Young or old, everyone has a job to do — learning, growing, playing, working, caring for and interacting with others, are all among the “occupations” of life. Sometimes physical challenges prevent people from participating fully in the job of living: injury, stroke and illness can all play a role in making it difficult for people to perform everyday tasks or be as independent as they would like to be. That is where physical therapy comes in.
Cheryl Gillespie, PT, DPT, MA, Suffolk County Community College Physical Therapy Program Coordinator, has always had a passion for helping others, and has remained active in the field of physical therapy in addition to teaching. So, after 40 years of clinical practice and 30 years of teaching physical therapy, overseeing the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Suffolk’s Ammerman Campus in Selden comes naturally.
“I’ve always had an interest in teaching and this program is my passion.” she said. Gillespie always believed there would continue to be an increasing demand for Physical Therapist Assistants in society, due to the changing demographics with people aging and living longer.”
“The elderly population is booming,” she said. “Statistics show the elderly are the number one users of health care. Another reason for growth of the field is improved technology increasing survival rates across all age groups. These are children and adults who may now require physical therapy services to improve their quality of life and promote independence.”
The demand for PTAs is also growing because more people in their 40s and 50s are more active and involved in sports.
Suffolk’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program prepares students for the growing field of physical therapy which, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is a field in which employment is also projected to grow much faster than average.
Physical therapist assistants, or PTAs, work under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist, administering physical therapy interventions to patients. PTAs need to communicate effectively as well as be able to exhibit compassion and empathy to patients, families and caregivers.
The PTA is defined as a technically educated health care provider who assists the physical therapist in the provision of physical therapy services, and assists people to recover from physical injuries or disorders by preventing permanent physical impairment and providing physical relief from pain.
This team approach allows the PTA to help address the patient’s functional abilities and general health status. For example, when working with a patient who had a stroke, the PTA may address the skills of wheelchair mobility, sitting posture, the strength and ability to transfer from sitting to standing, standing balance and learning to walk again in order to return to his or her home environment.
Suffolk’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program has an extremely rigorous curriculum including two semesters of anatomy and physiology. However, the reward is great – a field where the job prospects are “very good.”
“Right now our statistics support that students seeking employment as a PTA have found employment within six months of graduation. The average PTA salary reported is $40,000 to start. PTA’s taking per diem jobs are reporting on the average between $23-27 per hour,” said Gillespie.
“The PTA program at Suffolk is a unique program that provides an intimate learning environment where students feel supported not only by the professors but, also, by their fellow students. The PTA program’s coursework and fieldwork provides students with a solid foundation to build their careers upon. The professors and assistants are invested in our learning and are always available to ensure our success,” said Lisa Hicke, who will graduate from the program in December 2013.
Individuals who are ambitious, compassionate, creative, enthusiastic and good communicators by nature tend to be perfect candidates for jobs in physical therapy. “The primary goal for the PTA is to increase maximum function in patient’s daily activities,” Gillespie said. “You never know what the day will bring and you’re dealing with a vulnerable population: people who are ill, and not feeling well. You have to be patient; you must have excellent communication skills overall, you have to be able to communicate verbally and in writing, and you should be a good listener.”
For more information about Suffolk’s Physical Therapy Assistant Program, simply call 631-451-4111 or visit www.sunysuffolk.edu/CareerFocus
Mary M. Feder