2. Define Outpatient therapy practice setting
How many patients are seen
What types of diversity/diagnosis are seen
What treatments are preformed
What types of equipment are used
Physical Therapist Assistant Salaries
What Percentage of PTAs work in this setting
(nationally/regionally)
What is the multi-disciplinary team approach to
patient/client care
Any advanced skill, training or recognition needed or
could be obtained to work in the setting
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3. Outpatient -is a patient who is not hospitalized
overnight but who visits a hospital, clinic or
associated facility for diagnosis or treatment.
Setting- Depends on the size of the facility and
what is available for patients.
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4. Facility Median number seen 51-75% of Median number of Patients
time spent on direct patient care seen 76% or more of time
spent on direct patient care
Acute care hospitals 25 30
Sub-acute rehab hospital (in-patient) 10 10
Health system or hospital based outpatient 25 30
facility clinic
Private out-patient office of group practice 25 30
SNF/ECF/ICF 15 16
School System 25 30
Other 20 25
www.apta.org
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5. Diversity- This depends on the region of the
country. In general the more rural an area
is, the less diverse the patients will be.
Diagnosis to be seen- again this will depend
on the capability of the facility. Outpatient
therapy treats a variety of diagnoses.
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6. Examples of treatment performed in a Outpatient setting
Posture re-education
Exercises to increase range of motion and muscle flexibility
Exercises to increase muscle strength
Balance activities
Developmental stimulation
Endurance training
Gait training for patients with walking difficulties
Functional mobility training (e.g., standing up, sitting in a chair)
Soft tissue massage and joint mobilization
Sport-specific activities
Modalities, such as application of heat and cold, electrical
stimulation and hydrotherapy (whirlpool).
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7. 1.
Ultrasound Imaging Systems
Electrotherapy
Tables
Mats and platforms
Light or laser therapy units
Flexion Tables
Chairs and Stools
Patient Lifts
Heat and Cold packs
Weights and Bands
Positioning wedges and pillows
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8. PTA Salary by Region PTA Salaries APTA
Northeast $44,000
> 80,000
New England $47,000 70,001-…
Middle Atlantic $42,500
Midwest $42,000 60,001-…
East North Central $45,000 50,001-…
West North Central $41,000
South $50,000 45,001-…
South Atlantic $50,000
East South Central $51,000
40,001-… Percent
West South Central $50,000 35,001-…
West $46,000
Mountain $45,000 30,001-…
Pacific $50,000 25,001-…
<25,000
0 10 20 30
www.apta.org
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10. In an effort to provide effective and efficient care to
patients with chronic health conditions, the U.S. healthcare
system has done much to redesign its delivery system.
Developing an approach to meet the high demands of
patients and to best utilize resources became necessary.
The result is the common use now of a multidisciplinary
team (MDT) approach
Multidisciplinary teams, as the name implies, are teams of
people from different disciplines that come together for a
common purpose. The MDT approach is used in a variety
of different setting including healthcare, education, and
mental health.
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11. In the state of SD a PTA must graduate from an accredited
physical therapist assistant education program as determined
by the board, and has passed a certification examination
approved by the board.
Specialist Certification
PTA Recognition of Advanced Proficiency
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12. www.apta.org. US National Professional Organization.
American Physical Therapy Association. November 2009.
<http://www.apta.org>.
www.associatedcontent.com. Associated Health and Wellness.
November 2009. http://www.associatedcontent.com/health
www.spauldingrehab.org. Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital.
November2009.
http://www.spauldingrehab.org/outpatientrehabilitation
Jean Borns. Big Stone Therapies. 11/10/09.
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