PTA vs PT
Who can modify interventations within the established POC but cannot change goals?
PTA
Who specializes in ADLs, development and favbrication of orthoses (splints), consultation in adaptation of the environment for a physically challenged patient, fine motor skills, and cognitive functional tasks?
Occupational Therapist (OT)
Who focuses on vital signs, medication management, and patient safety on the medical side?
Registered Nurse (RN)
Which healthcare team model is MOST dependent on shared goals and interdependent decision making. This team is the most effficient and most successful in regard to a patient's outcomes.
⎯Interprofessional Team
⎯All the members collaborate in decision making; however, the evaluations and interventions are done independently.
⎯Healthcare members working together in a skilled nursing facility. Members from different disciplines meet, exchange information, and try to understand each other's discipline in order to help the patients. The outcomes and goals are team-directed, and not bound to a specific discipline.
In Texas, what is the requirement for the level of supervision of a physical therapist assistant?
General supervision is care provided by the PTA that requires that the PT be available for supervision by telecommunication at all times.
Regardless of the setting in which the services are provided while supervising the PTA, the APTA has established that the PT has the following responsibilities:
⎯Referral interpretation
⎯Initial examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis
⎯Development or modification of a POC based on the initial examination + reexamination (POC includes the physical therapy goals and outcomes)
⎯Determination of when it may be appropriate to utilize the PTA in order to provide safe, effective, and efficient physical therapy services
⎯Reexamination of the patient/client while considering goals and revision of the POC
⎯Establishement of discharge plan and documentation of discharge summary/status
⎯Oversight of all documentation for physical therapy services rendered to each patient/client
A rehabilitation technician is asked to supervise a patient walking with a walker while the PTA treats another patient. Is this appropriate?
NO⎯Rehabilitation technicians cannot provide independent patient care with no supervision.
Who is responsible for co-signing SPTA documentation?
A patient with dysphagia needs dietary modifications. Which rehabilitation team member leads this decision?
Speech Language Pathologist (SLP)
What is the difference between direct supervision and direct personal supervision?
⎯Direct supervision requires that the PT be phyiscally present and immediately available to supervise the PTA (readily available)
⎯During direct personal supervision, the PT is continuously directing and supervising all of the care provided to the patient (directly supervising treatment)
A PTA may perform the initial examinations. What does an inital examination consist of? Give at least three examples.
⎯Gathing objectve data (ROM measurements, vital signs, muscle strength, gait analysis, balance testing, posture analysis, functional movement, palpation findings, neurological testing, wound characteristics)
⎯PTA does NOT interpret findings
List at least three responsibilities of a Physical Therapy Director.
⎯Motivate subordinates
⎯Communicate effectively with supervisors
⎯Impartially evaluate staff and give feedback
⎯Educate employees
⎯Interview new personnel and help their development of skills
⎯Delegate tasks to appropriate staff
What is the difference between a Home Health Aide and Community Healthcare Worker?
⎯The home health aide assists the patient in his or her home setting with bathing, grooming, light housework, shopping, and cooking. After receiving instruction and supervision from the PT or the PTA, the HHA may provide supervision or assistance to a patient performing a home exercise program.
⎯A community healthcare worker is a healthcare-trained person who assists community individuals to access healthcare resources, educates on high-risk health concerns, monitors at-risk individuals, and faciliates communication between healthcare providers and patients.
Which team member is responsible for medical diagnostics and prescribing medications?
Physician (MD/DO)
Who is considered to be apart of the intradisciplinary team?
⎯Intradisciplinary team members work together within the same discipline.
⎯PT and PTA working in a home health care physical therapy practice when other services are not necessary.
PTAs perform a variety of of tasks. These treatment procedures, performed under the direction and supervision of PTs, include the following:
⎯Therapeutic exercises
⎯Therapeutic massages
⎯Therapeutic modalities (electrical stimulation, paraffin baths, hot and cold packs, traction, ultrasound)
⎯Patient/caregiver/family education
Define the responsibilites of a Physical Therapy Aide.
⎯Aide can function only if supervisied directly (on-site) and continuously by the PT/PTA (require direct personnal supervision)
⎯Assist in patient transportation, equiptment cleaning, maintenance, secretarial duties, housekeeping duties
What is the role of the orthotists and prosthetists?
Fit and prepare orthopedic braces and prosthetic devices for patients/clients.
(True/False) OT and PT can share goals if they are working in an interprofessional team model.
True
A PT, OT, SLP, nurse, social worker and physician meet together weekly to coordinate goals, adjust each other's plans, and create a unified discharge plan. This is an example of which healthcare team working together?
Interprofessional Team
The PTA notices a sudden decline in the patient's strength, which was not previously documented. What steps should they take?
⎯PTA should document this sudden decline in strength (analysis)
⎯Report to the physical therapist
List the members of the Healthcare Team.
⎯Patient/Client
⎯Family members, caregivers
⎯Various healthcare professionals involved in the patient/client's care
⎯Insurance companies
List the members of a Rehabilitation Team.
⎯PT/PTA
⎯OT/COTA
⎯SLP
⎯Orthotist and Prosthetist
⎯Kinesiologist
⎯PCP (a medical doctor such as a physiatrist and/or doctor of osteopathy or other specialty/physician who is concurrently treating the patient)
⎯Physician Assistant, Registered Nurse, Social Worker, Certified Athletic Trainer
⎯Physical Therapy Aide, Physical Therapy Volunteer, PT/PTA Student, Home Health Aide
Define and state the difference between a Kinesiologist and Certified Athletic Trainer.
⎯Kinesiologists are individuals who complete a bachelor or master's degree in the study of human movement who try to improve the efficiency and performance of the human body in sports, at work, and during ADLs. Others with doctoral degrees (PhD) may teach or be involed in research activities at different universities.
⎯The certified athletic trainer (ATC) is a healthcare professional with a master's degree who works mainly with sports injuries.
A patient recovering from stroke is being seen by PT, OT, and SLP, but each discipline develops their own goals and interventions withn minimal coordination. This is an example of which healthcare team working together?
⎯Multidisciplinary Team
⎯In a multidisciplinary team, members work separately and independently in their different disciplins.