Physical Therapy Assistant
Allied Health Major
OCCUPATIONAL SUMMARY
Physical Therapist Assistants perform treatment procedures and related tasks selected by a supervising Physical Therapist. The PTA assists the Physical Therapist in providing services that improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. The PTA carries out procedures for these clients under the direction of the Physical Therapist. These procedures could involve exercises, massages, electrical stimulation, hot/cold packs, traction, or ultrasound. The Assistant records the patient's progress during treatment and reports the outcome to the Physical Therapist. The PTA also fits, adjusts, and trains patients to use prostheses, walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, and they show patients how to do exercises at home.
Physical Therapist Assistants work in offices, clinics, hospitals, skilled nuring facilities, rehabilitation facilities, home health agencies, school systems, health maintenance organizations, industrial settings, outpatient facilities, research centers, and academic institutions. Employment of Physical Therapist Assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average through the year 2010. The rapidly growing elderly population which will need rehabilitative/therapeutic services is a major reason. These patients often need additional assistance in treatments, making the role of the Assistant vital. The baby-boom generation is entering the age for heart attacks and strokes, thus increasing the demand for physical rehab.
RELATED JOB TITLES FOR THE
PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT
(Some jobs require more training and education)
- Physical Therapist Aide
- Physical Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Occupational Therapist Aide
- Respiratory Therapist
- Corrective Therapist
- Exercise Physiologist
- Athletic Trainer
REPRESENTATIVE EMPLOYERS LOOKING FOR
SUNY ORANGE PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT MAJORS
- Advanced Pain & Injury Care
- Phyllis Moriarity & Associates
- Haven Healthcare of Greenwich
- Dutchess Medical
- Select Medical Rehabilitation
- Lafayette Hilltop Chiropractic
- East Coast Pain Management, PC
- Fitness Forum Physical Therapy, PC
- Better HealthCare
- Hudson Valley Sports
- Northern Valley Physical Therapy
- Ferncliff Nursing Home
- Pars Medical PC
- Physical Therapy Plus Rehab
- Putnam Hospital Center
- Orange County AHRC
- ARC of Rockland
- ProMed
- Prospect Child & Family Center
- Guild Home for the Aged Blind
- Catskill Orange Physical Therapy
- LaGrange Physical Therapy
- The Mountain View
- Wingate at Dutchess
- Physical Therapy at Briarcliff
- Montvale Rehab and Spine Care Center
- Orange Physical Therapy
SOURCES
- Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Department of Labor
- America's Top Job for People Without a Four-Year Degree. Fifth edition by J.Michael Farr. 2001 JIST Works, an imprint of JIST Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
- 150 Great Tech Prep Careers. Andrew Morkes, Managing Editor, Career Publications. 2001 Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois
- Orange County Community College - College Catalog 2002-2003.
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