Southwest Tech Physical Therapist Assistant Mission
The mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is to prepare knowledgeable, competent, ethical physical therapist assistants.
Southwest Tech Physical Therapist Assistant Philosophy
The philosophy incorporates the faculty beliefs regarding the field of physical therapy, health, person, community, physical therapist assistant education, the teaching/learning process, and physical therapist assistant practice.
The field of physical therapy involves a dynamic interpersonal goal-directed process that seeks to promote optimal health within the context of individuals, family, community, and society. The concept of caring, which is central to physical therapy, is communicated through both attitude and action. Physical therapy uses a problem solving approach to provide holistic care to individuals, families, and groups within the health care system. Physical therapist assistants work within the confines of a physical therapy plan of care, and together with the physical therapist, the physical therapist assistant assesses health and makes clinical decisions to provide safe and effective care according to standards of practice within the legal, ethical, and regulatory frameworks. Physical therapy practice is based on its own body of knowledge. Through collaboration with other health care professionals, physical therapy is responsive to the needs of the community across the health-illness continuum.
Health is a dynamic state of being, evaluated on a continuum, including physical, psychological, cultural, and spiritual elements. While each element can be evaluated separately, the impact of all elements must be fused to describe health.
The person is a complex living being, in which physical, psychological, cultural, and spiritual processes are in constant interaction. This constant interaction provides the person with the capacity for change. Each person is unique; however, all individuals share similar human responses. The person has inherent worth and dignity and is the focus of physical therapy practice. Each individual has a right to self-determination in matters of health and well-being and deserves high quality health care, in which the physical therapist assistant plays a vital role. Community is comprised of the social, emotional, physical, cultural, and environmental influences that affect individuals, families, and groups. The physical therapist assistant plays a role in care in the context of community and influences health care policy and systems.
Physical therapist assistant education is the process that enables learners to achieve knowledge and skills appropriate to their level of practice. Seamless physical therapist assistant education, integrating general education, takes place in institutions of higher learning. Using performance-based instruction, faculty members assist learners in acquiring knowledge, skills, and values required for the discipline of physical therapist assistant. Individuals are responsible for their own learning. Faculty and learners create an environment that stimulates curiosity, creativity, and growth, while fostering feelings of respect, worth, and dignity. Physical therapist assistant education seeks to promote critical thinking, communication, problem solving, cultural diversity, quantification skills, and use of information and science technology.
Learning is a continuous, goal-directed process that results in measurable change. Learning occurs best when individuals are active participants in the teaching/learning process. Faculty and learners share accountability for assessment and evaluation of learning. Learning increases when application and practice occur in various setting. Ongoing evaluation, based on measurable behavioral outcomes, is an essential and dynamic part of the teaching/learning process. Evaluation of learner and graduate performance facilitates continuous improvement of the seamless, statewide physical therapist assistant program.