PTAP 201 - Clinical Education I

4 Credits: (200 clinical hours) 5 weeks

Course Description
The first of three clinical experiences, this is an introductory clinical experience which will broaden the student’s perception and understanding of his/her role as a Physical Therapist Assistant. It is an early opportunity for the student to apply his/her current knowledge base under the supervision of the Physical Therapy Clinical Instructor.

Note The duration is 200 hours (generally five 40- hour work weeks).

Prerequisite PTAP 101, PTAP 122, and BIOL 132.

Butler County Community College Clinical Education Manual. Butler: Butler County Community College, 2020-2021.

Objectives
The student will be able to rate at “Beginning Performance” for the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI) for each of the following criteria:

A. Performs in a safe manner that minimizes the risk to patient, self, and others

B. Demonstrates expected clinical behaviors in a professional manner in all situations

C. Performs in a manner consistent with established legal standards, standards of the profession, and ethical guidelines

D. Adapts delivery of physical therapy services with consideration for patients’ differences, values, preferences, and needs

E. Communicates in ways that are congruent with situational needs

F. Participates in self-assessment and develops plans to improve knowledge, skills, and behaviors

G. Demonstrates clinical problem solving

H. Performs selected therapeutic exercises in a competent manner

I. Applies selected manual therapy, airway clearance, and integumentary repair and protection techniques in a competent manner

J. Applies selected physical agents and mechanical modalities in a competent manner

K. Applies selected electrotherapeutic modalities in a competent manner

L. Performs functional training in self-care and home management and application and adjustment of devices and equipment in a       competent manner

M. Produces quality documentation in a timely manner to support the delivery of physical therapy services

N. Participates in the efficient delivery of physical therapy services

Content
(From the APTA CPI performance criteria)

A. Safety

B. Clinical behaviors

C. Accountability

D. Cultural competence

E. Communication

F. Self-assessment and lifelong learning

G. Clinical problem solving

H. Interventions: therapeutic exercise

I. Interventions: therapeutic techniques

J. Interventions: physical agents and mechanical modalities

K. Interventions: electrotherapeutic modalities

L. Interventions: functional training and application of devices and equipment

M. Documentation

N. Resource management

Student Evaluation
All objectives will be evaluated in the same manner. The course is overseen by Butler County Community College’s Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education (ACCE). The grading system consists of Satisfactory (“S”) or Unsatisfactory (“U”) performance. The student’s performance will be assessed both at the midterm and during the final days using the American Physical Therapy Association’s Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI), which contains 14 individual performance criteria (comprising the course content), each comprised of a multitude of essential skills. A visual analog scale (VAS) is provided for each criterion, with vertical markings noting “Beginning Performance,” “Advanced Beginner Performance,” “Intermediate Performance,” “Advanced Intermediate Performance,” and “Entry-level Performance.” The ACCE provides the student’s Clinical Instructor with an addendum of minimum final ratings for each of the criteria, all of which must be met in order to recommend Satisfactory (“S”) performance. Each Clinical Instructor completes a training module of the utilization of the CPI. The CPI is completed by the Clinical Instructor at the clinical site, and the final grade is determined by the PTA Program ACCE based on the VAS findings, written comments, and recommendations from the Clinical Instructor. Additionally, the student is required to develop a journal from his/her clinical experience and will also perform a self-evaluation. The student may be required to perform an inservice or case presentation at the discretion of the clinical site.Bibliography
APTA Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, guide 3.0. 2017.

Bircher. Documentation for Physical Therapist Assistants. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Davis, 2018.

Fairchild, Sheryl. Pierson and Fairchild’s Principles and Techniques of Patient Care. 5th ed. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders, 2013.

Hayes, Karen. Manual for Physical Agents. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, 2012.

Hislop, Helen, and Jacqueline Montgomery. Daniels and Worthingham’s Muscle Testing: Techniques of Manual Examination. 9th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2012.

Kisner, Carolyn, and Lynn Allen Colby. Therapeutic Exercise: Foundations and Techniques. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Davis, 2018.

Lippert, Lynn. Clinical Kinesiology and Anatomy. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Davis, 2011.

Magee, David. Orthopedic Physical Assessment. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2014.

Manske, Robert. Fundamental Orthopedic Management for the Physical Therapist Assistant. 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby, 2015.

Martin, Suzanne, and Mary Kessler. Neurologic Intervention for Physical Therapy. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2015.

Moini, Jahangir. Introduction to Pathology for the Physical Therapist Assistant, 2nd ed.. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett, 2019.

Norkin, Cynthia, and D. Joyce White. Measurement of Joint Motion: A Guide to Goniometry. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Davis, 2009.

O’Sullivan, Susan, and Thomas Schmitz. Physical Rehabilitation Assessment and Treatment.7th ed. Philadelphia: Davis, 2019.

Taber’s Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. 22nd ed. Philadelphia: Davis, 2013.