTA’s  58% of PTA’s under 40 yrs old  Most between yrs

 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