Carrington College-Las Vegas, Nv

CARRINGTON COLLEGE-LAS VEGAS, NV

SYLLABUS

PTA240 ETHICS and JURISPRUDENCE

Semester Credit Hours: 2.0 Hours

Contact Hours:Lecture: 30 HoursLab: 0 HoursTotal: 30 Hours

Instructor: Laura Cerame PTAPhone: 702-688-4142Fax: 702-688-4142

Email:

Class Schedule:Tuesdays and Thursdays

1:0pm – 3:00pm

Office Hours:Tuesdays and Thursdays

3:00pm –4:00pm, or by appointment

Course Description:This course addresses issues facing physical therapist assistants. Topics presented include ethics and values, patient advocacy, professionalism, personal and professional development, access to health care, reimbursement, quality assurance and jurisprudence.

Prerequisite(s):Successful completion of PTA Semester 3

Co-requisite(s):PTA 199, PTA 210

All classroom assignments must be completed and turned in at the beginning of the class on the date they are due. Late assignments will be scored as a zero. All assignments must be turned in to the instructor prior to taking the final written and practical examinations. Failure to turn in all assignments will result in the student not being permitted to take the final classroom examinations and they will receive a failing grade for the course.

Learning Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Discuss commitment to practicing the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the PTA.
Demonstrate a commitment to practicing the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the PTA.
Demonstrate an awareness of ethical responsibility in all aspects of physical therapy care, and exhibit conduct that reflects practice standards that are legal, ethical, and safe.
Engage in self-assessment and development of a personal moral code and framework for personal ethics.
Discuss sensitivity to the influence of ethics in physical therapist assistant work.
Gain insight into ethical situations and problems that are unique to PTAs and contrast those shared by a wide range of health professionals.
Become familiar with basic ethics approaches and concepts widely used today in addressing ethical dimensions of PTA work.
Describe aspects of quality assurance and access to physical therapy services.
Compare aspects of quality assurance and access to physical therapy services.
Categorize the structure of health care insurance.
Confirm the purposes of health care insurance.
Identify career and lifelong learning opportunities.
Develop a career plan.
Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning.
Explain and adhere to all laws and regulations pertaining to physical therapist assistant licensure/certification.

Instructional Materials and References:

Purtilo, R, and Doherty, R. Ethical Dimensions in the Health Professions, 5thEdition,Elsevier, 2011
Sandstrom, R; Lohman, H; Bramble,J; Health Services: Policy andSystems for Therapists, 3rdEdition, Prentice-Hall, 2014
Erickson, M. and McKnight, R., Documentation Basics: A Guide for the Physical Therapist Assistant, 2nd Edition, 2012
American Physical Therapy Association Website and Learning Center
Professionalism in Physical Therapy Core Values Self Assessment
Handouts
EBSCO/CINAHL online resources

CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Students will engage in a self assessment of career interests. Subsequent to the self assessment, students will develop a career plan outlining the path they would like to take upon graduation. This project will serve students well in the future as they embark upon their professional careers. Specifics to be provided in the lesson plan.

Library Assignment

Topics

Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment
Terri Schiavo
The Case of Ashley X

Five (5) paragraph essay style paper on each topic
Typewritten
Double-Spaced
11 point font or larger
3 or more appropriate references properly cited for each topic

Instructional Methods

This course uses a combination of:

Lecture
Class discussion
Professional development plan
Case Study
Debates/Class Discussions
PowerPoint presentation, DVD/CD-ROM
Role playing activities
American Physical Therapy Association Website and Learning Center
Quia
TurnItIn

Learning Resource Activity

This course requires a library assignment. Assignments may include but are not limited to gathering information for projects by using the onsite library or accessing online resources such as EBSCO/CINAHLor Internet searches.

Topical Outline

Unit/
Session / Learning Objective / Topic / Instructor & Student Activities
Unit 1
Session
1 / 1. Recognize and identify the value of a commitment to lifelong learning and professional development
2. Identify factors to consider when evaluating the quality of a continuing education course
3. List different methods of assuring continued competence after graduation
4. Describe the benefits of mentoring as a career development tool
5. Compare and contrast the benefits of belonging to APTA versus other health care organizations / 1. Lifelong Learning
2. Professional Development / 1. Engage in self assessment of areas needed for personal, career, and skill development2. Locate resources for continuing education courses and conferences
3. Hypothesize the implications to a profession that is not supported by a professional organization
4. Create a career development plan to establish goals, and identify the experience and education required to meet those goals5. Professionalism in Physical Therapy Core Values Self Assessment
ASSIGN CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
Unit 2
Session
2 / 1.Engage in self assessment of personal core values
2. Develop a personal moral code and personal framework of ethics
3. Identify incidences that present ethical dilemmas to the PTA
4. Apply the APTA’s Standards of Ethical Conduct for the PTA as a framework for providing ethical care
5. Define morality and ethics and distinguish between the two
6. Describe conduct that will meet the expectations of members of society receiving health care services
7. Discuss conduct that reflects a commitment to meet the expectations of members of the profession of physical therapy
8. Describe conduct that reflects practice standards that are legal, ethical, and safe / 1. Morality and Ethics
2. Ethical Goals / 1. Role play appropriate and inappropriate use of power in a
relationship for a given situation
2. Debate a topic that represents and ethical or moral dilemma in health care3. List ways that ethics is useful in everyday work
4. Identify some mechanisms available to protect personal moral convictions of health providers
HOMEWORK:
Read Chapters 1, 2 in Purtilo
Unit 3
Session
3 / 1. Distinguish metaethics from normative ethics
2. Describe the role of moral character or virtue
3. Identify steps in the analysis of ethical problems
4. Identify benefits of taking time to reflect on actions / 1. Ethical Theories and Approaches
2. Ethical Decision-making / 1. Develop a plan of action for dealing with an ethical dilemma
2. List reasons why your acquaintance with metaethical theories is relevant to PTA work
3. List areas of inquiry that would be useful when gathering relevant information
HOMEWORK:
Read Chapters 3, 4 in Purtilo
Unit 4
Session
4 / 1. Describe barriers to achieving a caring response
2. Identify areas where
students have full moral agency
3. Describe components of a personal value system.
4. Describe societal mechanisms that legally protect health professionals
5. Identify types of responsibilities to improve yourself that are relevant to your career / 1. Surviving student lifeethically
2. Surviving professional life ethically / 1. Discuss types of wrongdoing and what should be done
2. Evaluate your own personal value system
3. Evaluate the phrase, “You owe it to yourself…”
HOMEWORK:
Read Chapters 5, 6 in Purtilo
DUE: Professionalism Module 1 - Introduction to Professionalism
Unit 5
Session
5 / 1. List areas addressed by organization ethics
2. Define the term mission statement and its role
3. Describe what policies are and how they contribute to or distract from your ethical behavior
4. Describe major career areas that present ethical challenges
5. Discuss expectations a PTA can have of their peers / 1. Living ethically within Healthcare Organizations
2. Living ethically as a member of the healthcare team / 1. Critique key policies and administrative actions in healthcare institutions
2. Compare and contrast guidelines that are useful in assessing whether an employer supports ethical practices
3. Outline appropriate steps to be taken in a whistle-blowing situation
HOMEWORK:
Read Chapters 7, 8 in Purtilo
Unit 6
Sessions 6-7 / 1. Define the terms confidential information, confidentiality, truth telling and informed consent
2. Name legal exceptions to healthcare practice in which confidentiality can be breeched
3. Distinguish among the following notions: truth, deceit, lies, and truth telling
4. Define the terms placebo and placebo effect
5. Identify the importance of informed consent and when it is required / 1. Confidentiality
2. Truth Telling
3. Informed Consent / 1. Describe the key ethical strengths and challenges of the recent US Federal Regulations related to privacy considerations (Health Insurance and Portability and Accountability Act of 1996-HIPAA)
2. Discuss the aspects of the process of obtaining informed consent
3. Describe considerations taking into account cultural differences related to informed consent
HOMEWORK:
Read Chapters 9, 10, 11 in Purtilo
Unit 7
Session
8 / 1. Describe ethical challenges associated with long-term care
2. Identify ways in which the patient-family caregiver unit is an essential focus of decision making in situations involving long-term care
3. List ways that a caring response can be achieved in end-of-life care
4. Discuss the merits of advance directives
5. Identify ethical concepts involved with patients that have life-threatening conditions / 1. Growing ethical challenges of long-term care
2. Ethical issues in end-of-life care / 1. Discuss how and why quality of life considerations become a major feature of care for individuals with chronic symptoms
2. Describe guidelines that can help to continue to ‘abide with’ a patient who is dying.
3. Define terms palliative care and list examples of how it is expressed
4. List the merits of advance directives
5. Discuss the PTAs duty of non-malfeasance in end-of-life care
HOMEWORK:
Read Chapters 12, 13 in Purtilo
Unit 8
Sessions
9-10 / 1. Compare and contrast the concepts of microallocation and macroallocation
2. Compare the ideas of allocation on the basis of a right to healthcare on need and on merit
3. Define distributive and compensatory justice
4. Identify ethical principles
that apply to a healthcare worker’s obligations to society
5. Contrast the differences between a PTAs moral responsibility to promote service focused on the public interest versus the common good / 1. Distributive justice
2. Compensatory justice
3. Good citizenship and professional role / 1. Critique criteria for a morally acceptable approach to rationing of healthcare resources
2. Discuss the societal need for distributive and compensatory justice
3. Discuss how a basic respect for people may mean that the healthcare worker will becomeinvolved in pressing social issues outside of healthcare
MIDTERM EXAM
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
HOMEWORK:
Read Chapters 14, 15, 16 in Purtilo
DUE: Professionalism Module 2: History of Professionalism in Physical Therapy
Unit 9
Sessions
11-12 / 1. Differentiate between laws and regulations
2. Explain the make-up of the Physical Therapy Board
3. Compare the jurisdictions and purposes of the APTA, the Physical Therapy Board, and the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
4. Describe the legal requirements for maintenance of physical therapy records
5. Describe the licensure requirements of physical therapists and physical therapist assistants
6. Explain the procedures for obtaining a physical therapist assistant license/certification
7. Identify actions which may result in suspension, revocation, and reinstatement of a PTA license
8. Describe the purposes and implementation of the diversion program administered by the PT Board
9. Explain how PT laws are enforced by the state
10. Summarize administrative responsibilities of the PT board.
11. Cite the supervision requirements of PTA
license applicants, PTAs and aides
12. State the guidelines for issuing of citations, discipline, and reinstatement of licenses
13. Explain the licensure requirements for continuing competency as a physical therapist assistant / Laws and Regulations affecting PTA work / 1. Know how to complete the application for the National Physical Therapist Exam and the Jurisprudence Exam
2. Organize information to present documentation for legal proceedings
HOMEWORK:
Read Laws & Regulations handout
Unit 10
Session 13 / 1. Demonstrate skills of effective advocacy
2. Demonstrate an awareness of social responsibility, citizenship, and advocacy, including participation in community and service organizations and activities
3. Demonstrate a devotion to the interests of patients / Advocacy / 1. List and develop ways a PTA can advocate for patients’ rights regarding physical therapy care
2. Demonstrate a commitment to meeting the needs of the patients and consumers
3. Participate in a community event promoting access to and/or awareness of physical therapy (PT Month Social)
HOMEWORK: Read Chapter 5 in Sandstrom
Unit 11
Session
14 / 1. Explain the relationship between health care insurance, and access to health care
2. Describe the reimbursement policies for Medicare, Medicaid, and managed care organizations
3. Define the concept of direct access to health care services
4. Describe the characteristics of underserved and underrepresented populations who need physical therapy services
5. Describe the major components of health care revenue and expenditure in the United States
6. Describe the purposes of health care insurance
7. Describe mechanisms for obtaining equipment for a patient/client / Insurance / 1. Hypothesize the reasons for the inflation of health care costs
2. Compare the various types of health insurances available
3. Critique the influence of the managed care environment on the role of the PTA
HOMEWORK: Read chapters 6, 7, 8, 9 in Sandstrom
DUE: Professionalism Module 3 - Ethical Compass
Unit 12
Session
15 / 1. Describe the basic components of a quality health care system
2. Justify the need for
Evidence Based Practice (EBP)
3. Describe how external review organizations assurequality in the health care system
4.Identify and know how to report fraud, abuse, or neglect / Quality Assurance / 1. Debate factors that influence the quality of healthcare in the US
2. Discuss and explain the term liability and negligence and how they relate to the PTA3. Develop strategies to improve to improve health care quality in the physical therapy setting
Debate/Class Discussions on Research Topics
CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT DUE
HOMEWORK: Read chapter 3 in Sandstrom
16 / FINAL EXAM

Assessment Criteria and Methods of Evaluation

Examinations
Quizzes
Class participation
Case scenarios/Class discussions
Homework
Library Research Projects/Class discussions

COURSE EVALUATION:

Mid-Term Examination:25%
Comprehensive Final Exam: 25%
Quizzes: 20%
Homework Assignments/Assignments: 20%
Library Research Project5%
Class participation and professionalism: 5% (see Class Participation Rubric)

GRADING CRITERIA:

90-100% = A

80-89% = B

70-79% = C

60-69% = D

< 59% = F

A passing grade for this class is a “C”. In order to attain a “C for this class, the following criteria must be met:

Minimum average grade of “C” on written examinations
Minimum average grade of “C” on written quizzes/assignments

Policy on Cheating

Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, knowingly assisting another student in cheating or plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to College staff, faculty, administrators, or other officials.

When a student is charged with plagiarism or cheating related to a class, and the instructor has reasonable proof or documentation or the student admits the violation, the instructor may select one or more of the following options:

a.Issue an oral or written notification and warn the student that further acts of this sort will result in additional disciplinary action.

b.Issue a failing grade (“F”) or a “0” for the assignment in question.

c.Issue a failing grade for the course.

d.Refer the student to the Program Director or the Dean of Academic Affairs or Executive Director for disciplinary action, which may include withdrawal from the College.

Late Assignment Policy

All assignments are mandatory. No late homework or assignments will be accepted. For assignments to be considered turned in on time, they must be received by the beginning of the class period for which they are due.

Make-Up Policy

Quizzes are not examinations. If a student misses a quiz it may not be made up. If a student misses an exam, they must notify the instructor in advance if he/she is going to be absent. The classroom assignment make-up process must be initiated by the student. Students will NOT be allowed to make up classroom work, including exams unless the instructor has been notified regarding the absence. The instructor and the student will arrange a schedule for completion of make-up work.

Attendance andTardy Policies

Students are expected to be in attendance at every class, lab, and clinical session. Regular attendance is essential for academic and professional success. Carrington College enforces a strict attendance policy!
Faculty turn in attendance sheets after each session indicating who was present, tardy or left early, in minute calibrations for the Registrar records.
If you are unable to attend class or lab, you must notify the instructor in advance.
Students are expected to be ready to begin class on time. Time will be deducted for arriving late or leaving early.
For Physical Therapy Students:Students who exceed 15% of absence rate in any course or in cumulative term for tem-based programs will be required to meet with the program director to develop a student success plan to improve their attendance. Any student who reaches 25% absence rate in a course or in a cumulative term for tem-based programs will be placed on attendance probation. If while in attendance probation, a student continues a pattern of excessive absenteeism, the student may be withdrawn from the program at the discretion of Dean, Academic Affairs.

Students are responsible for tracking their absences and will be withdrawn automatically if there is no attendance during a period of 14 consecutive days.

STUDENT SIGNATURE PAGE

This syllabus describes expectations for students enrolled in this course in addition to those mandated in the Carrington College Catalog and individual program handbooks. Every student is expected to know and comply with all current policies, rules, ad regulations as printed in the Carrington College Catalog, program handbook, course syllabus, and class schedule. Violation of any standard may serve as grounds for disciplinary action including suspension or program dismissal.

I understand that I am responsible for my educational success. I understand that I am responsible for contacting the course instructor regarding any questions. My signature on this form acknowledges receipt of this course syllabus and my understanding of the above stated information.

Student’s Printed Name:

______

Student’s Signature:

______

Date:______

Course:PTA 240 Ethics and Jurisprudence

Date Syllabus was last reviewed and modified: August 6, 2014