SAFETY FOR OFF-CAMPUS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES
Students must be consistently able to: • Identify the need for and act when safety of patient or self may be at risk or has been compromised. • Utilize risk management strategies (e.g. universal precautions, good body mechanics, patient guarding). • Function under the supervision of the Clinical Supervisors and ultimately a licensed PT. • Adhere to all rules, regulations, policies and procedures of the clinical facility, PTA Program and Physical Therapy profession. Safety policies are reviewed with all students throughout the PTA curriculum and are emphasized and assessed through skill checks, practical exams, in lab classes, in annual safety/infection control training, and in annual recertification of adult, infant, and child CPR.
Hodges University Physical Therapist Assistant students are expected to provide patient treatment procedures in a safe, ethical and legal manner. Any procedure that a student feels unprepared to provide or deems contraindicated should be discussed with their CI prior to implementation. Students are to utilize good body mechanics and request assistance as indicated by treatment procedures. Given the “hands-on” nature of the delivery of physical therapy services, it is acknowledged that incidents and/or accidents may occur which could result in injury to the patient and/ or student. Students are expected to adhere to all safety and precautionary guidelines learned in class and lab, in addition to the guidelines in this handbook as well as the PTA and HU Student Handbooks. Failure to practice safety guidelines consistently will result in course failure and dismissal from the PTA Program.
SUPERVISION GUIDELINES DURING CLINICAL EXPERIENCES
physical therapy setting as outlined in state practice act where the clinical experience is taking place. The student is an unlicensed person who shall, at all times, function under the on-site supervision of a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant (PTA students only) with supervision by the physical therapist (Chapter 64B17-6.001). Students, as unlicensed personnel, may document tasks and activities of patient care during the patient treatment (Chapter 64B17- 6.007). Any patient has a right to refuse treatment from a student during a clinical affiliation. If a patient prefers not to be treated by a student, the student and CI should discuss this and make alternate arrangements for the student to gain knowledge and experience with that type of patient.
The PTA student may be supervised by a PT, PTA, or PT/PTA team. The CI may supervise more than one student. If the primary CI is a PTA, the ACCE will discuss interaction between the supervising PT and PTA with the student to ensure appropriate communication and supervision levels are adopted in the clinical setting. The APTA has identified “direct supervision” as the level required for supervision of PTA students. According to the position statement on levels of supervision, the APTA expects that the CI is physically present and immediately available when supervising a PTA student. A PTA student should never be without proper supervision as outlined by either one or all of those guidelines. PTA students and Clinical Instructors must follow state laws governing supervision in a
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Physical Therapist Assistant Program
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