Essential Functions

Explanation of PTA Program Technical Standards (Essential Functions)

The Virginia Western Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program educates students with the goal of graduating PTAs able to provide quality and skilled physical therapy services using sound clinical reasoning and well-honed technical skills while displaying exemplary professional behaviors. To ensure this quality of student, graduate, and eventual clinician, the PTA program maintains academic as well as technical standards that must be met by students who wish to successfully progress through, and graduate from, this program.

To support success in the academic and clinical settings, PTA students enrolled in the program must possess and/or develop abilities and skills in the areas of (1) Behavior Skills (2) Communication Skills (3) Intellectual & Conceptual Skills (4) Physical Functioning and (5) Use of Sensory System. The standards and specific behaviors are listed alphabetically throughout this document, instead of in order of importance, as they each contribute equally to success in the program. A summary of the technical standards is provided first in this document with in-depth information regarding each of these skills following the summary table. As the program technical standards apply to the classroom, the lab, and clinic setting, each of these three areas is represented in the detailed tables.

The technical standards and specific behaviors included in this document are provided to inform prospective and enrolled students of standards required to complete the curriculum in lecture, lab, and clinical settings. The technical standard examples provided reflect sample performance abilities and characteristics that are necessary to complete the requirements of the PTA program. The standards are not requirements of admission into the program and the examples provided represent only a sample of specific skills and behaviors associated with each standard. However, once enrolled in the PTA program, students will be required to meet the expectations of each technical standard. Individuals interested in applying for admission to the program should review these standards to develop a better understanding of the skills, abilities, and behavioral characteristics required to complete the program.

Accessibility and Accommodations

The Virginia Western PTA Program wishes to ensure that access to its facilities, programs and services is available to all students, including students with disabilities (as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008) and that all students meeting academic and technical standards can progress towards becoming a licensed PTA with or without reasonable accommodation. The PTA Program provides reasonable accommodations to all students on a nondiscriminatory basis consistent with legal requirements as outlined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to an instructional activity, equipment, facility, program or service that enables a qualified student with a disability to have an equal opportunity to fulfill the requirements necessary for graduation from the PTA program. To be eligible for accommodations in the classroom and/or clinical settings, a student must have a documented disability of (a) a physical, psychological or learning impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual; (b) a record of such impairment; or, (c) be regarded as having such a condition. For further information regarding services and resources to students with disabilities and/or to request accommodations, please contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS) 540-857-7286 Student Life Center S207 disabilityservices@virginiawestern.edu.

PTA Program Technical Standards/Essential Functions

See below for the program technical standard categories and example behaviors in each category. As a reminder, the technical standard examples in the following tables reflect only a sample of possible performance abilities and characteristics that are necessary to complete the requirements of the PTA program.

Once enrolled in the PTA program, students will be required to meet the expectations of each technical standard.

Behavioral Skills

• Display professional behavior appropriate for the classroom and lab settings and the clinical environment
• Demonstrate accountability
• Demonstrate appropriate stress management behaviors and flexibility during changing or unknown situations
• Demonstrate a commitment to learning
• Demonstrate compassion, caring, and trustworthiness
• Demonstrate concentration and the ability to attend to instructor during lecture courses
• Demonstrate effective use of time and resources
• Demonstrate integrity and responsibility
• Demonstrate respect for others and follow the college and program stance on nondiscrimination
• Professionally accept, respond to, and integrate feedback

Communication Skills

• Communicate professionally with faculty, classmates, staff of clinical site, other members of the healthcare team, patients, and family members at all times
• Demonstrate effective communication skills with all parties during a simulated treatment session.
• Demonstrate the ability to document patient treatments in simulated and actual medical record
• Demonstrate interpersonal and collaborative skills
• Effectively communicate with a diverse population in the classroom and clinical settings

Intellectual and Conceptual Skills

• Communicate professionally with faculty, classmates, staff of clinical site, other members of the healthcare team, patients, and family members at all times
• Demonstrate effective communication skills with all parties during a simulated treatment session.
• Demonstrate the ability to document patient treatments in simulated and actual medical record
• Demonstrate interpersonal and collaborative skills
• Effectively communicate with a diverse population in the classroom and clinical settings

Physical Functioning

• Demonstrate the ability to maintain proper body mechanics at all times to ensure safety of self, lab partners, faculty, patients, faculty, and other members of the healthcare team
• Demonstrate the ability to move into the various positions required to perform the duties of a PTA.
• Demonstrate the appropriate motor control and strength to provide treatment techniques while ensuring patient safety.
• Demonstrate the physical ability to respond in emergency or unexpected situations.
• Demonstrate the physical balance required to perform all variety of patient treatments.
• Possess the endurance to complete required activities or shifts in the classroom and clinical environment.

Use of Sensory Systems

• Utilize sensory systems to effectively engage in the teaching and learning process in the classroom and lab setting and to effectively treat patients in a variety of clinical settings.

Technical Standard Examples

• Technical Standard Examples That Might be Required in a Lecture Class
• Technical Standard Examples That Might be Required in a Lab Class
• Technical Standard Examples That Might be Required in a Clinical Setting