Hello,

I have been a PTA for 14 years and want to start doing Home Care in the state of Pennsylvania. I really would like to know why we are not permitted to do Home Care, because I know for a fact some agencies are desperate for Therapist. Why are P.T.s so threatened by PTAs' in the state of PA?????????

Help

I have been a PTA for 25 yrs but have given up, RN's have an Associate degree like us but are able to act independently and are given more respect then us. I just have given up on this profession in regards to PT's, I thought Florida was bad but you are in a worse situation then Iam.

     The PPTA Practice Act Task Force recently recommended changes to the PA PT Practice Act.  Included in these changes would be the ability of PTAs in Pennsylvania to deliver care in a home health care, skilled nursing facility or educational setting without direct on-premises supervision.  Hopefully, the PA State Board will listen. 

    

wow, would you like to move to chicago. i'm looking for a PTA for home health. I'm a license PT and we can work as a team.

If you want to do home health you need to move to Kentucky.  PTA's are allowed to do home health independlty, we just need to be able to reach a PT by phone.  Agencies are begging for both PT's and PTA's.

I don't see a problem with PTA's in home care, I'm a PT, but sadly enough, I see many PTA's that really know a lot, sometimes more than other PT's I meet.  I think just being able to be in touch with a PT would be fine.  I don't know the laws here in NY, but to have a PT sign off on notes / or be in phone proximity should not pose a problem.  I believe that PTA's know what's right and wrong, and having enough knowledge that was taught in school should not limit their abilities!  We are all a team, and the only limiting factor should be something along the lines of an evaluation / change of goals etc.

The state board in PA can not change the practice act, only the congress can do that. That board governs the practice act.

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Cindy

Please, Please, Please!!!  Write to APTA and let them know that you feel left out of vision 2020.  PT's are necessary to perform our jobs as are PTA's, but we are not stupid.  Continuing education, advancing PTA to a bachelors, developing a bridge program.  We are a TEAM!  I have emailed the PTA/PT representative (JANET CROSIER) to discuss just this matter.   I thought I was the only PTA who felt belittled by vision 2020.  While APTA is so busy trying to keep NATA (athletic trainers), chiropractors and massage therapist from taking their jobs, they are omitting us (their educated assistants) from physical therapy's future.  If enough will email APTA and let them know how you feel.  It would take you 5 minutes to shoot an email.  Like someone else said, no one will stand up for us, so we have to!!!  I am proud to be a PTA.  I enjoy my job.  I  can't move to go to PT school, and we had a PTA school an hour away.  This turned out to be a great option for me.  I love therapy, and my little old patients. (I do both acute care and home health) 

see below... I posted before I saw this option.

Polly

I have been a PTA for 11 years and I agree with your frustrations in PA but come to WV .... we are crying for help in Home care. I have been doing it for the past 2 years AND it is great.  WV is also reviewing consideration for supervision requirments and onsite frequencies. Be patient because our field is always evolving 

We still require babysitting in this state because PA is the last state to get anything passed.  I heard that PTA's will be able to practice without direct onsite supervision ("babysitting") this year, '08.

From what I was told, they are signing this in on Monday!

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Allisha
SPTA

The bill that is amending our practice act is HB1199. It is currently in the consumer affairs and proffesional liscencing comittee of the senate. From there it has to go to the senate appropriations comittee and from there to the floor of the senate for a final vote. The new practice act takes effect in 60 days after it is signed into law. If you read the new practice act, you will see that in order to practice under the new supervision law, you must have a certificate from the state board, stating that you have met the requiements of atleast 2000 hours of experience or employment for atleast 3-5 years prior to the act. Keep checking the PPTA website for updates.

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Cindy