Physical Therapist Assisting (PTA)
PTA 1010 — Fundamentals of PTA Practice
Credit Hours: 3.00 Total Contact Hours: 5.00 Lecture Hours: 1.00 Lab Hours: 4.00
Builds the fundamentals of physical therapy practice for the PTA. This course will examine the utilization of appropriate medical terminology, documentation, and an overview of interventions in the clinical setting. Laboratory sessions will focus on application of patient positioning, bed mobility, transfers, selection and fitting of appropriate mobility devices, applied gait patterns and gait training, infection control, and vital signs to specific therapeutic interventions. Effective communication skills are reinforced during laboratory sessions to promote optimal patient care outcomes. 'C' grade policy applies.
Offered: Spring
Prerequisites: BHS 1150 with a 'C' or better, BIO 1110 with a 'C' or better, COM 1110 with a 'C' or better, MTH 1260 with a 'C' or better
Corequisites: PTA 1200, PTA 1220.
PTA 1200 — Therapeutic Exercise for the PTA
Credit Hours: 4.00 Total Contact Hours: 6.00 Lecture Hours: 2.00 Lab Hours: 4.00
Covers the essential concepts, principles, and techniques of therapeutic exercise as a foundation for clinical practice. The course includes instruction in range of motion, stretching, progressive resistive exercise, balance and coordination, relaxation techniques, aquatic therapy, posture and core stabilization, as well as the promotion of fitness, health, prevention, and wellness. A multitude of orthopedic pathologies and appropriate therapeutic exercise programs are covered and adapted for various aged patients. Case studies will be utilized to facilitate implementation of therapeutic exercise progression and to underscore the importance of evidence-informed practice in the clinical setting. 'C' grade policy applies.
Offered: Spring
Prerequisites: BHS 1150 with a 'C' or better, BIO 1110 with a 'C' or better, COM 1110 with a 'C' or better, MTH 1260 with a 'C' or better
Corequisites: PTA 1010, PTA 1220.
PTA 1220 — Clinical Kinesiology for the PTA
Credit Hours: 4.00 Total Contact Hours: 6.00 Lecture Hours: 2.00 Lab Hours: 4.00
Involves the application of basic functional anatomy to an in-depth analysis of human motion. Instruction includes the biomechanics of each joint, common orthopedic conditions and dysfunctions, related special tests and surgical procedures, and implications to physical therapy practice. Students will also examine the gait cycle and identify possible causes for abnormal gait. Developing competency with detailed goniometry and manual muscle testing will be the focus of lab content. 'C' grade policy applies.
Offered: Spring
Prerequisites: BHS 1150 with a 'C' or better, BIO 1110 with a 'C' or better, COM 1110 with a 'C' or better, MTH 1260 with a 'C' or better
Corequisites: PTA 1010, PTA 1200.
PTA 1400 — Physical Agents for the PTA
Credit Hours: 3.00 Total Contact Hours: 5.00 Lecture Hours: 1.00 Lab Hours: 4.00
Provides a comprehensive overview of physical agents and therapeutic modalities utilized in physical therapy practice. Analyze the theory and physiological effects of thermal, mechanical, and electromagnetic agents, and their indications, contraindications, precautions, and clinical benefits and limitations, to inform evidence-informed decision-making in the use of therapeutic modalities for patient care. Laboratory activities seek to achieve competency in the application of the above treatment interventions to ensure effective outcomes and patient safety. 'C' grade policy applies.
Offered: Summer
Prerequisites: BIO 1120, PTA 1010, PTA 1200, PTA 1220
Corequisites: PTA 1500.
PTA 1500 — Professional Topics in PTA
Credit Hour: 1.00 Total Contact Hour: 1.00 Lecture Hour: 1.00
Explores contemporary practice strategies and emerging trends within the field of physical therapy, aligned with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) standards. Topics include ethics and professionalism, professional development and lifelong learning, leadership, legislative and political advocacy, interprofessional collaboration, performance improvement and quality assurance, health promotion and wellness strategies, addressing healthcare disparities to foster patient-centered care, and practice management. 'C' grade policy applies.
Offered: Summer
Prerequisites: BIO 1120, PTA 1010, PTA 1200, PTA 1220
Corequisites: PTA 1400.
PTA 2010 — PTA Seminar I
Credit Hour: 1.00 Total Contact Hour: 1.00 Lecture Hour: 1.00
Prepares students for the requirements and expectations of the first clinical experience, including an orientation to the Clinical Performance Instrument utilized to assess student performance in the clinic. Students will complete a "Clinical Education Passport" to validate exposure to a variety of patients and interventions and to document completion of supplemental learning activities. A cumulative written examination is given to assess mastery of first year content. 'C' grade policy applies.
Offered: Fall
Prerequisites: PTA 1400, PTA 1500
Corequisite: PTA 2020, PTA 2100, PTA 2120.
PTA 2020 — Clinical Application I
Credit Hours: 2.00 Total Contact Hours: 10.00 Clinical/Other Hours: 10.00
Provides a supervised learning experience in an outpatient or inpatient setting. The student will complete a minimum of 150 hours of clinical experience with emphasis placed on treatment interventions and data collection skills learned in the first year of the didactic program. Students are expected to maintain 50% of a full time physical therapist assistant's patient care workload with direction and supervision from the physical therapist. This course is graded S/U.
Offered: Fall
Prerequisites: BHS 1150, BIO 1110, BIO 1120, PTA 1010, PTA 1200, PTA 1220, PTA 1400, PTA 1500
Corequisites: PTA 2010, PTA 2100, PTA 2120.
PTA 2100 — Physical Therapy for the Medically Complex Patient
Credit Hours: 4.00 Total Contact Hours: 6.00 Lecture Hours: 2.00 Lab Hours: 4.00
Introduces students to a variety of conditions affecting the cardiovascular, pulmonary, integumentary, lymphatic, metabolic, and other systems, and explores treatment strategies commonly used in physical therapy practice laboratory activities emphasize clinical decision-making, the practical application of treatment strategies, and competency in managing medically complex patients. 'C' grade policy applies.
Offered: Fall
Prerequisites: PTA 1400, PTA 1500
Corequisites: PTA 2010, PTA 2020, PTA 2120.
PTA 2120 — Functional Neurorehabilitation
Credit Hours: 4.00 Total Contact Hours: 6.00 Lecture Hours: 2.00 Lab Hours: 4.00
Links the structure and function of the central and peripheral nervous systems to the functional aspects of human movement. Lecture content focuses on neuroanatomy, the influence of neurological pathways on muscle tone, sensation, reflexes, coordination, and balance, and the application of this knowledge to the management of patients with neurological conditions commonly treated in physical therapy. Clinical case studies will also be utilized throughout the semester to facilitate critical thinking in the selection and implementation of appropriate therapeutic interventions learned throughout the course. Laboratory activities focus on developing competency in advanced neurotherapeutic interventions. 'C' grade policy applies.
Offered: Fall
Prerequisites: PTA 1400, PTA 1500
Corequisites: PTA 2010, PTA 2020, PTA 2100.
PTA 2200 — Clinical Application II
Credit Hours: 3.00 Total Contact Hours: 15.00 Clinical/Other Hours: 15.00
Provides a supervised learning experience in an outpatient or inpatient setting. The student will complete a minimum of 225 hours of directed practice with emphasis placed on refinement of skills taught in the PTA curriculum. Students are expected to maintain 75% of a full-time physical therapist assistant's patient care workload with the direction and supervision from the physical therapist. This course is graded S/U.
Offered: Spring
Prerequisites: PTA 2010, PTA 2020, PTA 2100, PTA 2120
Corequisites: PTA 2201, PTA 2250.
PTA 2201 — Clinical Application III
Credit Hours: 4.00 Total Contact Hours: 20.00 Clinical/Other Hours: 20.00
Provides a terminal full-time learning experience in which the student must complete 300 clinical hours in an outpatient or inpatient setting. Students are expected to achieve entry-level performance and maintain 100% of a full-time, entry-level physical therapist assistant's patient caseload in a cost-effective manner with direction and supervision from the physical therapist by the end of this clinical experience. This course is graded S/U.
Offered: Spring
Prerequisites: PTA 2010, PTA 2020, PTA 2100, PTA 2120
Corequisites: PTA 2200, PTA 2250.
PTA 2220 — Clinical Application III
Credit Hours: 3.00 Total Contact Hours: 15.00 Clinical/Other Hours: 15.00
Provides a terminal full-time learning experience in an outpatient or inpatient setting. The student will complete a minimum of 225 hours of clinical experience with emphasis placed on demonstrating PTA skills at entry level competency. Students are expected to maintain 100% of a full time physical therapist assistant's patient care workload in a cost effective manner with direction and supervision from the physical therapist. This course is graded S/U.
Offered: Spring
Prerequisites: PTA 2100, PTA 2120
Corequisites: PTA 2200, PTA 2250.
PTA 2250 — Capstone Course for the PTA
Credit Hours: 2.00 Total Contact Hours: 2.00 Lecture Hours: 2.00
Accompanies Clinical Applications II and III of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program and prepares the student clinician to transition into the healthcare workforce as a licensed physical therapist assistant. Students will submit verification of exposure to a variety of clinical experiences and supplemental learning activities in preparation for clinical practice and in accordance with CAPTE Standards. The capstone experience in PTA allows students to demonstrate their proficiency in technical knowledge with integration of the Rhodes State College Institutional Learning Objectives (ILOs). Students will actively prepare for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for PTAs, with an emphasis on Ohio's laws and rules governing physical therapy practice. Preparation includes review modules to help identify personal strengths and areas for improvement. The course also supports the development of professional skills necessary for pursuing employment as a Physical Therapist Assistant. 'C' grade policy applies.
Offered: Spring
Prerequisites: PTA 2010, PTA 2020, PTA 2100, PTA 2120
Corequisites: PTA 2200, PTA 2201.