physical therapist assistant program student ... - SUNY Orange

student body. An employment coordinator also arranges for various industries to
recruit on campus. The office has also held Health Field Career Days where a number
of employers in the field of health have had the opportunity to speak with and
specifically interview students for employment. Students are also assisted in the
development of resumes.
In addition to the above, any materials concerning PTA positions received by the PTA
department are posted immediately on the department bulletin board outside BT323.
FINANCIAL AID/SCHOLARSHIPS
Students enrolled in the Physical Therapist Assistant program are eligible to apply for
any financial aid programs that the College participates in. Students are also
encouraged to apply for scholarships. There are three scholarships that are only
available to Physical Therapist Assistant students, as well as numerous others that are
available to the College community. Please refer to the College catalog for specific
financial aid and scholarship information.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT STUDENT
The field of Physical Therapy is demanding. Physical Therapist Assistant students are
required to fulfill all program requirements, which are guided by the Commission on
Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. In order to meet these requirements, the
Physical Therapist Assistant Department has identified the following essential functions
which students must possess. These functions are not all-inclusive nor do they reflect
what may be required for employment of the graduate Physical Therapist Assistant.
Observation Skills:
1. Students must possess the visual ability to observe a patient’s response to
treatment, read or set parameters on physical therapy equipment, observe and
assess the environment, gather information from medical records and
professional literature.
2. Students must possess the auditory ability to recognize and respond to a
patient’s or co-workers voice, equipment timers, and alarms.
3. Students must be able to use equipment to assess blood pressure, pulse rate, and
breath sounds.
4. Students must possess the tactile ability to palpate surface anatomy, palpate
pulses, detect skin temperature, and adjust physical therapy equipment.
Communication Skills:
1. Students must be able to communicate in English in both written and oral fashion
with faculty, patients, fellow co-workers and family members using appropriate
terminology, accuracy, and efficiency.
2. Students must possess the ability to recognize, interpret, and respond to
nonverbal behavior of self and others.
Motor Skills:
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