Physical Therapist Assistant Complete Program Information

ABILITIES AND SKILLS RELATING TO ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
The role of a Physical Therapist Assistant in the various health care settings requires academic,
cognitive, physical, and environment work/demands. To be successful as a PTA student and PTA
graduate, the following abilities are expected to be performed safely, ethically, and legally under the
supervision of the physical therapist.
Illinois Central College strives to provide reasonable accommodations as necessary to allow a PTA
student to be successful while maintaining the integrity of the field of physical therapy and patient safety.
Students who require assistance in review of reasonable accommodations should meet with ICC’s access
services. Further information at: ww.icc.edu/future students/campusServices_accessServices.asp.
In compliance with the American Disability Act, Illinois Central College and the PTA Program do not
discriminate on the basis of disability in the administration of its educational policies, admission
policies, student aid, and other college administered programs.
The PTA must have the abilities and skills necessary to provide competent patient care, which include
observation, communication, motor ability, intellectual-conceptual abilities, and behavior/social
attributes. Technological compensation can be made for some disabilities in certain areas, but the PTA
should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner.
The following abilities and skills are necessary in order to perform the duties of a PTA:
1. Observation: The PTA must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand.
Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision and somatic sensation. It is
enhanced by the functional use of the sense of smell. The PTA must recognize a change in patient
status in which the supervising physical therapist must be notified.
2. Communication: The PTA must be able to speak, hear, and observe patients in order to provide
instructions and elicit information; describe changes in mood, activity, and posture; and perceive
nonverbal communications. A PTA must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with
patients. Communication includes not only speech but reading and writing. The PTA must be able
to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral, written, and electronic form with
patients/clients/consumers, co-workers, all members of the health care team, and other disciplines,
while respecting cultural diversity. The PTA must have the ability to read and comprehend clinical
textbooks and other education resources, procedures, numbers, and graphs displayed in print, on a
video, or computer monitor.
3. Motor Ability: PTA’s should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients
including: performing full-body range of motion, handling, moving/transferring of patients; utilizing
finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination; bending, reaching, pulling, pushing, and independently
be mobile repeatedly throughout an 8-hour period; independently walk on all surfaces and stairs,
throughout an 8-hour period unaided; frequently move and/or transfer patients and equipment using
correct body mechanics; performing bilateral upper extremity activities, including coordination of
both gross and fine muscular movement; demonstrating functional visual and auditory acuity with
correction and/or accommodations, if needed; tolerating noxious odors, perfume, unsightly wounds
and skin conditions; and manipulating common patient care items such as gait belts, blood pressure
cuff, and wheelchairs. The PTA must have sufficient motor skills to treat patients in a variety of
PTA Program Info 7-2013.doc Page 16 of 20