SUNY Orange

Physical Therapy Assistant

Allied Health Major

OCCUPATIONAL SUMMARY

Physical Therapist Assistants perform treatment procedures and related tasks selected by a supervising Physical Therapist. The PTA assists the Physical Therapist in providing services that improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. The PTA carries out procedures for these clients under the direction of the Physical Therapist. These procedures could involve exercises, massages, electrical stimulation, hot/cold packs, traction, or ultrasound. The Assistant records the patient's progress during treatment and reports the outcome to the Physical Therapist. The PTA also fits, adjusts, and trains patients to use prostheses, walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, and they show patients how to do exercises at home.

Physical Therapist Assistants work in offices, clinics, hospitals, skilled nuring facilities, rehabilitation facilities, home health agencies, school systems, health maintenance organizations, industrial settings, outpatient facilities, research centers, and academic institutions. Employment of Physical Therapist Assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average through the year 2010. The rapidly growing elderly population which will need rehabilitative/therapeutic services is a major reason. These patients often need additional assistance in treatments, making the role of the Assistant vital. The baby-boom generation is entering the age for heart attacks and strokes, thus increasing the demand for physical rehab.

RELATED JOB TITLES FOR THE
PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT
(Some jobs require more training and education)

Physical Therapist Aide Physical Therapist
Occupational Therapist Occupational Therapist Aide
Respiratory Therapist Corrective Therapist
Exercise Physiologist Athletic Trainer

REPRESENTATIVE EMPLOYERS LOOKING FOR
SUNY ORANGE PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT MAJORS

Advanced Pain & Injury Care Phyllis Moriarity & Associates Haven Healthcare of Greenwich
Dutchess Medical Select Medical Rehabilitation Lafayette Hilltop Chiropractic
East Coast Pain Management, PC Fitness Forum Physical Therapy, PC Better HealthCare
Hudson Valley Sports Northern Valley Physical Therapy Ferncliff Nursing Home
Healthbridge Management Physical Therapy Plus Rehab Putnam Hospital Center
Orange County AHRC ARC of Rockland ProMed
Prospect Child & Family Center Guild Home for the Aged Blind Catskill Orange Physical Therapy
LaGrange Physical Therapy The Mountain View Orange Physical Therapy
Wingate at Dutchess Physical Therapy at Briarcliff Pars Medical PC
Montvale Rehab and Spine Care Center    

SOURCES

*Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Department of Labor

*America's Top Job for People Without a Four-Year Degree. Fifth edition by J.Michael Farr. 2001 JIST Works, an imprint of JIST Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

*150 Great Tech Prep Careers. Andrew Morkes, Managing Editor, Career Publications. 2001 Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois

*Orange County Community College - College Catalog 2002-2003.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (845) 341-4444

HOURS OF OPERATION

8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri

8:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Wed