Jacob Blankmeyer

Prof. Diana Ploeger

PTA 1500
Term Project
Seeing the description of Uintahs situation, it's quite obvious the need for a physical therapy
boy and what is would bring the most benefit. As of now the Unitah town and surrounding counties,
have a combined 25,000 people without physical therapy available close by. The goal and idea of the
department would be to provide physical therapy to all 25,000 people, for all of their needs. Building the
department within the hospital allows acute and trauma rehabilitation. The primary specialties would be
neurological and orthopedic rehab.
With an expected high volume of patients, ideally, 2 private treatment rooms as well as a large
gym with another 4 tables would provide sufficient space and allow up to 6 patients in a time. Expecting
more than just hospital in-patient population, placing the department on the bottom floor with a near
by entryway would allow the patients to be transferred in from the hospital and out-patient clients to
drive and easily get to the clinic. The fact that the department is in a hospital a more hierarchy
organizational structure would work best, The clinic director (who is also a PT for cost efficiency and
productivity) that reports to the hospital itself, book keeping and billing done though the hospital, then
the PT, PTAs, and finally the aides whom also run the front desk of the clinic.
The physical therapy clinic, will be primarily targeting Uintah town as well as surrounding
communities. The description says there is a high CVA occurrence in the area, as well work injuries from
farming that could result in surgery and muscular damage. Equipping the clinic proper neurological
rehab needs would cause I high appeal for the CVA patients in the area. Then, being able to hire a PT
that is an orthopedic specialist and is ASTYM certified would appeal to post-op and neuromuscular
trauma patients. Overall the clinic should be able to see a large range of patients in all specialties of
physical therapy, but, the main idea would be to treat neuro and orthopedic patients.
With the clinic designed the department will operate at the highest capacity having 2 PTs and 2
PTAs. That staffing will allow up to 2 evaluations and 2 treatments at one time. With a primary patient
intake of post CVA rehab the use of Aides would help with spotting the patients when transferring and
gait training. I believe that 2 aides on staff most of the time would be beneficial for the help,
breakdown, and set ups of treatments.
To accommodate the Neuro rehab an unweighting system over a treadmill would greatly help
the locomotive and gait training. It will allow the patients to slightly remove the force of gravity, and
take away the issue of falling. This machine will also help with the orthopedic side. An unweighting
system will assist in the rehab of lower extremity workouts. Along with the unweighting system 2 other
treadmills will continually help the patients into the further stages of their physical therapy.
Other key items will be needed for therapeutic exercise. Theraband, for lighter exercises in the
gym as well as to give to the patients for home program workouts. A large pulley system workout tower
(the Cybex jungle gym commercial multi-system ideally in mind) would allow the patients to achieve
many different workouts in a smaller use of space compared to individual machines. The Total Gym
would also allow patients to workout their lower or upper extremities in a small amount of space using
simply gravity and body mass for weight. At least one stationary and semi-recumbent bike would help
the patients gain muscle strength, stamina, and cardiovascular exercise, while allowing them the option
of sitting or being upright for safety and comfort.
The primary modalities used should be hot packs, cold packs, electrical stimulation, and paraffin
baths. The moist hot packs should be kept warm in a mid-size hydrocollator, this will help allow the
therapist to warm up an area and increase blood flow and elasticity for stretching of the tissues. Cold
packs can be used to reduce swelling of an area after an overuse injury or trauma. An electrical
stimulation unit will help with healing, as well as pain reduction. Paraffin wax can help with the patients
who have arthritis or post-op joint surgeries.
Maintenance and cleaning of the clinic will be required. For the break down and set up of
treatment tables, clean linen as well as a surface cleaner. In the long run a refillable cleaner spray will be
more cost efficient. The linen would be supplied and cleaned through the hospital, and changed out
after each use. For proper skin cleaning before and after e-stim treatments, rubbing alcohol should be
used to keep the pads clean for continued use.
The department hours of operation should be as so, Monday though Friday 9-5 for scheduling
patients. The Director would be required to show up an hour early everyday to prepare the clinic, view
important documents, report statistics for the hospital, ext.. Then a second PT and the Two PTAs along
with the aides all arrive at nine to begin seeing patients. In-patients will be scheduled 11-2 to
accommodate for the out-patients work schedules and that they will probably be unable to attend
therapy during the mid-day hours. The clinic will schedule a lunch around their patient schedule, giving
the therapist the choice of when they take a break. The PTs and PTAs will be able to see a total of 8
patients a day per therapist. That equals a total of 32 patients a day, and at the average rate of $60
dollars earned per patient comes to $1920 per day earned. The clinic being open roughly 230 days a
year. Comes to a total income of $441600 annually.
With the department being built in the hospital it should primarily funded by the hospital itself.
All the staff would be considered hospital employees. Along the lines of cost, alone the clinic equipment
will cost over $50,000 new. If the clinic wanted to take the time to find the equipment used it would
cost significantly less. Adding in the cost of salaries of $70,000 for the PT who is the clinic director, Then
the second PT making $60,000 a year, two PTAs at $45,000 a year, and two aides at $15,000 a year. The
cost of salaries alone is $250,000 leaving $191,600 for supplies, utilities, building the department (if
needed), and all other expenses. The Aides will be cross trained as front office managers to help
schedule and maintain clinic supplies. With an average cost of bills and supplies being 150,000 a year
makes an estimated 41,000 a year in profit, that profit would be put back into the clinic or gained by the
hospital.
The policy statement will address the moral ethics of the clinic as well the proper repercussions
for not following company policy. As well it will state the dress code, time off policies, and job
descriptions/expectations. The statement would essentially express:
Employees are to be to work in a timely manner, well groomed, and prepared to work. Follow all
rules stated by the APTA, UPTA, HIPPA, OSHA, and DOPL, placing the state legal regards first. All
employees are to be in a business casual attire, pants will be required for all staff for the convenience of
demonstrating exercises while keeping themselves covered. Close toed shoes will be required for staff
do to the possibility of weights falling or the safety of patients when spotting. Mens facial hair must be
kept under one inch long for hygiene and professionalism. Describe the job descriptions and a zero
tolerance policy for insubordination of the chain of command or failure to follow job descriptions. All
time off request will need to be placed at least 3 weeks in advance for the clinic to prepare to be
understaffed. All patients will be treated the same; and never regarding the relationship, age, sex,
income, sexuality, and race of patients. If an employee has any issues in the workplace it is to be
reported to the Department Manager and he/she will create a solution working with the employee and
other party if necessary.
Quarterly reviews will be submitted on all staff by their superiors. Individually staff will meet
with the clinical director to review their performance over the past year. Patients will be asked to review
the clinic and staff at the end of discharge. Simple questionnaires will be used to review performance.
For patients to review the staff simple half sheets will be given to them asking:
Employees Name:
Amount of time spent with Employee per treatment:
Employees performance from 1-10: Poor 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Excellent
How did you feel your treatments went from 1-10? Poor 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Excellent
How can the employee improve?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
How can the clinic improve?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Additional comments:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
The staff will also fill out simple sheets that are turned into the clinic director asking so:
Coworkers Name:
How do you feel your relationship is with this coworker? Poor 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Excellent
How do you feel this coworkers performance is? Poor 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Excellent
Where can this coworker improve?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Good comments on this coworker:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
If any, Negative comments of this coworker:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Additional Comments:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
From there the Clinic Director will be in charge of addressing all areas of the ideas improvement
as well as seek resolution for conflicts.
Over the next 5 years the Department will need to grow in patient intake and hire additional
staff if needed. They will also need to keep up with the new research and development to maintain the
best patient care. Being able to see all the patients in the area and hospital will be key so they must
constantly research all treatments needed by patients. They must grow as a unit and learn the most
efficient way of working as a team for the treatment of patients.

















Works cited:
The Role of the Physical Therapist Assistant: Regulations and Responsibilities. Author: Holly M.
Clynch. Publisher: FA Davis Company.
Cybex International, www.CybexIntl.com .
Dynatronics, www.Dynatronics.com .