2006 Mississippi Curriculum Framework: Postsecondary Physical Therapist Assistant. (Program CIP: 51.0806 - Physical Therapist Assistant)

As the world economy continues to evolve, businesses and industries must adopt new practices and processes in order to survive. Quality and cost control, work teams and participatory management, and an infusion of technology are transforming the way people work and do business. Employees are now expected to read, write, and communicate effectively; think creatively, solve problems, and make decisions; and interact with each other and the technologies in the workplace. Vocational-technical programs must also adopt these practices in order to provide graduates who can enter and advance in the changing work world. The curriculum framework in this document reflects these changes in the workplace and a number of other factors that impact on local vocational-technical programs. The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) curriculum is a two-year program of study that prepares a physical therapist assistant to perform interventions under the supervision of physical therapists (PTs) in an ethical, legal, safe, and effective manner. These paraprofessionals enhance the delivery of physical therapy services by providing delegated interventions, assisting the PT with data collection, communicating with other members of the health care delivery team, interacting with members of the patient's family and caregivers, and working cooperatively with other health care providers. Physical therapist assistants participate with the PT in teaching other health care providers, documenting patient interventions, and providing psychosocial support for patients and their families and caregivers with recognition of individual, cultural, and economic differences. This program prepares the graduate to practice in hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities as a member of the health care team. In Mississippi, physical therapist assistants are licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy. This curriculum conforms to standards as published by the American Physical Therapy Association. In addition to the General Admission Requirements of the college, each PTA program has specific additional program admission requirements. Industry standards are based on the "Evaluative Criteria for Accreditation of Education Programs for the Preparation of Physical Therapist Assistants." Appended are: (1) Evaluative Criteria for Accreditation of Education Programs for the Preparation of Physical Therapist Assistants; (2) Related Academic Standards; (3) Workplace Skills for the 21st Centu