Physical Therapist Assistant

GOAL 1 Students will be clinically competent.

1. Students will perform in a safe manner that minimizes the risk to patient, self, and others.
2. Students will apply knowledge of contraindications and precautions for selected therapy interventions
3. Students will collect relevant data accurately to measure and report patient response to selected therapy interventions.

GOAL 2 Students will demonstrate communication skills.

1. Students will demonstrate effective written communication skills.
2. Students will demonstrate effective verbal communication skills.

GOAL 3 Students will demonstrate professional behaviors.

1. Students will demonstrate expected clinical behaviors in a professional manner.
2. Students will demonstrate professional behaviors.
3. Students will understand legal issues in physical therapy practice.

GOAL 4 Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills.

1. Students will select appropriate therapy interventions based on the therapy plan of care.
2. Students will understand situations in which the physical therapist should be consulted.
3. Students will provide rationale when a therapy intervention should be withheld or modified based on patient response.

GOAL 5 The program will graduate entry-level physical therapist assistants. (Program Effectiveness)

1. Graduates will successfully write the PTA licensure examination.
2. Of those pursuing employment, graduates will be employed within one year of program completion.
3. Students will complete the program within 104 weeks.
4. Graduates will be satisfied with their education.
5. Employers will be satisfied with graduates’ performance.