day in PT...

[anxietypeaker]

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hey i was wondering what a typical day as PT do? I know they plan a physical therapy regimen. However, do they THEMSELVES carry out the therapy? or is it more for PTAs to do?

Also, whats the job profile difference between a MD physiatrist vs. a DPT physical therapist (besides medication rights)? Do they both not carry out the therapy regimen?

 

[Taus]

A Physiatrist does not carry out the therapy. They prescribe specific regimens as part of a comprehensive tx plan to rehab people w/ serious impairments (ie spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury,etc). After doing a detailed eval of a patient they determine what kind of therapy (pt/ot/speech/etc), medications, adaptive devices, etc that the patient will need to maximally regain function. A continuous relationship with feedback from all of the therapists is necessary to continually monitor and modify the rehab regimen. In an outpatient setting with more acute musculoskeletal issues that have failed traditional physical therapy (or before therapy), a Physiatrist can to intervene w/ nerve conduction studies, detailed musculoskeletal and spinal diagnostics including imaging, interventional pain medicine procedures, assistive device prescriptions, as well as detailed therapy prescriptions. Hope that helps

As far as I know (and admittantly its not that much) about DPT, they do the same job as a regular PT in clinical practice. I'm basing that on one of my friends just graduating from Jeff w/ a DPT and telling me what she does at her job.

 

[anxietypeaker]

ok...so now i know what a physiatrist does/can do. What does a pt do? do they figure out pt regimen or carry out therapy (thought PTAs do this) or both?

 

[DOctorJay]

ok so I'm a PT in med school looking to possibly become a physiatrist. Taus has it right regarding physiatrist vs PT.

regarding PT vs PTA: a PT is the only one who can evaluate a pt, make changes to the care plan, assess the progress of the pt, and make recommendations to the physician supervising the plan.

the PTA plays an important part in being able to take care of the pts along the way by following the PT's plan, treating the pt, and updating the PT on changes and recommends different treatments for the PT to consider.

So the way this usually works in the acute care setting is that a PT will spend a good portion of their day seeing first time pts for their evaluations and making preliminary recommendations to the physician about where they expect the pt to end up after therapy. the rest of their day will be with pts they have seen before doing treatments.

the PTA will spend their day addressing the pt's needs based on the PT's assessment and recommendations for treatment program. all of the PTA's notes must be signed by the PT.

finally the PT will complete the discharge for the pt which is essentially another type of evaluation that documents the progress the pt has accomplished during their therapy.

this is the quick and dirty version and is simplified but should answer the basics of your question.

J

 

[Beau Geste]

ok so I'm a PT in med school looking to possibly become a physiatrist. Taus has it right regarding physiatrist vs PT.

regarding PT vs PTA: a PT is the only one who can evaluate a pt, make changes to the care plan, assess the progress of the pt, and make recommendations to the physician supervising the plan.

the PTA plays an important part in being able to take care of the pts along the way by following the PT's plan, treating the pt, and updating the PT on changes and recommends different treatments for the PT to consider.

So the way this usually works in the acute care setting is that a PT will spend a good portion of their day seeing first time pts for their evaluations and making preliminary recommendations to the physician about where they expect the pt to end up after therapy. the rest of their day will be with pts they have seen before doing treatments.

the PTA will spend their day addressing the pt's needs based on the PT's assessment and recommendations for treatment program. all of the PTA's notes must be signed by the PT.

finally the PT will complete the discharge for the pt which is essentially another type of evaluation that documents the progress the pt has accomplished during their therapy.

this is the quick and dirty version and is simplified but should answer the basics of your question.

J

The PT also spends a portion of the week/month supervising PTAs. For SLPs vs. SLPAs there is a required on-site amount of supervision time. I always thought PTs and OTs had the same requirements for PTAs and COTAs.

 

[DocWagner]

Let it be known that a Physiatrist that provides "hands on" care (manipulation, muscle energy etc) can bill seperately for that charge. Many DO physiatrists do this. But as a whole, the Physiatrist does more medical management and coordination...and makes about 200k more yearly.

 

[ONstudentPT]

Let it be known that a Physiatrist that provides "hands on" care (manipulation, muscle energy etc) can bill seperately for that charge. Many DO physiatrists do this. But as a whole, the Physiatrist does more medical management and coordination...and makes about 200k more yearly.

It seems a lot of people on this forum are underestimating the salary and income potential of PTs. Now I do understand that PTs in a hospital do not make huge amounts of money probably between 50-85 000 a year depending on experience. Although I do know that PTs who own and run successful private clinics can make well over 100 000 dollars a year so its kind of odd when people are always talking about how PT education does not have a good investment to income ratio. PTs educations where I live wont cost more then 18 000 dollars for the 2 year masters degree not bad for potential income of over 100 000 dollars or even a 80 000 dollars.

 

[anxietypeaker]

ok....i dont want the thread to become a question on salaries. Those are very easily attainable online. SO, my question again...but restated cuz it doesnt seem to be clear: On television i saw someone come in with a messed up back pain. He went into the clinic and some person helped him move his back in specific ways and also lifted the patients legs and moved them back and forth. Is that what PTs do (in addition to prescribing the rehab regimen)? or is this more what a PTA do?

 

[ONstudentPT]

ok....i dont want the thread to become a question on salaries. Those are very easily attainable online. SO, my question again...but restated cuz it doesnt seem to be clear: On television i saw someone come in with a messed up back pain. He went into the clinic and some person helped him move his back in specific ways and also lifted the patients legs and moved them back and forth. Is that what PTs do (in addition to prescribing the rehab regimen)? or is this more what a PTA do?

The numbers you will find online may not be a proper representation about what I am talking about ...ie empolyee VS clinic owner income but you are right I should have posted this on a different thread which I will do now.

The only thing that PTAs can do is what a PT instructs them to do .. which is most often help pateints do the exercise therapy which PTs have prescribed properly and apply the modalities the PT has told the PTA to use thats pretty much it.

 

[DOctorJay]

ok....i dont want the thread to become a question on salaries. Those are very easily attainable online. SO, my question again...but restated cuz it doesnt seem to be clear: On television i saw someone come in with a messed up back pain. He went into the clinic and some person helped him move his back in specific ways and also lifted the patients legs and moved them back and forth. Is that what PTs do (in addition to prescribing the rehab regimen)? or is this more what a PTA do?

yes