Essential Functions of the Student Physical Therapist
Essential functions are the activities that a student physical therapist must be able to perform in partial fulfillment of the requirements for successful completion of the professional curriculum. Every student must be able to perform these essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodations, while practicing safely, ethically, and in a legal manner. Reasonable accommodations are based on individual need, program essential requirements, public safety and must not pose an excessive financial burden to the University or interfere with the nature or operation of the University as an educational institution. The University uses independent clinical education sites that may or may not be willing or able to offer the same reasonable accommodations that are made available by the University. The fact that the University offers reasonable accommodations to allow a student with a disability to complete an educational program is not a guarantee, implied or otherwise, that a graduate will be able to secure subsequent employment offering those same accommodations.
If a student is unable to perform these essential functions, it is the student's responsibility to:
- Reveal a need for reasonable accommodations prior to entering the professional curriculum.
- Obtain diagnostic data to substantiate a claim of need for reasonable accommodations.
- Provide the diagnostic data to the institution prior to entering the professional curriculum.
The ability to perform essential functions is expected of students in the classroom, labs, simulated clinical settings, and while on clinical education assignments. The Department of Physical Therapy essential functions are described below by: 1) category, 2) definition, and 3) examples. The examples are for clarity and do not represent an exhaustive list of all possible activities.
| CATEGORY |
DEFINITION |
EXAMPLE |
| Behavior |
Ability to act in a professional manner |
- Practice safely, ethically, legally
- Demonstrate responsibility for lifelong professional growth and development
|
| Critical Thinking |
Ability to make clinical judgments |
- Identify cause/effect relationships
- Develop patient outcomes/goals/interventions
- Respond to emergencies
- Apply standard precautions
- Apply teaching and learning theories in clinical practice
- Participate in scientific inquiry
|
| Communication |
Ability to verbalize and write |
- Explain treatment interventions
- Initiate health teaching
- Document and interpret physical therapist actions and patient responses
|
| Coping |
Ability to perform in stressful environments or under deadlines |
- Maintain professional demeanor in all situations
- Accept constructive feedback
- Prioritize multiple commitments
- Recognize problems and apply stress management techniques
|
| Hearing |
Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs |
- Hear and monitor alarms, emergency signals, cries for help
- Respond to a timer
|
| Interpersonal |
Ability to interact with groups from a variety of backgrounds |
- Establish rapport with patients, clients, and colleagues
- Recognize psychosocial impact of dysfunction/disability
- Demonstrate respect for the needs of the patient and family
- Demonstrate respect for diversity
|
| Mobility |
Physical ability sufficient to move from room to room and in small spaces |
- Maneuver in patients' rooms and treatment spaces
- Administer CPR procedures
|
| Motor Skill |
Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to provide safe and effective physical therapy |
- Calibrate and operate equipment
- Position patients/clients
- Guard patients and perform facilitation techniques during gait training
- Perform physical therapy activities such as ROM, MMT, debridement, transfers, CPR, or use of physical agents
- Lift, carry, pull, push, reach, stand, walk, kneel, bend, climb, balance
|
| Tactile |
Ability to use touch to monitor and access health needs |
- Palpate
- Apply resistance during examinations or interventions
|
| Visual |
Ability to use vision to monitor and assess health needs |
- Observe patients' responses
- Monitor vital signs
- Read medical records
- Observe integumentary integrity
|
Effective: 1999
Revised: 2001, 2006
Reviewed: 2003, 2004, 2005