Physical Therapy Aide Specialist

Hours: 240 / Access Length: 12 Months / Delivery: Open, Mentor Supported
Retail Price: $2,500.00

Course Overview:

Thousands of people attend physical therapy schools every day to become a part of this hot career field. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of physical therapy aides is expected to grow by 29% over the next decade, which is much faster than the average job.

A physical therapy aide most often works under the direction of a physical therapist and/or physical therapy assistant. Physical therapy aide jobs often include keeping the treatment area clean and well organized, as well as to help escort patients in wheelchairs, perform clerical duties, order supplies and more. A physical therapy aide generally needs to be well organized, have patience, and enjoy working with others.

At the completion of this course you should be able to:

• Comprehend the core elements of medical terminology
• Comprehend the core elements of the physical therapy profession
• Identify the systems of the body and their function
• Identify the steps to treat common medical disorders
• Identify the steps to turn, transfer, and position patients

Quickly master the basics of medical terminology and begin speaking and writing terms almost immediately! This course omits time-consuming, nonessential information and helps you build a working medical vocabulary of the most frequently encountered suffixes, prefixes, and word roots.

Medical terms are introduced in the context of human anatomy and physiology to help you understand exactly what they mean, and case studies, vignettes, and activities demonstrate how medical terms are used in practice. With all this plus medical animations, word games, and flash cards on the companion website, you'll be amazed at how easily medical terminology becomes part of your vocabulary.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Identify and apply basic word structure
• Identify body systems, body cavities, and planes of the body
• Define common prefixes
• Identify diagnostic and procedural suffixes
• Comprehend medical specialists and case reports

Course Outline:

Physical Therapy Aide Module 1
Medical Terminology Review

• Pronunciation
• Spelling
• Word Roots
• Combining Vowels/Form
• Prefixes
• Suffixes
• General Rules
• Word Building
• Abbreviations
• Procedural and Diagnostic Billing Codes
• Body Structure
• Organization of the Body
• Anatomical Position
• Body Planes
• Directional and Positional Terms
• Body Cavities

Physical Therapy Aide Module 2
The Profession of Physical Therapy

• History and Evolution of Physical Therapy
• Multidisciplinary Approach to Health Care
• The Rehabilitation Team
• The Role of the Physical Therapy Aide
• History of Physical Medicine
• Physical and Therapeutic Allied Health Careers
• Understanding Medical Ethics and Medical Law
• The Patient and the Health Care Worker
• Patient Medical Records and the Law
• Interprofessional Issues
• Communicating Effectively
• Communication in the Physical Therapy Setting
• Appointment Scheduling
• Using Medical Abbreviations
• Understanding the Patient's Medical Record
• Administrative Role of the Physical Therapy Aide
• Billing, Banking, and Insurance Processing

Physical Therapy Aide Module 3
Scientific Principles

• Understanding the Human Body
• Systems of the Body
• The Musculoskeletal System
• The Digestive System
• The Circulatory System
• The Respiratory System
• The Nervous System
• The Integumentary System
• The Urinary System
• The Endocrine System
• The Reproductive System
• The Skeletal System
• The Axial Skeleton
• The Appendicular Skeleton
• Joints and Movement

Physical Therapy Aide Module 4
Physical Dysfunctions, Safety and Charting

• Treating Common Medical Disorders
• Using Physical Therapy to Treat Burns
• Treatment of Amputation
• Treatment of Genitourinary Disorders
• Safety in the Working Environment
• Practicing Good Body Alignment and Movement
• Asepsis and Infection Control
• Performing Proper Handwashing
• Infection Control
• Preparation for Patient Care
• Management of the Environment
• Body Mechanics
• Verbal Commands
• Patient Preparation
• Transportation 

Physical Therapy Aide Module 5
Patient Care Skills & Physical Therapy Modalities

• Turing and Positioning the Patient
• Turing in the Prone Position
• Turning on the Floor Mat
• Turning from a Supine Position to a Side-Lying Position
• Returning from a Supine Position to a Sitting Position
• Types of Patient Transfers
• Preparation for Beginning Transfers
• Standing Transfers
• Bathtub Transfers
• Sitting Transfers
• Drawsheet Transfers
• Pneumatic Lift Transfers
• One-Person Transfer from Floor to Wheelchair 

Physical Therapy Aide Module 6
Physical Therapy Modalities

• Tips on Preambulation Teaching
• Choosing the Appropriate Device
• Gait Training and Gait Deviations
• Therapeutic Exercises
• Measuring Muscle Strength
• Skill or Coordination Exercises
• Range of Motion Exercises
• Superficial Heating Agents
• Deep Heating Agents
• Ultrasound
• Hydrotherapy
• Cold Therapy
• Massage
• Cervical Traction
• Specialized Clinical Procedures
• Electroneural Stimulation
• Application of a Cast
• Administration of Medication
• Specialized Reflex Tests
• Orthotics and Prosthetics
• Sports Bandaging and Taping
• Pet Therapy
• Career Skills and the Physical Therapy Aide
• The Job Search
• The Cover Letter & Resume
• Interviewing
• Finding Job Leads

Medical Terminology Module 1
Basic Word Structure

• Word Analysis
• Combining Forms
• Suffixes & Prefixes
• Pronunciation of Terms
• Exercises & Applications 

Medical Terminology Module 2
Organization of the Body

• Body Systems
• Body Cavities
• Divisions of the Back
• Planes of the Body
• Pronunciation of Terms
• Exercises & Applications 

Medical Terminology Module 3
Suffixes

• Introduction to Suffixes
• Suffixes and Terminology
• Diagnostic & Procedural Suffixes
• Pronunciation of Terms
• Exercises & Applications 

Medical Terminology Module 4
Prefixes

• Combining Forms & Prefixes
• Prefixes and Terminology
• Define Common Prefixes
• Pronunciation of Terms
• Exercises & Applications 

Medical Terminology Module 5
Medical Specialists & Case Reports

• Medical Specialists
• Combining Forms & Vocabulary
• Case Reports & Terminology
• Pronunciation of Terms
• Exercises & Applications 

Medical Terminology Module 6
Body Systems – Part 1

• Cardiovascular System
• Digestive System
• Endocrine System
• Reproductive System
• Lymphatic System

Medical Terminology Module 7
Body Systems – Part 2

• Musculoskeletal System
• Nervous System
• Respiratory System
• Skin & Sense Organs
• Urinary System 

System Requirements:

• Cable and DSL internet connections are recommended for the best experience.

• CPU: 1 GHz or higher
• RAM: 2 GB or higher
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher
• Speakers / Headphones
• Microphone (Webinar / Live Online sessions)

• Microsoft Windows 7 or 10 (Home, Pro)
• Mac OSX 10 or higher.
• Latest Chrome OS
• Latest Linux Distributions

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

• Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
• Latest Mozilla FireFox
• Latest Microsoft Edge
• Latest Apple Safari

• Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
• PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
• Courses may require other software that is denoted in the above course outline.