Physical Therapy Assistant – Innovation and Collaboration
-
Upload
wa-state-board-community-and-technical-colleges -
Category
Education
-
view
613 -
download
1
description
Transcript of Physical Therapy Assistant – Innovation and Collaboration
Physical Therapist Assistant in High Demand
Listed as one of the 30 fastest growing occupations in the US (2008-09 Occupational Outlook Handbook)
Nationwide: 32.4% projected growth through 2016 (US Department of Labor)
WA State: 30.2% projected growth through 2016 (Workforce Explorer)
Wages continue to rise from $14 - $16 up to $20 - $25 with signing bonuses
Growth in Online Learning Nationally: over 3.9
million students taking an online course; growth rate of 12% increase from the previous year (Sloan Foundation 2008 Survey)
WA State: 9,323 FTE online students in 2004; 18,038 FTE in 2008
Whatcom Community College: 911 students in 2004-05 to 1641 students in 2007-08
History of WCC’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program
Traditional campus based program
Only four PTA Programs in WA State
Requests from health care clinics for an online PTA Program
$10,000 research grant for assessment of demand
History Continued Development of online
delivery of PTA program February 2005
Transition of courses Approval of
accreditation for expansion program
Outreach to potential students
First cohort of 17 students -spring quarter 2006
Online/Hybrid PTA Format Didactic courses in
pure online delivery via WAOL (Washington Online)
Procedural courses with online delivery of didactic material and face to face (hybrid) delivery of practical/hands-on material/skills
Lab Class Format Students meet 3-4
weekends per quarter for 2-3 full 8 hour days in lab
All practical skills taught, demonstrated, practiced and tested
All written exams completed during lab weekends
Agreement with hotel in walking distance for reduced rates for online students
Transition to Online Early adapters and self-learners Skeptics and early resistors Curriculum challenges How to assess? Providing accommodations Travel and personal interruptions Building community
Online Student Support 24/7 tech support from
Washington Online Online resources, iTunes, You
Tube, podcasting, Camtasia, Jing, wiki, blog, skills videos
“Primal Pictures” – human anatomy
Group projects Instructors respond within 24
hours Weekend labs Online mentoring
Primal 3D Online Anatomy Software
Primal Demo
Collaboration with Yakima Valley Community College
Yakima Valley, four hours away over a mountain pass, rural region, high percentage of Latino residents
Liaison for WCC at Yakima Valley Community College, a federally recognized Hispanic Serving Institution
Strong interest in Yakima physical therapy community for increased numbers of PTAs
Eastern WA Clinic PartnersMaintain an active PT/PTA consortium.
Donate facilities, equipment and supplies for PTA education.
Volunteer PT/PTA to serve faculty appointments and be ‘guest speakers’ for specialty skilled lab courses.
Majority are hiring students and paying for their PTA program in return for 2 years of work upon graduation with great pay and benefits.
Advantages of YVCC Partnership Students in PTA program from Yakima region,
able to complete didactic and practical courses in their region
Increases access Students do not need to relocate Students can continue working Students able to perform clinical education
courses in their region Community physical therapy business able to
hire local students on completion of their course of study
Outcomes and Results First cohort graduated 13
students in 2008 (4 from Eastern WA)
Second cohort of 23 students will graduate spring 2009 (8 from Eastern WA)
Third cohort of 27 students will graduate spring 2010 (10 from Eastern WA)
Fourth cohort of 20 students will graduate spring 2011 (6 from Eastern WA)
Where do our online students live?
Feedback Student feedback: WCC and YVCC Clinic feedback: “Things are going great. He is
very knowledgeable and has more experience than the physical therapy students that I have had here….I am having difficulty finding any areas that he needs to improve. Thanks for sending him here. We will hate to see him go.”
Faculty feedback: “I see an increase in critical thinking skills. This is reflected by comments from clinical instructors. I have a huge connection with the students.”
Governor’s Award 2008Workforce Best Practices Award for leadership and exemplary accomplishment in an initiative in the workforce development system
Inquiries from potential students
Where Are We Now
Accreditation process New Partnerships Alaska: University of Alaska, ASHNHA WA State CTCs
Questions?