PTA 155 Physical Rehabilitation I

• Describe and implement adaptations to communication techniques, interventions and data collection techniques within the plan of care that are important for providing safe, compassionate and effective care for geriatric patients, patients in acute care settings, patients with cardiac or pulmonary conditions and/or patients with specific post-operative precautions
• Describe the roles of those involved in patient care and discharge planning for a patient in acute, sub-acute, and long-term care facilities
• Discuss the importance of patient-centered inter-professional collaborative care
• Value the role of caregivers in treatment and patient home care
• Effectively provide patient-related instruction to family members and caregivers
• Instruct patients in weight-bearing status parameters
• Define the levels of assistance provided to patients during functional mobility
• Identify and provide the appropriate level of assistance to a patient during functional mobility
• Compare and contrast a variety of special patient care units in an inpatient care facility
• Identify special support and monitoring equipment, diagnostic tests, labs, and/or procedures which may be encountered in acute, sub-acute, and long-term care facilities
• Describe age-related changes in anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology
• Discuss psychosocial aspects of aging
• Describe ageism and its potential effects in rehabilitation
• Recognize and report when signs of elder abuse or neglect are present
• Identify assessment tools commonly used by physical therapists with geriatric patient populations
• Administer standardized questionnaires relevant to geriatric patients as appropriate to the role of a PTA
• Discuss the importance of improving balance and reducing fall risk in geriatric patients with increased fall risk
• Discuss reimbursement and supervision issues involved with providing physical therapy services to geriatric patients
• Implement selected components of interventions identified in the plan of care established by the physical therapist including:
  • Functional training
    • Bed mobility
    • Basic transfers
    • Assistive device equipment and use for gait and basic transfers
    • Basic wheelchair equipment and use
  • Airway clearance techniques: breathing exercises, coughing techniques, and secretion mobilization
  • Conditioning or reconditioning
  • Strength, power, and endurance training for ventilatory muscles
  • Relaxation techniques and breathing strategies
  • Integumentary protection techniques
  • Injury prevention or reduction education
  • Application, adjustment, use and care of relevant adaptive, assistive, orthotic, and supportive devices and equipment
  • Motor function training: gait and locomotion training
  • Functional training in self-care, home and community life
• Perform components of data collection skills essential for carrying out the plan of care established by the physical therapist including data collection for:
  • Aerobic capacity and endurance
  • Assistive devices
  • Gait, locomotion, and balance
  • Ventilation, respiration and circulation examination
  • Arousal, attention and cognition
  • Pain and integumentary integrity
  • Assistive, adaptive, orthotic, protective, supportive, and prosthetic devices
  • Gait, locomotion, and balance
  • Environmental barriers for self-care, home and community life
• When providing interventions and associated data collection techniques:
  • Display professional behaviors consistent with the expectations of the physical therapy profession
  • Apply problem-solving and critical thinking skills to support patient safety and communication with the physical therapist
  • Explain the rationale for selected interventions to achieve patient goals as identified in the plan of care
  • Identify indications, contraindications, precautions and safety considerations for the patient
  • Identify when a directed intervention is either beyond the scope of work or personal scope of work of a physical therapist assistant
  • Prepare and maintain a safe working environment
  • Handle patients using safe techniques and appropriate body mechanics
  • Position and drape the patient to protect patient modesty, privacy, and dignity
  • Provide clear instructions, apply principles of learning, and use a variety of teaching strategies when educating patients, caregivers, and other members of the health care team as directed by the supervising physical therapist
  • As appropriate to the role of the PTA, promote health, wellness, safety awareness and prevention behaviors in patients
  • Use appropriate terminology, abbreviations, and grammar in communication
  • Select relevant information for documentation and billing purposes
  • Identify relevant information to communicate to the physical therapist for the discharge planning process
  • Maintain and use physical therapy equipment effectively