Advising Notes
Montgomery College, Takoma Park Campus
Date reviewed: May, 2002

Discipline:  Health Information Technology [PT102] 
Physical Therapist Assistant Advisor

Return to Physical Therapy Physical Therapy Department

PT102, BASICE HEALTH SKILLS FOR THE PHYSICAL
Sample syllabus submitted by Professor Tuckson, Fall 2001

CREDIT HOURS: 2 SEMESTER HOURS

CLOCK HOURS: 15 HOURS, LECTURE, 30 HOURS, LABORATORY

REQUIRED TEXT: Patient Care Skills by Mary Alice and Scott Duesterhaus Minor, 4th Ed. Manual for Functional Training by Palmar & Toms 3rd Ed.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Introduction in basic health skills used in physical therapy, including anatomical movement terminology, and chemical, mechanical, and physical principles relative to body function. Skills and practice in body mechanics, patient positioning and transfers, gait training first aid skills, bandaging, vital signs, medical asepsis. C.P.R. certification must be secured by the student before the end of the semester.

TEACHING METHODS:

Teaching methods employed will include lectures, audiovisual presentations, questions and answer sessions, demonstrations, patients situation discussions, medical documentation, and supervised laboratory practice.

REQUIREMENTS

On time attendance of all lecutre and laboratory sessions is

 

ATTIRE

Proper laboratory attire is mandatory and consists of flat

comfortable non-skid shoes, loose fitting shorts and a bikini or halter top for females. Males and females may wear a T-shirt which would be removed during practice sessions. Laboratory attire must be available for all class sessions unless otherwise informed by the instructor. During labs, long hair must be fastened up off the neck. Rings and earrings must be conservative. Necklaces should not be worn. For labs, particularly massage, nails must be short and neat. Students will not be admitted to laboratory sessions without proper attire.

 

HOUSEKEEPING:

All students are responsible for putting equipment away, keeping equipment clean and in order at the end of each class session. Students are expected to report unsafe and or broken equipment to the instructor. It is not necessary to report whom is responsible for breaking the equipment. Students are responsible for washing, drying, folding and putting away lenen: a washer and dryer with detergent is available across the hall from the lab. Walking on mats or mat tables with shoes on is not allowed. Drinking or eating in the classroom and laboratory is not allowed at any time.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

 

Each and every student is expected to behave in ways, which promote a teaching and learning atmosphere. Students have the right to learn; however, they do not have the right to interfere with the freedom of the faculty to teach or the rights of other students to learn. Students will be treated respectfully in return for respectful behavior.

All in-class discussions should be carried out in a way that keeps the classroom environment respectful of the rights of others. This means that, for example, students should not interrupt someone else who is talking regardless of whether that person is the instructor or another student. Students should not monopolize class time by repeatedly interrupting and asking questions in a manner which hinders the learning process of others. Students are also expected to conduct themselves in ways which create a safe learning and teaching environment that is free from such things as violence, intimidation, and harassment.

Please make sure that you obtain and read a copy of the current Montgomery College Student Handbook, which contains the Student Code of Conduct. Also, review the Physical Therapist Assistant Student Handbook for the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant adopted by the American Physical Therapy Association.

EXAMS

All written exams and practical exams are timed examinations. The written exam is 50 minutes, and the final written exam is 2 hours. Each student in a group of two students will have 15 minutes each to complete their practical examination. During the examination period, if the student wants to leave the room, he or she must submit their examination booklet and answer sheet, and consider the examination completed. The student will not be able to revisit the exam. All exam booklets are the property of Professor Tuckson. No exam booklet or any questions or statements in the exam booklet may be copied, either by writing or photocopying.

Practical exams are graded as "Pass or Fail". All students must pass all practical exams for successful completion of the course. A passing grade is scored as demonstrating 90% of the objectives of the practical exam. Students may retake a practical exam once. On the second attempt the passing score is 95%. Students must complete all practical exams by the end of the semester . If a student does not demonstrate successful completion of a practical exam, then that student will receive a "Failure" for the class. Practical exams may be evaluated by visiting clinicians, and they may be video taped. Second attempt practical exams will be videotaped.

Students are encouraged to practice all procedures utilizing the self study open labs, as it is expected that students must be able to effectively perform and instruct all procedures.

GRADING DISTRIUBITION:

Written Exam # 1 10%

Written Exam # 2 20%

Written Exam # 3 20%

Written Final Comprehensive 20%

CPR Certification 5% (2 year certification)

Review Questions 20%

Classroom Participation 5%

3 Practical Exams P/F Pass/Fail for each exam, independent of

each other

Final Practical Exam P/F (Comprehensive)

GRADING SCALE FOR WRITTEN EXAMS

    1. - 100 = A

80 - 89 = B

    1. - 79 = C

Below 75 = Failure

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to demonstrate through written and practical examinations the ability to:

  1. Define terminology used in describing the body and movement of the body parts.
  2. Discuss how chemical, mechanical, and physical principles govern body functions.
  3. Demonstrate understandings of self and patient safety in the application of skills in moving and positioning patients.
  4. Demonstrate safe principles of body mechanics.
  5. Demonstrate skill and safety in, and an understanding of first aid procedures, bandaging, vital signs, medical asepsis.
  6. Recognize common medical emergencies and safe skills in appropriate response.
  7. Identify and demonstrate the principles of gait training and types of gait activities.
  8. Document patient treatment and responses in written and oral reports and understand the role of the PTA in discharge planning.
  9. Identify assistive devices commonly used in gait training and demonstrate ability to measure and adjust them, and demonstrate an ability to teach the patients, family members and other health care providers the correct, safe an effective use of these devices.
  10. Identify adaptive devices and demonstrate their safe and effective uses in activities of daily living, and be able to teach patients, family members and other health care providers the safe and effective use of the adaptive devices.
  11. Demonstrate proper bed positioning for various disabilities/disorders.
  12. Obtain certification in CPR.
  13. Discuss the principles of universal precautions and infection control, and demonstrate techniques and rational for relevant infectious disease.
  14. Identify wheelchair components and demonstrate ability to measure and adjust them, and demonstrate an ability to teach the patient, family members and other health care providers the safe and effective use of the wheelchair in ASL’s and its components.
  15. Demonstrate the ability to teach the patient, their family members and health care professionals techniques of bed mobility, draping and positioning, range of motion, transfers, tilt table wheel-chair safety and mobility, and safe gait with assistive devices wound care, strengthing and balance activities, as it relates to a variety of medical and rehabilitation diagnosis .
  16. Recognize impaired tissue, healing tissue, and measure wound size, depth, color, and drainage in wound care.
  17. The ability to recognize a team approach in the management of the patient and understand the role of the Physical Therapist Assistant in the team.
  18. Demonstrate knowledge of professional conduct and ethical practice.
  19. Identify, recite, demonstrate and teach to the patient, family members and other health care providers the precautions of specific joint range of motion in post-surgical patients during rest and activity of daily living.
  20. Demonstrate the safe and effective techniques of measuring and recording vital signs and be able to recite normal and abnormal vital signs during rest and activity of daily living.

COURSE OUTLINE

  • MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
    1. Skeletal Anatomy
    • Bones
    • Joints
    • Anatomical position
    • Axis of motion
    • Planes of motion
  • Body Mechanics
    1. Medical Terminology
    2. Physics of stability, mobility, equilibrium, and fulcrums
    3. Base of support and center of gravity
    4. Posture
    5. Safety
    6. Techniques for moving self, others and objects
  • Initial Contact
    1. Patient information
    • Chart
    • Physcial Therapist
    1. Patient Assessment
    • Orientation
    • Range of motion
    • Strength
    • Balance
    • Motivation
    • Family support
    1. Medical Reporting
    2. Patient confidentiality
  • Movement
    1. Range of motion
    • Active
    • Passive
    • Active assistive
    1. Planes of motion
    • Sagittal
    • Frontal
    • Transverse
    1. Strength
    2. Balance
    3. Safety
    • Patient
    • Self
    • Assistants
  • Positioning
    1. Medical Terminology
    2. Goals and objectives
    3. Decubiti ulcers
    4. Postioning devices
    5. Techniques and procedures of bed positioning
    6. Draping
    7. Safety
    • Patient
    • Self
    • Assistants
    1. Medical reporting of patient responses and outcomes
  • Wheelchairs
    1. Goals and objectives
    2. Components and their functions
    3. Measuring and fitting
    4. Adaptive seating: Principles and equipment
    5. Techniques/ Functional activities
    • Safety
    • Transfers
    • Propelling
    • Turns
    • Sport activities
    1. Environmental modifications
    2. Architectural barrier
    3. Medical reporting of patient responses and outcomes
  • Transfers
    1. Medical terminology
    2. Goals and objectives
    3. Preparation and safety
    4. Levels of assistance
    5. Transfer procedures
    • Bed mobility
    • Sliding or lifting to another surface
    • To sitting
    • To standing
    • Mechnaical
    • Other
    1. Medical reporting of patient responses and outcomes
    2. Safety
    • Self
    • Patient
    • Assistants
  • Assistive Devices
    1. Goals and objectives
    2. Equipment and components
    • Parallel bars
    • Walkers, axillary and forearm crutches and canes
    1. Safety
    • Belts
    • Guarding techniques
    • Self, patients, and assistants
    1. Measurement and fit
    2. Gait
    • Balance
    • Phases
    • Patterns with assistive devices
    1. Techniques/ Functional Activities
    • Safety and guarding
    • Ambulation
    • Turning
    • Transfers
    1. Environmental modifications
    2. Architectural barriers
    3. Medical reporting of patient responses and outcomes
    4. PTA’s role in discharge planning
  • First Aide
    1. Universal Precautions
    2. Infection Control
    3. Vital Signs
    • Pulse
    • Blood pressure
    • Temperature
    • Respiratory rate
    1. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation/ CPR certification
    2. Treatment for shock and bleeding

 

  • Infection Control
    1. Mechanism of infection
    2. Techniques of control
    3. Staff, strep, AIDS, hepatitis B, Tuberculoses, specific safety and control techniques.
  • Wound care
    1. physiology of normal tissue
    2. physiology of a wound
    3. Wound identification for PTA’s
    4. Wound Healing
    5. Sterile Technique
    6. Wound care for PTA’s
    • Universal precautions review
    • Cleaning procedures
    • Dressing
    • Bandaging
    1. Medical reporting
    • Observations of the wound
    • Procedures of wound care
    • Patient response to treatment
    • Discharge planning

 

COURSE SCHEDULE

9/10 LEC: INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE

Palmer & Toms Ch. 1

LAB: Medical & Rehabilitation Diagnosis

Palmer & Toms Ch. 2,3,& 4

9/17 LEC: DOCUMENTATION/PREP FOR PATIENT CARE

TEXT: Ch. 1,2

Palmer & Toms Ch. 12

LAB: SKELETAL ANATOMY, BODY MECHANICS, VERBAL

COMMANDS REVIEW QUESTIONS DUE: Ch. 1,2

9/24 LEC: INITIAL CONTACT, ROM

TEXT: Ch. 2,6

Palmer & Toms Ch. 10

LAB: PATIENT ASSESSMENT, PLANE OF MOTION

R.O.M., STRENGTH AND BALANCE

REVIEW QUESTIONS DUE: Ch. 6

10/1 LEC: STRENGTH, BALANCE, POSITIONING AND DRAPING

TEXT: Ch. 5

Palmer & Toms Ch. 11

LAB: STRENGTH, BALANCE, POSITIONING AND DRAPING

TEXT: Ch. 5

REVIEW QUESTIONS DUE: Ch. 5

10/8 WRITTEN EXAM #1 @ 10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Text: Ch."s 1,2,5,6

Palmer & Toms: 1,2,3,4,10,11

LAB: Review

10/12 PRACTICAL EXAM #1 @ 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

10/15 LEC: WHEELCHAIRS AND W.C. TRANSFERS

TEXT: CH 7,10

Palmer & Toms Ch. 6,8,9

LAB: WHEELCHAIR TECHNIQUES

TEXT: Ch’s 7/VIDEO

REVIEW QUESTIONS DUE: CHAPTER 7 ONLY

10/18 LEC: TRANSFERS

TEXT: CH. 8

Palmer & Toms Ch. 7,8,9

LAB: TRANSFER TECHNIQUES

TEXT: CH. 8

REVIEW QUESTIONS DUE: CH. 8

10/22 MIDTERM: WRITTEN EXAM # 2 (50 min)

TEXT: 7,8

Palmer & Toms Ch. 6,7,8 & 9

LAB: GAIT TRAINING & ASSISTIVE DEVICES

TEXT: CH.9

10/26 PRACTICAL EXAM # 2

FRIDAY @ 10:00 A.M. – 5:00 A.M.

TEXT: 7,8

Palmer & Toms Ch. 6,7,8 & 9

10/29 LEC: GAIT TRAINING & ASSISTIVE DEVICES

TEXT: CH. 9

Palmer & Toms Ch. 6 & 11

LAB: GAIT TRAINING & ASSISTIVE DEVICES

REVIEW QUESTIONS DUE: CH. 9

11/5 LEC: GAIT TRAINING

TEXT CH. 9

Palmer & Toms Ch. 6 & 11

LAB: GAIT TRAINING PROBLEM SOLVING

11/19 LEC: VITAL SIGNS

TEXT CH. 3

LAB: VITAL SIGNS

REVIEW QUESTIONS DUE: CH. 3

11/26 LEC: TILT TABLE, WOUND CARE AND INFECTION CONTROL

TEXT CH. 9,4

LAB: PROBLEM SOLVING AND APPLICATION, ACE WRAPPING

REVIEW QUESTIONS DUE: CH. 4

12/3 WRITTEN EXAM #3 (50 MIN)

TEXT CH.’s 9,3,4

Palmer & Toms: All that apply

12/7 FRIDAY DECEMBER 07, 2001

PRACTICAL EXAM # 3 @ 10:00 A.M.

12/10 LAB: INFECTION CONTROL & WOUND CARE - VIDEO

12/17 FINAL COMPREHENSIVE WRITTEN EXAM

ALL CHAPTERS THAT APPLY

2 HOURS

12/21 FINAL COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICAL EXAMS

All Chapters that apply

10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

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