PT vs PTA (Full Version)

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Sparky -> PT vs PTA (October 15, 2007 6:05:41 PM)

Ok maybe this is a stupid question, but do PTAs do anything that PTs do not? I know there are things that only the PTs can do (initial evaluation, come up with the treatment plan, etc...), but what about the other way around? Does a PT spend less time executing a treatment plan than a PTA would, and more time doing other things? I am really interested in that one-on-one patient interaction (with the same patient over a period of time, not just doing an eval and then passing them off to someone else), just wondering if I can get that as a PT or if I should be focusing on PTA programs. This is all new to me (obviously!). My first shadow experience is coming up later this week...hopefully that will answer some of my (many) questions!

Thanks in advance for your replies!



Tom Reeves DPT ATC -> RE: PT vs PTA (October 15, 2007 6:15:44 PM)

In some settings the PTA does much more treatment.  I personally don't use a PTA much so I am the one doing all of the treatment.  It really depends where you work. 



jlharris -> RE: PT vs PTA (October 15, 2007 8:18:39 PM)

I agree with Tom.  The company I work for (which is PT owned) does not use PTA's at all.  So, I provide everything - Exam, Eval, Treatment, Re-eval, etc.  Don't think I'd want it any other way.  Now, in general, if you worked in a hospital setting (or possibly other non-PT owned clinics) you'd likely find PT's mainly doing evals-reevals and PTA's providing the intervention.  Great thing is, we get to choose were we work.



annpsu25 -> RE: PT vs PTA (March 9, 2008 3:59:34 PM)

I agree with the other posters in saying that it depends on where you work/who you work for.  Some clinics are stictly PT, no PTA's.  Others have PTA's with most of the patient interaction.  It will also vary from state to state.

I'm from PA and from my experiences PT's mainly do evals/re-evals and DC. PTA's spend a lot of their time with the patient.  However, in PA PTA's cannot perform joint mobs and sharp debridement.



jma -> RE: PT vs PTA (March 9, 2008 4:50:54 PM)

Agree with the above posts. We have all PT's down at the hospital where I work but in other places where I worked, the PTA did the interventions



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