Career Snapshot: Physical Therapy Assistants | Healthcare News ...

If you thought for a minute that physical therapist assistants (PTA) are physical therapists (PT) wannabes, think again, says Janet Crosier, PT, DPT, MEd and lead PTA specialist for the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Only 2 to 3 percent of PTAs actually go on to PT jobs, for many really like working with patients all day long, free from committee meetings, coding, billing and other traditionally PT-specific administrative tasks.

According to APTA, PTAs work in hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings and nursing homes. PTAs provide a variety of physical therapy techniques as they carry out the PT?s plan of care for the patient, including therapeutic exercise, functional training, deep soft?tissue massage and physical modalities, such as electrotherapy and ultrasound. They may earn an average salary of $46,000, says Crosier.

No can do

APTA stipulates that PTAs can?t do joint mobilization/manipulation or sharp debridement. Evaluations are also off limits, says Crosier. ?PTAs can?t change the plan of care, but they can tell me about progress and ask about next steps. We work as a team, with communication occurring all day long.?

PTAs need a two-year associate?s degree from an accredited physical therapy program at a technical or community college or university, says Crosier. The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) does the accrediting honors, and the degree, which is a combination of course work and clinical work, must be completed in no more than five semesters.

?It?s a lot of material in a short period of time, and a very demanding schedule,? she says, with the average number of credits between 72 and 74 (the usual for associates? degrees is 60).

PTAs must also take a licensure exam to practice in every state except Hawaii, and renewal is stipulated by the state. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy develops and administers the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for both PTs and PTAs in 53 jurisdictions.

What the future holds

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects employment of PTAs to increase 46 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations.

But not so fast, suggests Crosier. ?It?s difficult to determine the future and we don?t have a crystal ball,? she says, referring to healthcare reform.

?We hear a lot now about having care delivered by the lowest-qualified provider, and PTAs seem like a perfect fit for that, so their futures should be extra bright. They can do a lot of the interventions that PTs do in a routine practice or in an extended care facility that provides pretty traditional or standard care.?

Here?s the downside:??In certain pockets of the United States, insurers look hard at who?s providing care, some saying, ?We?re not going to pay when a PTA provides care, or we?ll pay the differential; if the normal payment is $40, we?ll pay $25.? Some PTs feel they?ll make less money whenever a PTA touches their patient.?

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About Stephanie Stephens

Stephanie Stephens is an award-winning journalist and copywriter, specializing in health and lifestyle topics, whose work has appeared in a wide variety of national consumer, custom and trade publications. She?s also the creator, executive producer and host of a multimedia channel for female baby boomers, ?Mind Your Body TV.? Stephanie is based in Orange County, Calif., and when the mood strikes, New Zealand.

Source: http://career-news.healthcallings.com/2013/02/04/career-snapshot-physical-therapy-assistants/

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