Physical Therapist Assistant Program In the News
The time to get Physical
By Tolu Dayo, Staff writer.
Thursday, October 1, 2009 — Monitor.
Many students striving to make it into the nursing program at Ohlone have been turned down partly because so many students with great GPAs have applied. Have you been turned down?
Since the medical field is so diverse many, if not all, have taken Anatomy & Physiology which is a prerequisite joining the Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) program at Ohlone.
This program is one of three accredited in California. Approximately 40 people applied last year and 20-24 people were chosen.
What is Physical Therapy? This is a health care profession that emphasizes the science of Pathokinesiology and applications of other techniques for the prevention and treatment of disorders of human motion to restore main function.
The focus is on a variety of techniques assisting in restoring functions by use of exercises, manual techniques, massage and assistive devices such as wheel chairs, splints and braces.
If you are considering our PTA program you must first register in the Introductory Program to PTA.
Intro to Physical Therapy is a great way to see if you want to become a Physical Therapist Assistant beacuse the intro course provides an overview of Physical Therapy as a field. Intro to PT Students learn a variety of hands-on techniques such as proper positioning and draping. In addition, regulations and requirements by the state are strictly enforced.
What is an advantage to the Introduction to PT? PTA instructor Kathy Utchen Rice said, “If you prefer not to work with needles yet [and] more into a physical end of things, you might want to consider taking an Intro to PT.”
In addition, “We have never had a PTA graduate come back to me and say they had a problem with finding a job; I have been here from the beginning.”
Are you interested in working with children, adults or any population of people? This particular medical field is wide open. So many people have focused on one portion of health care so long that we have forgotten the many other options in health care of which are growing.
Due to the advancement in the field of Physical Therapy, PTA’s can work in any type of environment that he/she chooses.
“What job allows you that much freedom?” exclaimed PT instructor Rice. She also happened to mentione the salary of which ranges from 40K to 60k with a possiblity of even 70K along with benefits and sign on bonus.
For any addtional information regarding the program and/or pre-requisites contact Maria Ramirez PTA program counselor, or Sheryl Einfalt PTA program director for more information.
Emergency