Physical Therapy Clinical Handbook for PTAs

Part I: Safety in The Clinical Environment

Section 1: Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistant Relationship
Section 2: Patient Communication
Section 3: Patient Education
Section 4: Patient Confidentiality
Section 5: Cultural Competence
Section 6: Infection Control
Section 7: Domestic Violence
Section 8: Patient Safety during Interventions   
References

Part II: Clinical Documentation

Section 1: Documentation Guidelines
Section 2: Documentation Elements
Section 3: Daily/Weekly SOAP Note Elements
Section 4: Abbreviations & Symbols
References

Part III: Musculoskeletal Interventions

Section 1: Musculoskeletal Data Collection
Section 2: Basic Clinical Impairments and Functional Limitations of Common Musculoskeletal Conditions
Section 3: Types of Musculoskeletal Interventions and Obstetric Topics 
Section 4: Musculoskeletal Intervention Patterns 
Section 5: Phases of Tissue Healing and Clinical Interventions
Section 6: Bones
Section 7: Muscles: Function, Nerve, Origin, Insertion, and Palpation
References

Part IV: Neurologic Interventions

Section 1: Neurologic Data Collection
Section 2: Clinical Impairments and Functional Limitations of Neurological Conditions
Section 3: Types of Neurological Interventions
Section 4: Neurological Intervention Patterns 
Section 5: Review of Nervous System Anatomy and Physiology
References

Part V: Cardiopulmonary Interventions

Section 1: Cardiopulmonary Data Collection
Section 2: Clinical Impairments of Cardiopulmonary Conditions
Section 3: Patient Safety during Cardiopulmonary Interventions
Section 4: Types of Cardiopulmonary Interventions
Section 5: Cardiopulmonary Intervention Patterns 
Section 6: Review of Cardiopulmonary System Anatomy and Physiology
References

Part VI: Integumentary Interventions

Section 1: Integumentary Data Collection
Section 2: Clinical Impairments and Functional Limitations of Integumentary Conditions
Section 3: Types of Integumentary Interventions
Section 4: Integumentary Intervention Patterns 
Section 5: Wound Documentation
Section 6: Review of Integumentary System Anatomy
References

Part VII: Geriatric Interventions

Section 1: Geriatric Data Collection
Section 2: Age-Related Impairments and Functional Limitations and Suggestions for Interventions
Section 3: Geriatric Disorders/Diseases and Interventions
Section 4: Reimbursement Overview
References

Part VIII: Pediatric Interventions

Section 1: Pediatric Data Collection
Section 2: Pediatric Interventions
Section 3: Pediatric Disorders/Diseases and Intervention Patterns
References

Appendices

• "It is a book which embodies a fairly large variety of disorders (including signs and symptoms) and guides the PTAs on well-referenced and safe strategies that may be used in clinical practice. Furthermore, it presents anatomy sections referring to the basic body systems as well as numerous tables and useful appendices which may be quite helpful to the busy PTA during a demanding work schedule. Moreover, it accurately informs the PTA on the behavioral strategies that he or she should successfully identify and discreetly adopt when dealing with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds. ... [It includes] an ample collection of abbreviations that are widely used in physiotherapy, may prove particularly useful to non-English or inexperienced clinicians when writing or retrieving a patient’s history report. This book is a well-organized guide for clinicians and could be a useful tool not only for PTAs and PTA students but for the novice physiotherapists and physiotherapy students too."

  - Konstantina Chanou, Physiotherapist and PhD Student, University of Thessaly, Trikala-Thessaly, Greece (for the International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, August 2009)

   

  "This book provides a comprehensive review of the PTA practice. It provides 'real-life' pictures for objective tests and meaures that are very useful for new graduates."

  - Jill Budde, DPT
  PTA Program
  Indian Hills Community College
  

  "I find this book to be a very comprehensive, clinically appropriate resource, that not only will benefit PTA's, but also Physical Therapists ... In reviewing this, I can only say, that I wish this clinical handbook was available when I was in school. Overall, this book will not only benefit the students who use this, but also, their patients."

  - Ray Beane, PT
  Director of Rehabilitation Services
  Jupiter Medical Center
  

   

  "Physical therapist assistants as well as physical therapists will appreciate the contribution made by Olga Dreeben, PT, PhD with the publication of her second text, "Physical Therapy Clinical Handbook for PTAs. Olga Dreeben knows and understands what the physical therapist assistant needs to appropriately work as a team member in rehab."

                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                         - Jay Schleichkorn, PhD, PT