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Minimum Technical Standards
Consistent with its mission and philosophy, the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program at Mississippi Delta Community College is committed to providing educational opportunities to students. The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program is an approximate two-year program of study that prepares students to work within the practice of physical therapy under the supervision of a physical therapist. The PTA program prepares students to work within the practice of physical therapy under the supervision of a physical therapist. A major purpose of the PTA Program is to prepare graduates to assist physical therapists in healthcare settings to deliver physical therapy services in a safe, effective manner and to stimulate a lifelong commitment to continued professional development.
In addition, certain functional abilities are essential for the delivery of safe, effective therapeutic care. Therefore, the faculty has determined that the following technical standards and skills are requisite for admission, progression, and graduation from the Physical Therapist Assistant Program:
| SKILLS | INDICATORS/RATIONALE |
| SPEAK AND EXPRESS | Speak/understand the English language in order to provide/receive information and instructions from faculty, peers, patients, caregivers, clinicians, and other healthcare providers |
| READ | Printed/handwritten data and information in English at level of competency required by program curriculum |
| UNDERSTAND AND INTERPRET | All medical terminology/information and plans of care regarding patients to provide appropriate/competent care therein |
| FOLLOW DIRECTIONS | Accurately/efficiently, seeking clarification as needed |
| WRITE/TYPE | To produce legible, thorough, and grammatically correct handwritten or word-processed documents in the English language |
| INTERPERSONAL SKILLS | To effectively/harmoniously work with faculty, peers, patients, caregivers, clinicians, and other healthcare providers regardless of personality, beliefs, ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, physical and mental condition, etc |
| SKILLS | INDICATORS/RATIONALE |
| THINK CRITICALLY | To identify/solve problems, identify cause/effect relationships, to apply reading, lecture, and laboratory information to case studies, and to employ effective teaching, learning, and test-taking strategies |
| COMPREHEND | Relevant information regarding medical data and patient records, therapeutic interventions, indications and contraindications for interventions, human pathology, and professional literature |
| PRIORITIZE | Events regarding patient care, safety, interventions, and documentation and other events necessary for accurate and productive employment sequencing/progression |
| CALCULATE | To accurately collect and/or interpret patient information |
| MAKE CLINICAL DECISIONS | To respond quickly/appropriately to changes in patient status, to analyze written, verbal and nonverbal data in order to make decisions to terminate, modify, progress and cancel interventions in order to act safely and ethically on the patient’s behalf |
| INTACT SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM MEMORY | To accurately and quickly remember data from the chart and from other verbal, non-verbal, or written reports to provide safe and accurate care to the patient |
| THINK QUICKLY AND CLEARLY | To execute all duties unimpaired by any condition or substance that alters mental processing, speed, or quality of thought processes or judgment |
| SKILLS | INDICATORS/RATIONALE |
| KNEEL OR STOOP FREELY | To floor to adjust patient position or assist with equipment; inspect feet, apply shoes or prosthetics |
| KNEEL/HALF KNEEL/ CRAWL | On an exercise table to assist with patient activities |
| REACH ABOVE HEAD | In standing, to adjust and position equipment |
| LIFT/PULL/GUIDE/TRANSFER | A patient of up to 150 lbs |
| LIFT/PULL/GUIDE/TRANSFER | A patient of up to 250 lbs using a two-person technique |
| BEND/STAND/KNEEL/SIT/WALK/CRAWL >90 NO REST | To administer emergency care (CPR); to perform lab activities and administer proper patient interventions |
| GUIDE/RESIST AND ASSIST | All persons during transfers, ambulation, interventions, exercises; must use arms, legs and trunk to provide the stabilization necessary for a patient during therapy |
| PUSH/PULL | Large equipment, including, but not limited to wheelchairs, stretchers, tilt tables, etc. |
| WALK | For extended periods of time to all areas of a hospital, facility, or patient home, etc. |
| CLIMB | Stairs and inclines while safely guarding an unstable patient |
| BILATERAL DEXTERITY | To perform all aspects of safe treatment, equipment adjustments, documentation, etc. |
| COORDINATION | To perform different tasks with different limbs simultaneously |
| SPEED AND AGILITY | To protect a patient from falling during all aspects of patient care |
| ASSUME A WIDE BASE OF SUPPORT; KEEP BALANCE | To guard, maintain, and correct balance of an unstable patient on level surfaces, unlevel surfaces, inclines/declines, stairs, etc. |
| PERFORM | All aspects of patient care/office/treatment area maintenance with proper body mechanics |
| WORK CAPACITY | To perform all essential skills and standards to complete a full-time employment schedule as well as full-time clinical experiences required for program completion. |
| SKILLS | INDICATORS/RATIONALE |
| DEPTH PERCEPTION | For judging distance/surface/level changes during gait |
| SEE (WITH OR WITHOUT CORRECTIVE LENSES) | Must see facial expressions/non-verbal communication, skin, discriminate color, patterns of movement, the environment up to 20’, instructions and parameters on equipment, detect small readings and calibrations |
| FEEL | Must discriminate slight temperature differences, pulses, body segment contour, muscle tone, joint movement, sharp/dull & light touch/deep pressure sensations |
| HEAR | Soft voices, call systems, alarms, timers, vital organ and vascular sounds through a stethoscope |
| SMELL | To detect odors related to patient assessment and treatment/treatment area safety |
| POSITION/MOVEMENT/ BALANCE SENSATION | To safely know where your body is at all times |
| SKILLS | INDICATORS/RATIONALE |
| FLEXIBILITY | To adjust to an ever-changing environment |
| COMPASSION | To respect/show empathy for patients and caregivers in regards to personality, beliefs, ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, physical and mental condition, etc. |
| COOPERATION | To work as a member of a team and develop positive and effective relationships with faculty, peers, patients, caregivers, clinicians, and other healthcare providers |
| RECOGNIZE LIMITATIONS | To request assistance when needed and to seek/accept correction and constructive suggestions; utilize resources effectively and assume responsibility for actions and personal/professional development |
| TOLERANCE | For faculty, peers, patients, caregivers, clinicians, and other healthcare providers; for clinical situations that may have potential exposure to wounds, incontinence, and other bodily fluids or pathogens |
| WILLINGNESS | To abide by all professional, institutional, program, and clinical policies and procedures, and to put forth the best personal and professional effort in the classroom, laboratory, clinic, and community |
| POSITIVE ATTITUDE | To demonstrate initiative, enthusiasm, etc. |
| WORK ETHIC | To attend class, lab, and clinic sessions promptly as assigned; to prepare for class, lab, and clinic sessions adequately and submit assignments on time |
| STRESS MANAGEMENT | To be able to cope in a fast-paced technical program |
| PLANNING AHEAD | To be adequately prepared for class, lab, and clinical |
| SELF CARE | To maintain generally good health and hygiene required of all individuals associated with the program |
*Individuals who feel they are unable to meet these technical standards will be offered career counseling upon request.