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色色研究所 PTA student Rhett Hulick (center) with St. Ambrose University DPT students
In health care, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants must collaborate on patient care. Strong communication, mutual respect and a shared understanding of each other’s roles are essential for successful team functioning.
色色研究所 and St. Ambrose University work together so both PTA and DPT students get to experience that kind of collaboration as part of their training.
Second-year BHC Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) students and third-year students 鈥� all of whom will graduate in 2025 鈥� recently participated in a two-day intraprofessional collaboration at 色色研究所.
During the first session, the St. Ambrose DPT students evaluated patients played by other DPT students and developed a plan of care. During the second session, the PTA students developed a treatment session and were responsible for working with their patient.
PTA students Jensen Vrieswyk and Tobey Griem (standing) with St. Ambrose DPT students
As part of the exercise, the patient has a problem the PTA needs to respond to immediately.
Some of the scenarios include the patient falling in the parking lot coming into the therapy session, the patient showing signs of a blood clot, and the patient reporting that they hadn鈥檛 taken their medication for a few days because it ran out.
PTA students learn how to communicate what happened to the appropriate medical team member, including the supervising physical therapist.
PTA student Eric Freuler (right) with St. Ambrose DPT students
鈥淭he goal of the exercise is intraprofessional collaboration, to further enhance the PT/PTA collaborative relationship in working with patients and understanding scopes of practice,鈥� said Dianne Abels, PTA program director and professor.
鈥淲e want all students to develop a greater appreciation of the importance of that collaborative relationship and communication for the best outcome for the patients,鈥� she said.
PTA student Eric Freuler works with a patient played by a St. Ambrose DPT student.