March 2021 PTA Focus

Tammy Frey, PTA

APTA Pennsylvania PTA Focus, thank you for the invitation to share my journey as a Pennsylvania PTA.

The late Jimmy K. Joline, Sergeant in charge, Mess Unit, Co. C 2nd Battalion, Pa. Army National Guard, Berwick, Pa., 1970’s, is my ‘Bonus Dad.’ He and his fellow cooks gathered on a non-drill weekend. They partied, wives and children present, a game of ‘Jungle Basketball’ was enjoyed. Dad made a layup, came down was tackled and sustained an open tib-fib fracture. I was a witness to panicking adults and Dad sitting on the ground in pain and bleeding. No medic in attendance. I reached in my moms’ purse, grabbed maxi pads, and stopped the bleeding. So just like the Hallmark movies I bet you can see where this story is going.

Dad had surgery, developed staph infection, was in the hospital for 2 weeks (rem. this was the 70’s). We donned and doffed PPE to visit him. It was summertime. I had plenty of free time, I was 12 years old and demonstrated a strong interest in participating in his care and rehab. Mom admittedly wanted nothing to do with dressing his wound. He did outpatient (outpt.) PT at Berwick Hospital Center. His PT was Pat Cihocki. She was beautiful inside and out. Upon meeting her and interacting with the staff I chose my career in PT I never wavered. My desire and my dream to become a physical therapy professional is my God given vocation.

The guidance counsellor in H.S. recognized that I was the 1st person in my family to want to attend college. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, 52 cousins, no one attended college. Affording PT school seemed unrealistic. The counsellor gave me a pamphlet with information about a PTA program offered at PSU Hazleton Campus. June 1984, I graduated from the 1st Accredited PTA Program at PSU Hazleton with my Assoc. Degree in Science, Certificate as a PTA.

I began work immediately at Ashland Hospital (no longer in existence), Ashland, PA. I treated inpatients, outpatients, and PTs. on the 4th Floor Nursing Home. I enjoyed a positive experience. My boss Paul Kieffer, PT and coworker Patty Crowell, PT invited me to attend a Northcentral District (NCD) of APTA PA meeting. The meeting was at the Hotel Magee in Bloomsburg, PA. In the 80’s the NCD meetings were held following a demonstration by a rep for PT equipment or a medical dr. sharing a surgical protocol or new surgical technique. The vendors always donated food and booze for those in attendance.

Fran Welk, PT and I were introduced at a NCD of APTA PA meeting. He shared information about his Private Practice Physical Therapy business in Bloomsburg, PA, Susquehanna PT Associates, Inc. Attending a District meeting offered an opportunity to make a career move. October 1984, I started my PTA job at Susquehanna PT Associates. I loved and enjoyed employment there for 27 years, 5 months and 12 days. Patient needs were always priority. Before CE requirements were required for license renewal Fran strongly encouraged participation in lifelong learning and membership to our professional association. The staff treated Bloomsburg hospital inpatients, Private Practice outpt. facility was busy and walking distance from Bloomsburg University. For a short period of time we treated nursing home patients at Bloomsburg Health Care.

March 2008, I accepted a PTA position in Aquatics at Geisinger Health South (name changed to Encompass Health) outpatient PT, Woodbine, Danville, PA. Now this IS the best job in the world! One patient every 45 minutes, water temp 92 all year long, pool floor is a treadmill and can move up to 8.5 miles per hour. Our PT, PTA staff well-seasoned. I worked in Aquatics for 13 years. A year ago, COVID-19 became our reality. I was unemployed 6 months. I now have my land legs under me and treat traditional land patients. Last week my supervisor shared the news of an upcoming ‘gradual opening’ of the pool over the next couple of months. Praise the Lord with Harps and Singing!

I find great peace and joy in teaching and caring for patients. Answering questions, mentoring, and offering guidance to new professionals is important as well. As a PTA we can grow within our scope of practice in our workplaces. Growth and learning opportunities are provided at the state and national levels of our professional association. I have enjoyed the benefits of belonging to the APTA, APTA PA since 1984.

In my work history I became a certified Jobst Fitter and earned the Conrad Jobst Precision Award in 2000. I have presented Aquatic demonstrations in a Hydroworx pool to the Exercise Science students from Bloomsburg University. Currently I am the physical therapy liaison for the Fibromyalgia Workshop Group, Dr. Denio Coordinator, GMC, Danville, PA.

If a PTA desires to become active in the professional association, a good start would be as an affiliate liaison in their district. That is where I started. As I gained more experience and confidence, I was mentored by Mary Ann Wharton, PT and became the PTA member of the APTA PA Ethics Committee from 2005-2013. Sometimes we just do not say no, so I said “yes” and became the first PTA Secretary of NCD from 2008-2013. The APTA PA PTA SIG meetings were invaluable. I have met lifelong friends at these meetings. The APTA PA recognizes one’s efforts, hard work and dedication. I am the proud recipient of the 2013 PTA SIG Steven Kolumban Award, the 2019 Geriatric SIG Award of Excellence and my most cherished and heartfelt award the APTA PA Service Award Oct. 16, 2020. Currently I serve as the PTA Member of the PA State Board of PT (SBPT). I am not exaggerating when I say the time served on the APTA PA Ethics Committee prepared me for my role as PTA Board Member of PA SBPT. My seat on the Board started in June 2013 and will end March 25, 2021.

I am so thankful to God that He has placed me in a profession that has brought me joy and tears, empathy and patience, a willingness to continue to learn and to teach and encourage others as I am rewarded daily as a valued member of the PT/PTA Team.