Physical Therapy Aide: Exploring The Field
A physical therapy aide is different from a physical therapy assistant in the sense that the functions of the former mostly have to do with assisting patients but are non-medical in nature. Both are under the supervision of a physical therapist. The advantage of a physical therapy aide is that they need not have the educational certification to begin working. Hospitals or other employers will usually train them on the go.
Physical Therapy Aide Job Description
The work of a physical therapy aide is relatively simple because other than assisting patients to the treatment area and preparing them for the procedure, it is mostly to keep that area clean and organized so the session will proceed smoothly and without any distractions. Other responsibilities will include answering phone calls and filling out insurance forms.
It is work that can be - and is usually -- done part-time and to become familiar with the field should you decide to earn an associate degree and become a physical therapist assistant or even a physical therapist much later.
Employment opportunities are available in hospitals, nursing care facilities or physicians' offices. The average physical therapy aide salary is $11.42 per hour or $23,760 annually as of 2008.
Physical Therapy Aid Training
Although a physical therapy aide is not required to have any prior training or education, those with CPR certification have better chances at employment. The position will not necessarily translate to a career because you will hardly be involved in the actual treatment, unlike a physical therapist assistant, but it will allow you to explore and decide if you want to pursue this field further. Physical therapy assistant programs which lead to an associate degree are needed for those wanting to be certified or licensed in this field.
Physical therapy colleges do not offer programs for PT aides. But there is an online physical therapy aide course that can be completed in six weeks which will prepare you even before you step into the workplace. The course familiarizes you with terms used in physical therapy, how physical therapy works, the anatomy and physiology and, safety issues. At the end of the course, you will receive a physical therapy aide certification.
Your best ace
Communication is vital to a physical therapy aide since you will have a lot of contact with patients, who will not be in the best of health or moods given their physical conditions. This is a skill that must be developed. At the same time, you will learn how to evaluate a patient's progress after treatments. Being aware of laws and ethical rules is also crucial to guide you especially on patients' rights, malpractice and negligence issues.
The outlook for physical therapy aides is good with many facilities thinking of ways to reduce costs for physical therapy sessions. One way is to hire more assistants and aides to help in administering the treatments.
So another option for a second career would be as physical therapy aide. There are many openings and it's handy to augment your income.
Request free info from Physical Therapy Schools near you.
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