Core Competencies for Entry-Level Physical Therapy Assistants in the Acute Care

Acute care physical therapist assistants (PTAs) must possess the knowledge and skills suitable to thoroughly and appropriately provide physical therapy interventions according to a physical therapy plan of care (POC) under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist (PT) for patients in medically compromised situations across the lifespan in any acute care hospital environment. There is a need for all members of the interprofessional team to provide safe, efficient, and effective treatment for patients in acute care. PTAs are essential members of the interprofessional team, providing physical therapy interventions in acute care settings through implementation of a physical therapy POC. To prepare future PTAs for these environments, academic and clinical educators are tasked with teaching students how to adequately treat a patient with any diagnosis admitted to the acute care environment as part of entry-level clinical practice. The focus of APTA Acute Care PTA Task Force was to clarify the necessary skills required for an entry-level PTA to be safe and effective on day one of employment. The outcome of this task force is the following document: “Core Competencies for the Entry-Level Physical Therapist Assistant in the Acute Care Setting.”