Lake Superior College Physical Therapist Assistant Program
Program Mission, Goals, and Expected Outcomes

MISSION – Traditional (On-campus) PTA Program

The Lake Superior College Physical Therapist Assistant Program provides evidence-based didactic and clinical education to prepare students for a career as a physical therapist assistant. Graduates will be able to work as a physical therapist assistant under the supervision of a physical therapist in diverse settings and meet the needs of patients, employers and the public. Graduates will demonstrate dedication to the profession  and professional growth through life-long learning.

MISSION – PTA Military Bridge Program

The Lake Superior College Physical Therapist Assistant Military Bridge Program provides theoretical and evidence-based education in an online format to prepare military-trained physical therapy personnel for a career as a physical therapist assistant. Graduates will be able to work as a physical therapist assistant under the supervision of a physical therapist in diverse civilian settings and meet the needs of patients, employers and the public. Graduates will demonstrate dedication to the profession and professional growth through life-long learning.

In order to meet our missions, the goals for each program are:

GOAL 1

Qualified program faculty will deliver a curriculum which meets current professional standards of program and institutional accreditation agencies and meets the educational needs of students and graduates

Expected program outcomes:

• The PTA program will maintain ongoing CAPTE accreditation for both its on-campus and online (Military Bridge) programs
• Lake Superior College will maintain ongoing Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation
• 90% of respondents will indicate agree or strongly agree on all areas of student course opinion surveys for core and adjunct faculty
• The program will hire and retain at least two full-time faculty at all times, and full-time faculty will achieve tenure within four years of hire
• Noel Levitz SSI gap scores for PTA program in academic support services, advising, bookstore, library resources, and adequacy of computer labs will be less than .75
• Based on clinical instructor self-assessment, student assessment, and Director of Clinical Education (DCE) assessments, 95% of clinical instructors will be determined appropriate for continuation as clinical education faculty
• Results of surveys of graduating students and graduates indicate agreement or strong agreement for 90% of respondents regarding the program meeting its mission and graduate outcomes
• The on-campus program will continue to provide part-time clinical experiences through campus-based physical therapy clinics
• The program will maintain at least 75 active clinical sites in order to place on-campus students in full-time clinical internships each year
• 100% of on-campus students will have the opportunity to work with patients from three settings, acute/sub-acute, neurological, and orthopedic, during their clinical experiences
• Students will demonstrate entry-level clinical performance prior to graduation, as evidenced by the achievement of Clinical Performance Instrument (CPI) scoring requirements for PTA 2792

GOAL 2

The program will produce competent graduates who meet the needs of physical therapy employers

Expected program outcomes:

• Graduation rates are at least 90%, averaged over two years
• NPTE ultimate pass rates will be at least 85%, averaged over two years
• The placement rate for qualified graduates seeking employment will be 90% or higher within six months of graduation
• 90% of surveyed employers of PTA program graduates will agree or strongly agree that graduates:
  *Implement a comprehensive treatment plan developed by a physical therapist
  *Communicate regularly with supervising physical therapists about the patient’s progress and the need for adjustments to be made by the physical therapist in treatment procedures in accordance with changes in patient status
  *Perform appropriate data collection techniques within the knowledge and limits of practice to assist supervising physical therapists in monitoring and modifying the plan of care
• At the completion of the program, 90% of graduates will meet the program’s graduate outcomes

GRADUATE OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of the Lake Superior College Physical Therapist Assistant, graduates will be able to:

1. Work under the supervision of a physical therapist in an ethical, legal, safe, and effective manner.
2. Implement a comprehensive treatment plan developed by a physical therapist.
3. Communicate regularly with supervising physical therapists about the patient’s progress and the need for adjustments to be made by the physical therapist in treatment procedures in accordance with changes in patient status.
4. Perform appropriate data collection techniques within the knowledge and limits of practice to assist supervising physical therapists in monitoring and modifying the plan of care.
5. Interact with patients and families in a manner which provides the desired psychosocial support including the recognition of cultural and socioeconomic differences.
6. Participate in the teaching of other health care providers, patients and families.
7. Document relevant aspects of patient treatment.
8. Participate in discharge planning and follow-up care.
9. Demonstrate effective written, oral, and nonverbal communication with patients and their families, colleagues, health care providers, and the public.
10. Demonstrate an understanding of levels of authority and responsibility; planning, time management, supervisory process, performance evaluations, policies and procedures; fiscal considerations for physical therapy providers and consumers; continuous quality improvement; and evidence-based practice.
11. Demonstrate professional behaviors required for success in the field of physical therapy.
12. Identify career development and life-long learning opportunities.
13. Demonstrate knowledge of physical therapy principles and concepts.

GOAL 3

Graduates will demonstrate dedication to the profession and professional growth through life-long learning.

Expected program outcomes:

• Surveys of program graduates will indicate that at least 90% of practicing physical therapist assistants are participating annually in continuing education activities
• At least 10 program graduates will serve as clinical instructors for program interns each year
• The PTA program will host a live or virtual continuing education course for PTAs/graduates at least every 3-5 years (goal established 2020)