November 2020 - PTA Focus
It is hard to believe that almost 20 years ago I applied to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Community College of Allegheny County/Boyce Campus. I remember my thoughts after that first day of class were "Boy, I’m in way over my head!" I had an idea of what a Physical Therapist Assistant did, but I had no idea how difficult the course of study was! But, with dogged determination and a lot of help from fellow students and the faculty at CCAC, particularly Dr. Norman Johnson and Dr. Stephen Bannister, I was able to finish the program and was even listed as top of my class! My first job after graduation was at a privately owned out patient clinic, Squirrel Hill Physical Therapy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was a small private practice with one office. We saw a variety of orthopedic patients, but specialized in manual techniques including the treatment of lymphedema. Being in a small private practice, it had a feeling of being part of a family. At Squirrel Hill Physical Therapy, we were responsible for all aspects of patient care including billing/receiving, insurance verification, authorizations, updating prescriptions, and marketing our facility to the medical community and the surrounding neighborhood. Since then, I have moved on to work at another privately owned outpatient physical therapy office, Anchor Physical Therapy, where I am still working today. After receiving my Indirect Supervision, I began working in homecare for Sandin Home Health Services and Gallagher Homecare Services. Working in homecare has its own set of challenges and requires a lot of adapting a plan of care to needs of the patient and their home environment. What I find interesting with homecare is that you get to see what a patient is trying to return to after needing physical therapy. I feel I really got to know my patients and obtained a better understanding of their particular physical therapy goals. Yet another opportunity I have had as a Physical Therapist Assistant is to be a part time adjunct faculty member with the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Community College of Allegheny County/Boyce. It is interesting and heartwarming to see the new classes coming in. I get to see the excitement and eagerness new students bring to the program. I sometimes wonder if any of them have the same thoughts I had years ago. I would like to think I have in some way I make them feel a little more confident in their abilities. Physical therapist assistants have changed a great deal since I started all those years ago. As a result of these changes, I have had the privilege of working in many different settings I mentioned earlier such as outpatient, home care and educational settings. Along the way, I have also had the privilege of working with some amazing people who are dedicated to the patient and the profession and have been an inspiration to me as a physical therapist assistant and a person. But I would have to say the most fulfilling and humbling aspect of this profession is the patients. I have had the chance to work with so many interesting people through the years. Another selling point with being a physical therapist assistant is the ability to grow as a clinician. The continuing education provided by APTA/PPTA are so diverse and interesting that the only limitations you have are your own! In 2014, I was able to achieve Advanced Proficiency in Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy. In 2016, I completed Lymphedema Training with Klose Lymphedema Training Certification and I am now a certified Lymphedema Therapist. I guess what I would say to myself all those years ago is, yes you have to work hard, study hard, but in the end, it is so worth the effort and I never regret the decision to become a physical therapy assistant. |
