PTA Program Philosophy, Mission, and Goals

Mission and Philosophy

The mission and philosophy of the Chesapeake Area Consortium for Higher Education (CACHE) PTA Program is to educate students to become competent and caring physical therapist assistants. The program values and promotes excellence in education that includes evidence-based knowledge and clinical skills essential to the physical therapist assistant. CACHE strives to produce practitioners who hold high ethical standards, demonstrate critical thinking, and communicate effectively with a diverse population. The unique three-college consortium makes optimal use of academic and clinical resources that allow greater outreach to students and physical therapy clinicians across the Chesapeake Bay region in Maryland.

Program Goals

1. To graduate students who meet the program objectives
2. To strive for excellence in PTA education in the academic setting by utilizing state-of-the-art instructional tools and pedagogy
3. To strive for excellence in PTA education in the clinical setting by promoting clinical faculty development
4. To serve as a liaison to the clinical community to promote excellence in physical therapy
5. To model professional and ethical behaviors to students in both the clinical and academic settings
6. To clarify and promote the role of the physical therapist assistant, consistent with the standards of practice and applicable laws of the profession

Program Outcomes and Objectives

By the end of the curriculum sequence the students will have completed didactic, laboratory and clinical practice courses to enable them to meet the following objectives:

1. Assist a physical therapist in the delivery of selected interventions in an ethical, legal, safe and effective manner under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist, consistent with the standards of practice of the profession.
2. Use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to perform data collection, conduct tests and measures, and implement outcome-oriented interventions, within the plan of care developed by the physical therapist.
3. Teach patients, families and other health care providers selected treatment interventions and participate in discharge planning under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist.
4. Provide psychosocial support to patients and families.
5. Utilize effective communication skills when interacting with patients, families and other interprofessional team members.
6. Be prepared to take the National Licensure Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants.