PHTH 430 - Health Care Systems 1

(3 credits)

This course will introduce the history of the physical therapy profession, the evolution of physical therapy education and practice, and the history of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Lecture, independent readings, and class discussion will be used to address the APTA structure and components, and analyze the role of the APTA in current health care issues. The course will explore and define the expanded role of the physical therapy professional, including that of the clinical specialist. It will introduce the roles and responsibilities of other health care providers in the interdisciplinary health care team. The other main component of the course will introduce the student to the medical record and to document skills needed for clinical practical. Workshops and assignments will assist the student in developing proficiency in documentation emphasizing a clinical decision-making model that utilizes the disablement model, The Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, and APTA documentation standards.Fall.