PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT COURSES (PHTA)

PHTA 100 - PHYSICAL THERAPY ORIENTATION

This course is designed to introduce students to the profession of physical therapy and the role of the physical therapist assistant. Basic physical therapy interventions, such as superficial heat and cold modalities, massage, gait training, and therapeutic exercises will be demonstrated and practiced. This course is repeatable one time.

0.5 Credit Hours (OC) - Lecture Hours: 0.5 Laboratory Hours: 0

PHTA 111 - INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL THERAPY INTERVENTIONS

Prerequisite: Acceptance to Physical Therapist Assistant Program and BIOL 140 or equivalent with a “C” or better grade. This course provides an introduction to data collection skills and physical therapy interventions performed by the physical therapist assistant including: asepsis and sterile technique, vital signs, body mechanics, effects of prolonged immobility, positioning and draping, transfers, bed mobility skills, wheelchair management and skills, gait and assistive devices, superficial heat and cold modalities, hydrotherapy, massage and soft tissue techniques.

5.5 Credit Hours (OC) - Lecture Hours: 3 Laboratory Hours: 8

PHTA 112 - INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL THERAPY

Prerequisite: PHTA 111 with a grade "C" or better. This course provides an introduction to the physical therapy profession, the American Physical Therapy Association, the role of the physical therapist assistant, development of communication skills needed in the clinical setting, review of professional literature, and an introduction to legal and ethical issues in physical therapy.

1.5 Credit Hours (OC) - Lecture Hours: 1.5 Laboratory Hours: 0

PHTA 114 - FUNDAMENTALS FOR THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT I

Prerequisite: Acceptance to Physical Therapist Assistant Program. This course provides a beginning study of basic physical therapy skills. The emphasis is on asepsis and sterile technique, vital signs, body mechanics, basic positioning and bed mobility skills, wheelchairs, including basic management and mobility, transfer techniques and introduction to the patient chart and SOAP note format.

2 Credit Hours (OC) - Lecture Hours: 1 Laboratory Hours: 3

PHTA 115 - FUNDAMENTALS FOR THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT II

Prerequisite: PHTA 114 and BIOL 140 with a "C" or better, or department approval. This course provides a continuation of the study of basic physical therapy skills. Emphasis is on the use of assistive devices/introduction to normal gait, techniques of draping and positioning for treatment, principles and practices related to use of selected modalities of therapeutic heat and cold, hydrotherapy, ultrasound, therapeutic massage techniques, documentation/SOAP note writing and orientation to clinical practice.

4 Credit Hours (OC) - Lecture Hours: 2 Laboratory Hours: 6

PHTA 116 - ANATOMY AND KINESIOLOGY FOR THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the PTA program and BIOL 140 with a grade of "C" or better. This course includes analysis of normal functional movement utilizing principles of biomechanics, kinesiology, musculoskeletal anatomy, and neuromuscular physiology. Students will learn principles of movement, surface palpation of joints and muscles, joint structure and function, and be introduced to passive range of motion, and normal gait.

5 Credit Hours (OC) - Lecture Hours: 2 Laboratory Hours: 9

PHTA 118 - PRINCIPLES OF ORTHOPEDIC REHABILITATION

Prerequisite: PHTA 111 with a grade "C" or better. This course covers principles and types of therapeutic exercises with a focus on orthopedic conditions, data collection skills, and related physical therapy interventions including: stretching and strengthening exercises, postural dysfunction, mechanical traction, goniometry, manual muscle testing, and an introduction to muscle energy techniques. Documentation of treatment interventions is also covered.

6 Credit Hours (OC) - Lecture Hours: 3.5 Laboratory Hours: 7.5

PHTA 130 - CLINICAL I

Prerequisite: PHTA 118 with a grade of "C" or better. This course includes an introduction to the clinical setting under direct personal supervision by qualified clinical instructors. Students will participate in and observe a variety of patient care interventions provided in a physical therapy practice setting.

1.5 Credit Hours (OC) - Lecture Hours: 0.5 Laboratory Hours: 8

PHTA 216 - PRINCIPLE OF THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES

Prerequisite: PHTA 118 with a grade “C” or better. This course provides an introduction to the principles of electrical current and their effects on the human body. Students will learn about deep thermal agents, light therapy, and electrotherapy modalities. Methods of data collection and documentation of treatment interventions are also covered.

4 Credit Hours (OC) - Lecture Hours: 1.5 Laboratory Hours: 6.5

PHTA 218 - PRINCIPLES OF NEUROLOGICAL REHABILITATION

Prerequisite: PHTA 216 with a grade "C" or better. This course focuses on common neurological conditions, data collection skills, and related physical therapy interventions for adult and pediatric populations. Students will learn concepts of normal motor development, motor control, balance and sensory assessment, abnormal gait, and rehabilitation treatment approaches. Documentation of treatment interventions is also covered.

6 Credit Hours (OC) - Lecture Hours: 4 Laboratory Hours: 6

PHTA 220 - SPECIAL PATIENT POPULATIONS.

Prerequisite: PHTA 218 with a grade "C" or better. This course provides an overview of physical therapy for special patient populations including conditions related to peripheral vascular disease, cardiopulmonary, amputation and prosthetics, geriatrics, pregnancy, women’s and men’s health, wound care, burns, other neurological conditions, and oncology. Methods of data collection and documentation of treatment interventions are also covered.

5.5 Credit Hours (OC) - Lecture Hours: 3.5 Laboratory Hours: 5.5

PHTA 222 - MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION FOR THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT

Prerequisite: PHTA 218 with a grade "C" or better. This course incorporates an overview of the organization and administration of a physical therapy practice including legal and ethical issues, evidence-based clinical practice, professional literature, healthcare management, reimbursement and billing, quality improvement, and volunteerism. Students will also learn employment seeking skills including resume development and interview preparation along with life- learning activities and transitioning to the entry-level PTA role. Preparation for the licensure exam will also be covered.

2.5 Credit Hours (OC) - Lecture Hours: 2.5 Laboratory Hours: 0

PHTA 230 - CLINICAL II

Prerequisite: PHTA 130 with a "C" grade or better. This course is a progression of PHTA 130 in which the student develops the ability to initiate treatment interventions and increase clinical problem solving and understanding of rationale and outcomes. The student will treat more complex patients with continued direct personal supervision by qualified clinical instructors.

2.5 Credit Hours (OC) - Lecture Hours: 0 Laboratory Hours: 16

PHTA 232 - CLINICAL III

Prerequisite: PHTA 230 with a "C" grade or better. This course is a progression of PHTA 230 in which the student develops consistent proficiency with all aspects of a full time physical therapist assistant’s patient care workload, under general supervision of qualified clinical instructors.

3 Credit Hours (OC) - Lecture Hours: 0 Laboratory Hours: 18

PHTA 255 - INDEPENDENT STUDY

Prerequisite: Department approval. This course provides the opportunity to work on a technical project, research or other specialized study related to individual academic needs. A written plan for the independent-study project is developed with a faculty member (including a detailed description of the project, the number of credit hours assigned to it, the evaluative criteria to be used, and other relevant matters) and the project is carried out under the periodic direction of the faculty member. The written plan is submitted to the associate dean for approval and remains on file within the department, together with a final written report submitted to the faculty member by the student. Repeatable up to a maximum of five semester hours of credit.

1 to 5 Credit Hour (OC) - Lecture Hours: 0 Laboratory Hours: 3 to 15