PTA 212 - Acute Care

1. Describe the role of physical therapy care in acute care, wound care, cardiac care, and geriatrics.
2. Describe evidence based physical therapy interventions to address specific patient situations including:
   • mobilizing patients in critical care
   • airway clearance techniques
   • wound management interventions
   • conducting cardiac rehabilitation exercises
   • post-op surgery and pulmonary precautions
3. Describe the physiology and pathophysiology of selected disease processes, typical physiologic responses to treatment, and contraindications to treatment.
4. Demonstrate safe equipment handling and usage.                 
5. Participate in medical record review, documentation and interdisciplinary communication.
6. Identify and select appropriate patient education strategies.
7. Describe population demographics including variety of patient values and preferences and the impact on the healthcare system.
8. Describe pharmacological interventions as they relate to physical therapy.
9. Identify thoracoabdominal movements and breathing patterns during activities.
10. Interview patient and/or caregivers regarding prior level of function and present health conditions.
11. Instruct patient and family/caregivers in an effective home program
12. Understand and implement a documented plan of care in relation to acute care.
13. Assess the physiological response to activity via observation and vital signs.
14. Describe the presentation of patients with COPD, asthma, and restrictive lung disease.
15. Incorporate pain management strategies into the physical therapy intervention plan.
16. Accurately document an intervention session in acute care.
17. Demonstrate correct universal precautions, infection control procedures, isolation techniques, and wound management interventions.

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 PTA.

• 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.