Essential Functions of the PTA Program

Essential Functions

The Program has a responsibility to health care consumers and employers to assure graduation of competent, effective, and safe individuals to work as Physical Therapist Assistants under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. Graduates are expected to be able to perform specific expected physical therapy functions and pass a written licensing examination in order to fulfill the role and responsibilities of a PTA in any physical therapy setting. The PTA program maintains that minimal technical standards must be present in order for the student to meet those criteria. Students must possess certain physical, observational, behavioral, communication, and critical thinking abilities to meet the full requirements of the program’s curriculum and graduate. The following essential functions reflect the expectations of the PTA student for reasonable performance of physical therapy activities in the program.

Any student disclosing a properly certified disability will receive reasonable accommodation but must be able to achieve the minimal technical standards of the program to graduate. Available accommodations may include but are not limited to: group counseling, peer counseling, referral to community services, faculty advisement, architectural accommodations, and testing accommodations including readers, extensions in time and private testing areas.

Motor Skills: Sufficient motor capabilities to execute the movements required to provide safe and effective physical therapy interventions.

1. Sufficient coordination, balance, speed, agility and strength to assist and safely guard people who are walking, exercising or performing other activities.
2. Adjust/ position people and manipulate equipment which may involve bending, stooping freely to floor level and reaching above the head.
3. Move, transfer and position people which may involve lifting and pulling.

Sensory and Observational Skills: Ability to observe and respond to changes in patient status in laboratory and clinical situations by obtaining information through observation, auscultation, and palpation.

1. Visual ability: to observe facial expressions, body language, movement patterns, skin status, skin reactions to physical agents, read and set parameters on physical therapy equipment.
2. Auditory ability: to respond to patient’s voice, equipment alarms and timers, and effectively use devices for measurement of blood pressure.
3. Tactile ability: to palpate pulse, detect skin changes in texture, temperature and contour, palpate for changes in muscle tension and joint movement.

Communication Skills: Effective and efficient communication to execute physical therapy interventions and interact with patients, families, health care personnel.

1. Read, write, speak and comprehend the English language at a competency level to assure safe execution of a procedure or assignment based on review of pertinent documents or an equipment operation manual.
2. Correctly and effectively express information regarding the response of a patient to an intervention as well as instruction of the activity.
3. Participate in department and team meetings.

Behavioral Skills: Tolerate close physical contact, behave in an expected manner in the clinical arena and develop therapeutic relationships.

1. Act professionally, ethically and in an expected manner in the classroom and clinical setting.
2. Attend to assigned tasks.
3. Demonstrate organizational skills necessary to meet deadlines and exhibit time management.

Critical Thinking Skills: Exercise good judgment, interpret and synthesize information to perform in a safe, appropriate and expected manner.

1. Prioritize multiple tasks, integrate information and make judgments.
2. Collect and analyze data to respond appropriately in patient care.
3. Apply knowledge for appropriate clinical reasoning regarding delivery of physical therapy interventions.