Mondays 11:15-1:00pm in W108
This course introduces students to the historical foundations and contemporary practice of physical therapy within an ever-changing health care environment. Traditional and emerging roles and responsibilities, professional relationships, and professional behaviors requisite to functioning as a physical therapist assistant will be explored and emphasized. Students will cultivate self-awareness and personal and professional development in cultural competence, communication and interpersonal skills, professionalism, group dynamics and leadership. A culture rooted in the core values of the profession will be established and provide the base for on-going consideration of ethical and legal issues. Students will be introduced to strategies to acquire, appraise, and integrate professional literature and resources into evidence-based practice.
Admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant program
General Education Outcomes are the knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and behaviors that students are expected to develop as a result of their overall experiences with any aspect of the college, including courses, programs, and student services, both inside and outside of the classroom. The General Education Outcomes specifically learned in this course are:
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Responsibility
- At this level, performance in required concepts and skills is performed given simple and prescriptive patient scenarios in a controlled laboratory setting. The student demonstrates consistency (80%), requires 50% supervision and efficiency (within allotted time) in completing simple concepts and skills, clinical problem solving, interventions, and related data.
- Safety is not compromised.
- Documentation: the student will be able to identify and record basic components of a physical therapy intervention with significant verbal cues (up to 75% assistance). The student will document interventions without interpretation, requiring frequent reminders for accuracy, organization, and completion, and will utilize provided templates and guided instruction to complete tasks within an extended time frame.
- Billing: The student will be able to identify basic billing terminology and concepts (e.g., CPT codes, units, timed vs. untimed codes) with significant instructor guidance. The student will require frequent cues to calculate units, distinguish billing rules, and complete billing entries, and will demonstrate limited accuracy and organization, with minimal linkage between billing and supporting documentation.
Faculty Contact Information
Monday 1-2:00, Wednesday 10-12:00, Thursday 1-2:00
Course Information
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Course Outcome Goal 1A: Communicate effectively with all members of the healthcare team and involved parties. (7D7)
- Course Outcome Goal 1C: Educate others using established techniques and methods commensurate with the learning characteristics of the audience. (7D12)
- Course Outcome Goal 3B: Participate in performance improvement activities (quality assurance). (7D29)
- Course Outcome Goal 3C: Describe aspects of organizational planning and operation of the physical therapy service. (7D30)
- Course Outcome Goals 3E: Acquire, appraise, and integrate evidence-based resources to support problem-solving and clinical decision-making in the provision of best practices in physical therapy. (7D11,7D10)
- Course Outcome Goals 4A: Identify legal practice standards, including all federal, state, and institutional regulations related to patient/client care and safety. (7D1, 7D2, 7D3)a. Describe mechanisms for reporting suspected cases of abuse of vulnerable populationsb. Describe mechanisms for reporting suspected fraud and abuse related to payment and utilization of physical therapy services.
- Course Outcome Goals 4B: Identify the duties of the PTA that are consistent with the Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant (APTA), Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant (APTA), and with value-based behaviors and standards for ethical conduct in the profession. (7D4, 7D5, 7D6)
- Course Outcome Goals 4C: Identify, respect, and act with consideration for patients’/clients’ differences, values, preferences, and expressed needs in all work-related activities. (7D8)
- Course Outcome Goals 5A: Achieve and maintain clinical and professional competence that sustain career development and lifelong learning to fulfill the roles and responsibilities of the Physical Therapist Assistant, including the role of clinical education of the physical therapist assistant students. (7D14)
- Course Outcome Goals 6A: Participate in professional and community organizations and the available opportunities for volunteerism, advocacy, and leadership. (7D13)
- Professionalism in Physical Therapy
- Roles, Responsibilities, and Current Trends
- Communication and Cultural Competence
- Personality Types and Emotional Intelligence - Psychosocial Impacts in Contemporary Practice
- Licensure and Regulation
- Legal and Ethical Issues
- Current Healthcare Environment, Financing and Reimbursement
Textbook(s)/Resources
Current American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Student Membership – www.apta.org – Provided by program.
Evaluation
| Attendance/ Class Participation | X | Individual Projects and Presentations | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Study/Scenarios | Practical Demonstration | ||
| Exams/Tests | X | Written Assignments | X |
| Group Projects and Presentations | X | Quizzes | X |
| Papers | X | Other | X |
Health Careers
Dean, Brad Wood; 815-802-8815; M107; bwood@kcc.edu; Division Office – W102; 815-802-8800
Course Policies
The policies and procedures of this course will follow policies and standards outlined in the College Catalog, Health Careers Guidebook as well as the PTA Student Guidebook. All work should reflect the student’s efforts. Group collaboration is encouraged; however, each student must demonstrate personal competence and individual expression in all work submitted to be graded.
Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional, respectful, and responsible manner in all classroom, laboratory, clinical, and online learning environments. Expectations regarding attendance, participation, communication, technology use, professionalism, and student conduct are outlined in the PTA Student Guidebook. Students are responsible for reviewing and adhering to these policies throughout the program.
| DATE | Class Topic |
|---|---|
Aug 17 Week 1 11:15-2:00 | Syllabus, APTA/ IPTA membership/ PATH Grant/ Social Responsibility/ Surveys
Discuss EBP and Cultural Diversity project – Due This Friday Discuss Professional Portfolio for social responsibility – Due right before you graduate 1:00-2:00: Kristney Vaulux Financial Literacy – confirmed on 4/28/26 (if position not renewed, reach out to Abby or Steven Baker |
Aug 24 Week 2 | Personality Types and Emotional Intelligence – Psychosocial Impacts in Contemporary Practice Before Class:
During Class:
At home:
|
August 31st | Professionalism Before Class:
During Class:
At home:
|
Sept 7 – Labor Day -Class on 9/10 8:15-10 Week 4 | Licensure and Regulation Before Class:
During Class:
At Home:
|
Sept 14 Week 5 | Direct Supervision/ Aides/ CEU’s & Communication Before Class:
During Class:
At Home:
|
Sept 21 Week 6 | Communication and JEDI Before Class:
During Class:
At Home:
|
Sep 28 Week 7 | Reimbursement Before Class:
During Class:
At Home:
|
Oct 5 Week 8 |
|
College Policies, Resources and Supports
For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non- Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu under the Academic Regulations & Conduct Guide.
KCC offers various academic and personal resources for all students. Many services are offered virtually, as well as in person. Please visit Student Resources - Kankakee Community College to access student resources services such as:
- Clubs and organizations
- Counseling and referral services
- Office of disability services
- Student complaint policy
- Transfer services
- Tutoring services, etc.
The materials on this course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course. Further information regarding KCC's copyright policy is available at https://kcc.libguides.com/copyright.
|Course syllabus/calendar is subject to change.