PTA 101 - Introduction to Physical Therapy

1. Define physical therapist, physical therapist assistant and the physical therapy aide, and the legal requirements for provision of physical therapy as specified by Washington state law.
2. Compare the physical therapist and physical therapist assistant in terms of their education, licensure, place of employment, opportunities for advancement, duties, scope of practice, and supervisory relationships.
3. Discuss the history of the physical therapy profession and association; discuss the history of the PTA within the profession.
4. Discuss the history, role, objectives, and structure of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and the structure of the Physical Therapy Association of Washington (PTWA) as it relates to the Physical Therapist Assistant.
5. Identify the different members of the health care team in terms of their role, job responsibilities, and educational qualifications.
6. Communicate effectively through written patient care documentation.
7. Identify methods to address a variety of patients’ values, needs and preferences in physical therapy.
8. Advocate for the physical therapy profession through attendance of professional organization meetings and legislative impact days.
9. Implement the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to describe patient status.
10. Understand a documented Plan of Care including Discharge Plan developed by the physical therapist.

1. Implement plans of care developed by physical therapists.
2. Provide care in a safe, legal and ethical manner.
3. Communicate effectively and appropriately with patients, families, physical therapists and other care providers both verbally and non‐verbally including accurate written communication and documentation.
4. Instruct patients, families and other health care providers using techniques consistent with the level of the audience.
5. Function as integral team members and participate in the team process.
6. Transition to successful employment as PTAs.

• Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
• Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
• Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.