Course Number and Title:
PTA 211 Clinical Practice I
Prerequisites
Prerequisite: PTA 102
Co-requisites
Corequisite: PTA 205 and PTA 206
Course Credits and Hours
4 credit(s)
1 lecture hours/week
13 lab hours/week
Course Description
This course is the initial comprehensive clinical experience in a physical therapy setting for application of learned clinical skills on patients under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant (per State Practice Act).
Additional Materials
Per clinical site requirements.
Disclaimer
See PTA Clinical Education Manual/PTA Program Manual
Core Course Performance Objectives (CCPOs)
- Integrate classroom and laboratory skills to prepare for clinical practice. (CCC 2, 4, 5; PGC 1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
- Exhibit professional behaviors required for an initial comprehensive clinical experience. (CCC 3, 4; PGC 6)
- Conduct professional communication in the clinical setting. (CCC 1, 3; PGC 4, 6)
- Formulate professional relationships in the clinical setting. (CCC 3, 4; PGC 1, 6, 8)
- Obtain necessary medical information through data collection. (CCC 2; PGC 3, 5)
- Provide a treatment rationale for selected impairments and disorders. (CCC 2; PGC 3, 5)
- Implement and modify a comprehensive treatment plan based on physical therapist plan of care. (CCC2; PGC 2, 3, 5)
- Develop problem solving and critical thinking skills in the clinical setting. (CCC 2; PGC 2, 3, 5)
See Core Curriculum Competencies and Program Graduate Competencies at the end of the syllabus. CCPOs are linked to every competency they develop.
Measurable Performance Objectives (MPOs)
Upon completion of this course, the student will:
- Integrate classroom and laboratory skills to prepare for clinical practice.
- Discuss the impact of clinical policies and procedures on successful participation as a physical therapist assistant in the first clinical practice course.
- Exhibit professional behaviors required for an initial comprehensive clinical experience.
- Discuss the role of the physical therapist assistant in relation to the physical therapist in the delivery of quality healthcare.
- Abide by the facility's policies, procedures (safety, emergencies etc.), and timelines (work schedule, paperwork, etc.).
- Adhere to ethical and legal standards of practice.
- Exhibit initial organizational and time management skills.
- Exhibit an appropriate attitude about self and patient care.
- Maintain professional demeanor in all situations while also maintaining a balance between professional and personal life.
- Seek and respond to feedback appropriately.
- Participate in clinical seminar activities at the college.
- Assess one's own performance, and identify gaps in knowledge.
- Complete Stewards of Children Training prior to beginning of clinical hours.
- Conduct professional communication in the clinical setting.
- Use professional and effective oral communication skills with academic and clinical instructors, physical therapists, other members of the healthcare team, and patients and their families.
- Use professional nonverbal communication in the classroom and clinic.
- Use appropriate written communication skills including basic subjective, objective, assessment, plan (SOAP) note writing for electronic and/or hard copy medical records.
- Conduct patient and caregiver instruction directed by supervising physical therapist based on plan of care.
- Formulate professional relationships in the clinical setting.
- Develop effective and therapeutic relationships with patients and families with awareness for patient advocacy.
- Develop effective relationships with academic and clinical instructors.
- Develop effective relationships with physical therapists (PTs) and other members of the healthcare team.
- Identify the cultural and personal differences of others and identify ways to facilitate therapeutic outcomes.
- Delegate to supportive personnel appropriately.
- Discuss with supervising physical therapist unexpected patient response to treatment.
- Obtain necessary medical information through data collection.
- Employ initial skill in obtaining pertinent information from the medical chart and via patient interview in order to identify the patient's overall status.
- Apply basic data collection skills that include but are not limited to:
- Muscle strength
- Joint range of motion
- Posture
- Balance
- Gait
- Pain
- Skin and tissue integrity
- Girth
- Sensation
- Righting and equilibrium reactions
- Palpation
- Endurance
- Vital signs
- Assistive and adaptive devices
- Patient mentation and cognition
- Fine and gross motor skills
- Cyanosis
- Assist PT with data collection.
- Identify information obtained by patient questionnaires.
- Provide a treatment rationale for selected impairments and disorders.
- Describe etiology, pathology, signs, symptoms, and management of selected diseases and disorders.
- Identify and provide sound rationale, indications, and contraindications for patient care as written in the plan of care developed by the supervising physical therapist.
- Implement and modify a comprehensive treatment plan based on physical therapist plan of care.
- Employ safety (body mechanics, guarding, universal precautions, etc.) and basic competence in the administration of physical therapy interventions including but not limited to:
- Therapeutic exercise
- Massage
- Modalities (superficial heat and cold, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, biofeedback, traction, compression, hydrotherapy)
- Assistive devices
- Transfer training
- Gait and balance training
- Developmental activities
- Prosthetics and orthotics
- Topical agents used with modalities
- Wound management
- Infection control
- Functional/activities of daily living (adl) training
- Employ wound care techniques including types of wounds, dressings, medications, and PT interventions.
- Explain shortwave diathermy, infrared, ultraviolet, hyper baric oxygen, and fluromethane spray.
- Implement a comprehensive treatment program toward achievement of therapeutic goals.
- Recognize activities, positions, and postures that aggravate or relieve patient signs and/or symptoms, and consider when it is necessary to consult supervising physical therapist about patient status or response to treatment.
- Based on a patient's responses to treatment, identify suggestions for appropriate modifications to the goals and plan of care.
- Develop problem solving and critical thinking skills in the clinical setting.
- Identify and state patient problems, including their level of functional status.
- Increase ability to raise and articulate relevant questions.
- Analyze where one's knowledge base is lacking.
- Assess one's own performance.
- Identify appropriate resources to develop solutions for clinical problems.
Evaluation Criteria/Policies
The grade will be determined using the Delaware Tech grading system:
| 90-100 |
= |
A |
| 80-89 |
= |
B |
| 70-79 |
= |
C |
| 0-69 |
= |
F |
Students should refer to the
Catalog/Student Handbook for information on the Academic Standing Policy, the Academic Integrity Policy, Student Rights and Responsibilities, and other policies relevant to their academic progress.
Final Course Grade
Calculated using the following weighted average
|
Evaluation Measure
|
Percentage of final grade
|
|
Clinical Preparation Assignment (Formative)
|
10%
|
|
Student Performance Evaluation (Summative)
|
90%
|
|
TOTAL
|
100%
|
Program Graduate Competencies (PGCs are the competencies every graduate will develop specific to his or her major)
- Work under the supervision of a physical therapist in an ethical, legal, safe and effective manner.
- Implement PT interventions within the plan of care.
- Perform specific data collection techniques related to the plan of care.
- Demonstrate effective communication in the physical therapy environment.
- Formulate appropriate judgments and modification to the program within the patient's plan of care.
- Demonstrate effective interactions and professional behaviors.
- Participate in career development activities.
- Exhibit a commitment to the physical therapy profession, physical therapy patients, and the community.
Core Curriculum Competencies (CCCs are the competencies every graduate will develop)
- Apply clear and effective communication skills.
- Use critical thinking to solve problems.
- Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
- Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
- Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
- Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.
Students in Need of Accommodations Due to a Disability
We value all individuals and provide an inclusive environment that fosters equity and student success. The College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the campus Disabilities Support Counselor to request an accommodation needed due to a disability. The College's policy on accommodations for persons with disabilities can be found in the College's Guide to Requesting Academic Accommodations and/or Auxiliary Aids Students may also access the Guide and contact information for Disabilities Support Counselors through the Student Resources web page under Disabilities Support Services, or visit the campus Advising Center.