Physical Therapy Aide Job Description
Outstanding Physical Therapy Aides, Physical Therapy Assistants, A Certification for Physical Therapy Aides, The Role of the Physical Therapist in Managing PTAs and more about physical therapy aide job. Get more data about physical therapy aide job for your career planning.
Outstanding Physical Therapy Aides
Physical therapy aides are people who help with physical therapy and physical therapy assistants. They help patients with limited mobility to get to treatment areas, and perform administrative duties. They may be employed in hospitals.
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Physical Therapy Assistants
Physical therapy aides are part of the physical therapy support teams. P.T. aides are hired to perform non medical tasks, such as cleaning treatment rooms and transporting patients to different areas of a health care facility. Physical therapy aides should not be confused with physical therapist assistants.
The educational requirements and job duties of the two occupations are vastly different. P.T. aides may not provide direct patient care if they are medically treating patients. P.T. aides are usually responsible for setting up equipment and maintaining a clean and functional area for treatments and exercises.
P.T. aides help patients move from one area to another. They handle clerical duties such as patient intake, coordinating with doctors' offices and documenting patients' responses during exercises. A high school degree is all that is needed to become a physical therapy aide.
It's not uncommon for people to work as P.T. aides while studying to be a physical therapy assistant. P.T. aides should have strong computer skills. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the job growth for physical therapy aides is more than four times the growth for all occupations.
The growth is due to an aging population with increased health care needs. Physical therapy aides spend a lot of time on their feet working with patients. In some cases, aides may need to help.
A Certification for Physical Therapy Aides
A Physical Therapy Aide is a person who helps physical therapists with non-medical tasks. Their duties include preparing treatment rooms, cleaning equipment, scheduling appointments, and assisting patients with limited mobility. In clinics, care facilities, or hospitals, the PTA can be used.
A BLS certificate is always a plus, you don't necessarily need a certificate. Most employers don't require certification for aides. You can get on-the-job training if you have a high school degree.
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The Role of the Physical Therapist in Managing PTAs
Along with effective communication, the PTA has to be able to sympathize with patients who are struggling. They have to understand how the patient is feeling and use that information to decide how to best motivate that patient and their family. Detailed records of patients' injuries, illnesses, and exercise programs are required by the PTAs.
They must report patient status to the physical therapist. To keep track of all of this, the PTAs must be organized. While much of the role of a PTA is hands-on, expect to devote some time each day to recordkeeping.
Cambridge Physical Therapy Assistant Program
Patients with injury, disability or medical condition can be helped by physical therapy assistants. You would help patients through physical therapy by administering massage and other therapies. Physical therapy assistants are important in patient care.
You are directly involved in the lives of your patients as an assistant. There are several skills that are critical to your success and the health of your patients. Cambridge offers a complete Physical Therapy Assistant program to students who are ready to enter the field.
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Physical therapy is growing in popularity. Some patients who have been injured or have had surgery need physical therapists to help them recover. They help patients regain movement and manage pain a hospital or clinical setting.
They are licensed to practice therapy and treatment on patients and doing so often helps them regain their lives. Entry-level roles in the field of physical therapy are typically aides and assistants. Physical therapy aides and assistants have different responsibilities.
Depending on the state in which you reside, the role of an assistant can require a specific degree and certification. An aide can be hired without a college degree. A physical therapy aide is not a licensed doctor, but they still play a vital role in delivering quality care to patients.
They work behind the scenes, in hands on projects, and as the physical therapy coordinators. An organized physical therapy aide can make any physical therapy office run more smoothly. Some people like the perk of working in several areas of the facility or clinic.
It is not a clerical role, but it does combine responsibilities with some medical oriented tasks. It is a role that requires organizational skills and flexibility. The top ten percent of physical therapy aides earn close to $35,000 a year, while the average salary is almost $24,000.
Physical Therapist Assistants
Physical therapist assistants are responsible for helping physical therapists. They are in charge of scheduling appointments and setting up equipment. A physical therapy assistant is responsible for guiding patients through exercises and telling their families about treatment plans.
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A State Board of Physical Therapy
A high school degree is required to become a physical therapy assistant or physical therapy aide. Most states require physical therapist assistants to have associate's degrees. Physical therapy aides have a high school degree.
It is important to know that each of the 50 states has their own regulations for physical therapy assistants. You can connect with your state board by visiting The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. There are a lot of other resources available for students and candidates, such as a handbook, practice tools, and information the national exam.
It is important to know if the school has been accredited. It is important for employers and the government to know that you have completed a program at an accredited school. The American Physical Therapy Association is a national agency that accredits programs.
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