DEFINITION OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
The Guide to Physical Therapy Practice developed by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) defines physical therapy as follows:
"Physical therapy includes diagnosis and management of movement dysfunction and enhancement of physical and functional abilities; restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal physical function, optimal fitness and wellness, and optimal quality of life as it relates to movement and health; and prevention of the onset; symptoms, and progression of impairments, functional limitations and disabilities that may result from diseases, disorders, conditions or injuries."SCOPE OF PRACTICE
Physical therapy is defined as the care and services provided by or under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist.
- Physical therapists are the only professionals who provide physical therapy.
- Physical therapist assistant. (PTAs)-under the direction and supervision of physical therapists-are the only paraprofessionals who assist in the provision of physical therapy interventions.
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONSPTs are professionally educated at the college or university level. In most countries like the Philippines and United States, PTs are required to be licensed in the country or state in which they practice. Education programs for the preparation of physical therapists have been recognized in some manner since 1928, when the APTA first published a list of approved programs.
PRACTICE SETTINGS
Physical therapists practice in a broad range of inpatient, outpatient, and community-based settings.
Hospital
Hospitals may be classified in a number of ways, including by:
- Length of stay (short-term or long-term) Acute care (short-term hospital): An acute care hospital can be defined as a facility that provides hospital care to patients who generally require a stay up to 7 days, and whose focus is on a physical or mental condition requiring immediate intervention and constant medical attention, equipment, and personnel. Following a stay in the acute-care hospital, the patient is typically discharged to home or to another health-care facility. Subacute: Medical care is provided to patients who require more than 7 but less 30 days' stay in a hospital, and who have a more stable condition than those receiving acute care.
- Teaching or nonteaching Teaching: A hospital that serves as a teaching site for medicine, dentistry, allied health, nursing programs, or medical residency programs. Nonteaching: A hospital that has no teaching responsibilities or one that serves as an elective site for health-related programs.
- Major types of services: general, or specialties such as psychiatric, tuberculosis, maternity, pediatric, and ear, nose and throat (ENT).
- Type of ownership or control: federal, state, or local government; for-profit and nonprofit
Home Health Care
Home health care involves the provision of medical or health care by a Home Health Agency (HHA), which may be governmental, voluntary, or private; non-profit or for-profit. Home care services were introduced to reduce the need for hospitalization and its associated costs. An HHA provides part-time and intermittent skilled and nonskilled services on a visiting basis to persons of all ages in their homes.
School System
- The major goal of physical therapy intervention in the school is to enhance the child's level of function in the school setting.
- The physical therapist serves as a consultant to teachers working with children with disabilities in the classroom. Recommendations are made for adaptive equipment to facilitate improved posture, head control and function.
Private Practice
Private practice settings are privately owned and free-standing independent physical therapy practices.
- Practice settings vary from physical therapy and orthopedic clinics, to rehabilitation agencies.
- Documentation is required for every visit.
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