Program

Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical therapist assistants are technically educated healthcare providers who work under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist to restore function when disease or injury results in pain and limited movement abilities.  Physical therapy intervention can also prevent further injury.  When a patient seeks physical therapy services, the physical therapist performs an initial evaluation and develops a plan of care.  The physical therapist assistant carries out the plan of care and reports the patient’s response to the supervising physical therapist.

Responsibilities of a physical therapist assistant may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assisting the physical therapist during the evaluation;
• Performing data collection (test and measurement) techniques;
• Administering intervention treatments utilizing heat, cold, ultrasound, electrical current, water, light, massage, and other hands-on treatment techniques exercise programs;
• Fitting and instructing patients in the use of assistive devices such as crutches, walkers, canes and wheelchairs;
• Instructing patients in activities of daily living;
• Documenting relevant aspects of patient care;
• Maintaining and setting up treatment equipment;
• Maintaining department inventories;
• Participating in quality assurance activities; and,
• Scheduling patients.

The Physical Therapist Assistant program consists of a year of general courses followed by a year of technical course work and clinical experiences.

Requirements for Acceptance into the Physical Therapist Assistant Program

General Year

Any student accepted for admission to Hocking College may enroll in the first year general courses required to apply to the clinical year of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.  The first year includes two semesters of course work in the health and physical sciences, math, communication, psychology, and an introductory physical therapy course. This first year is designed to establish the foundation on which to build your clinical skills.

Clinical Year

The clinical year, which begins Autumn Semester, includes three semesters of course work combined with clinical experiences (Directed Practice).  Clinical year courses are offered during the day and each course is offered only once during the year.  Students should plan on full-time enrollment during the clinical year.  Enrollment in the clinical year is limited to 30 students.

Clinical Year Requirements

Students who meet the requirements outlined below are conditionally accepted into the clinical year of the Physical Therapy Assistant program based on their file completion date:

Students who meet the requirements outlined below are accepted to the clinical year based on their file completion date.  A completed file includes the following:

1. High school transcript
    
2. Completion of 50 volunteer hours in a physical therapy department with 20 hours in an acute care or sub-acute setting (hospital in-patients) OR the equivalent in full-time or part-time employment in a physical therapy department.  Volunteer hours must be performed no more that two years prior to the date of application to Hocking College.
    
3. Positive recommendations for admission to the PTA Program from two physical therapists or physical therapist assistants, not related to the applicant, under whom you volunteered or were employed.
   
   Recommendation Forms are available in the School of Allied Health Office, DVD 309.  All forms must be returned to:  School of Allied Health, Attention: Dean, 3301 Hocking Parkway, Nelsonville, OH 45764..
    
4. Successful completion of all Semester I and II course work with a grade of “C” or better and an overall CPA of 2.0 or greater.  This applies to courses completed at Hocking College as well as credits transferred from another institution.
   
   First year courses may not be taken more than two times in an effort to attain a grade of “C” or better.

Exceptions:
With the transition from quarters to semesters, first year students no longer need to complete the following courses:
SOCI 153 Social and Cultural Awareness OR
SOCI 165 Cross Cultural Studies
PHYS 103

Files will be considered complete without these courses. 

It is the student’s responsibility to monitor his or her file for completeness, including the posting of transfer credits into the Hocking College computer system.  For questions, please call 740.753.3591, extension 7071.

Applicant List

Student files are managed by the Admissions Processing Office.  Each spring semester, the Admissions Processing Office reviews applicant files for transcripts (high school as well as other two or four-year institutions), documented volunteer hours and recommendation forms, and successful completion of Quarters I, II, and III or Semesters I and II course work to determine which students are eligible for admission to the clinical year.  Students with completed files are placed on the clinical list by file completion date.  Students with the same file completion date are ranked by overall GPA.  Thirty students are accepted to the clinical phase of the PTA Program each year.

Please note:  The length of time from file completion to admission to the clinical year of the PTA program varies based on the number of applicants ahead of you.  Currently, we have a wait list beyond two years. Please continue to monitor your file progression status.

Program Outcomes

Graduation Rate:  Graduation rate for the 2011-2012 cohort was 70 percent.

Licensure Examination Pass Rate: Ultimate passage rate for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 cohorts was 94 percent.

Employment rate:  To the best of our knowledge, 87 percent of graduates were employed as PTAs within six months of graduation.

Accreditation

Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Hocking College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; Telephone: 703.706.3245; Email: accreditation@apta.org; Website: www.capteonline.org.

Program Outcomes

The following outcomes are skills, behaviors, and attitudes cultivated in students seeking the Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant:

• Within the scope of practice of the physical therapist assistant, safely and effectively implement data collection techniques and interventions identified in the plan of care established by the supervising physical therapist;
• Communicate verbally and nonverbally with the patient, the physical therapist, health care delivery personnel, and others in an effective, appropriate, and capable manner;
• Exhibit professional behavior reflecting legal, ethical, and safe standards; meeting expectations of patients/clients and the profession; and displaying cultural sensitivity;
• Complete accurate and timely documentation that follows the guidelines of state practice acts, the practice setting, and other regulatory agencies;
• Effectively manage daily operations including the organizational planning and operation of physical therapy services, participating in quality assurance activities, and providing information for billing and reimbursement purposes;
• Plan and organize individualized patient interventions established by the physical therapist such as adjusting or withholding intervention based on patient status, identifying alternatives within the plan of care, and reporting changes in patient status to the supervising physical therapist;
• Under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist, participate in coordinating continuity of care including instructing other members of the health care team; providing patient related instruction to patients, family members, and caregivers; and participating in discharge planning and follow-up car; and,
• Educate others about the role of the physical therapist assistant, which may include being a clinical instructor, and engage in life-long learning.

Curriculum

Career Opportunities

Physical Therapist Assistants are employed in a variety of settings such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health settings, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, and school systems. Salaries start at approximately $30,000 to $37,000 annually, according to information collected by our 2010 graduates.

Occupation Profile