PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPYPEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPYCAREER RESEARCH

KIMBERLEY CAREYP.6

WHAT DO PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL WHAT DO PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPISTS DO?THERAPISTS DO?

A pediatric physical therapist is someone who specializes in the rehabilitation of children who suffer from chronic disabilities, physical ailments and developmental delays. Pediatric physical therapists help children improve their motor skills, strength, endurance, balance and coordination. They deal with children who have physical challenges, as well as mental challenges. Our goal is to help children reach their maximum potential and utmost independency when doing daily tasks and functions.

OUR PATIENTSOUR PATIENTS• Often deal with children who have: Amputations, Arthritis, Balance Impairments, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delays, Torticollis, Scoliosis, Spina Bifida, and much more.•Our age range of patients go from infancy to adolescence.

OUR PEERSOUR PEERS•You have to work alongside doctors, pediatricians, family members, insurance companies, etc.

EDUCATIONEDUCATION LEVEL & LEVEL & INTERNSHIPINTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES OPPORTUNITIES

EDUCATION REQUIREDEDUCATION REQUIRED

▪ A graduate degree from a University, accredited by the APTA (American Physical Therapy Association).

▪ Most schools only offer Doctorate degree (which is 3 years of graduate studying) or a Masters degree (which can take 2 years).

▪ Coursework focuses on biology, physics, statistics, biomechanics, anatomy and physiology, human growth and development, manifestations of disease, examination techniques and therapeutic procedures.

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIESOPPORTUNITIES▪ Hospitals

▪ Nursing facilities

▪ Sports facilities

▪ Schools

▪ Study-Abroad

SKILLS SKILLS REQUIRED/ REQUIRED/ QUALIFICATIONS QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED NEEDED

•Assess and evaluate patient.

•Perform tests on patients such as range of motion, neuromotor skills, and reflexes.

•Clinical reasoning and decision-making to determine a diagnosis (what's wrong with the patient) and prognosis (will the patient improve, how much, and when)

•Use goal-setting skills to set a plan of care in action

•First-Aid, CPR, safety, in case of emergency

•Use of orthotics, prosthetics, walkers, wheelchairs, and other supportive devices

•Manual therapy, tissue massage, traction, and manipulation

•Communication skills for patient/family education, consultations with other health professionals

•Practice Management skills such as billing & coding for proper reimbursement, documentation of medical records, supervising staff such as physical therapy assistants, and quality improvement

•Professional skills and values such as accountability, integrity, compassion, responsibility

QUALIFICATIONSQUALIFICATIONS•A graduate degree from an accredited school.

•Pass the Physical Therapist State Licensure Exam.

•In order to become a ‘specialist’ in Pediatrics, you need to take the Pediatric Certified Specialist Exam. (The exam ranges from $1,300 - $2,300)*

““A DAY IN THE A DAY IN THE LIFE” LIFE”

PROSPROS▪ There is job security! Demand for

physical therapists is expected to grow to 39% by 2020.

▪ The ability to make a difference in the lives of patients.

▪ PT’s have the opportunity to work in a variety of locations, from hospitals, private practices, sports facilities, schools and nursing homes.

▪ You have the personal satisfaction of helping people regain their ability to function physically.

▪ Ranked in the top 5 for best healthcare jobs.

▪ Employees have reported minimal amounts of stress level at work.

CONSCONS▪ The job is physically demanding, as

you are required to bend down, lift objects and physically interacting with children on a daily basis.

▪ The time it takes to get your degree is lengthy and expensive.

▪ The job can be emotionally challenging. Sometimes it takes months, or even years, before recovery starts to happen.

▪ You are exposed to disease and sickness

VSVS..

“CareerCast ranked physical therapy #2 for most all around satisfying profession.” (2010)

Work Environment: a hospital facility.

CHILDREN’S CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH OF UPMCOF UPMCPITTSBURGH, PA

WORK ATTIREWORK ATTIREPhysical Therapists working in a hospital environment may be required to wear lab coats or scrubs. For a PT, their uniform must be: safe, comfortable, allow them to

move freely and look professional.

HOURSHOURS▪ Typically works a flexible 40-hour week, with some weekends and

evenings required.

SALARSALARYY•Pediatric physical therapists earn about $34. 90 per hour.

•The average salary $78, 270. •The top 10% earn approximately $110, 670 while the bottom 10% earn an annual salary of $42,048. •Salary varies by location of work.

EMPLOYEE EMPLOYEE BENEFITSBENEFITS▪ Employees with 0-5 years of

service have an average of 22 days of Paid-Time-Off

▪ Full time staff members receive an annual of 56 hours of holiday time off per year.

▪ Short-term and long-term disability protection.

▪ Employer provided life insurance and the ability to provide it for you and your dependents.

▪ Dental Coverage

▪ Life and AD&D Insurance

▪ Medical coverage, including vision and prescription drug.

▪ For Maternity Leave: You are eligible for 60% of pay, but it’s only effective after 6 months of employment. You also get 6 weeks of maternity leave.

▪ Provides two retirement plan options: The Cash Balance Plan and the Savings Plan.

▪ Adoption Assistance

▪ Tuition Assistance

▪ PPO Benefits

▪ Flexible Spending Accounts

▪ Voluntary Benefits

www.emergencyresourcemanagement.com/ext/advanced/Benefits_Overview_2012.pdfFor a more in depth look:

HOW DOES PSYCHOLOGY APPLY TO MY HOW DOES PSYCHOLOGY APPLY TO MY CAREER?CAREER?

▪ ABNORMAL PSYCH ABNORMAL PSYCH – deals with abnormal behaviors and disorders, such as developmental disorder.

▪ BEHAVIORAL PSYCH BEHAVIORAL PSYCH – deals with observing a person’s behavior. Key concepts include shaping, operant conditioning, classical conditioning.

▪ DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHDEVELOPMENTAL PSYCH – Focuses on the development process from the womb to the tomb.

▪ SOCIAL PSYCH SOCIAL PSYCH – seeks to explain and understand how we relate to one another.

▪ SPORTS PSYCH SPORTS PSYCH – Deals with how psychology influences sports, physical activity and exercise.

▪ HEALTH PSYCH HEALTH PSYCH – It focuses on promoting health

SOURCESSOURCESHEALTH HEALTH COVERAGECOVERAGE:

• https://www.emergencyresourcemanagement.com/ext/advanced/Benefits_Overview_2012.pdf

▪ http://extra.upmc.com/SPD/SPDHealthWelfare.pdfINFORMATION:INFORMATION:

•http://www.disabled-world.com/medical/rehabilitation/therapy/pediatric-physical-therapy.php

•http://www.pediatricapta.org/consumer-patient-information/pdfs/09%20ABCs%20of%20Ped%20PT.pdf

•http://www.kidstherapycenter.com/storage/articles/physical_therapy.pdf•http://www.apta.org•http://www.abpts.org•Link to Virtual Career Day: http://www.virtualcareerday.com/careers/physicaltherapist/ptintro.html

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