Revised 5/2017

PTH 245 - Professional Issues (3 CR.)

Course Description

Examines the health care delivery system with regard to the current practice environment, federal and state influences, laws, and regulations, practice guidelines and ethical considerations which affect the practice of physical therapy. Lecture 3 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to culminate the critical knowledge and skills necessary for providing an ethical and high standard of care within the scope of work for the physical therapist assistant. This course examines the health care delivery system with regard to the current practice environment, federal and state laws and regulations, and ethical considerations which affect the practice of physical therapy. The course will prepare students to participate in their professional organization as well as prepare them for situations they will face in their professional careers. Topics include: Ethics, informed consent, US trends in healthcare, and reimbursement and legislative issues.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisites: PTH 225 and PTH 231

Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

• Describe the changing health care delivery system and the implications for the practice of physical therapy.
• Discuss retrospective and prospective payment systems and explore contemporary models of payment.
• Use the RIPS model of ethical decision making as it relates to ethical situations in physical therapy.
• Debate current federal and state practice issues, understanding alternative sides of the topic.
• Develop an understanding of the PT/PTA relationship through clinical problem solving scenarios during a combined DPT/PTA student seminar.

Major Topics to Be Included

• Medicare and Medicaid
• Physical therapy role delineation- PT/PTA team
• Health care ethics
• Health care policy
• Reimbursement