Physical Therapist Assistant in High Demand

Listed as one of the 30 fastest growing occupations in the US (2008-09 Occupational Outlook Handbook)

Nationwide: 32.4% projected growth through 2016 (US Department of Labor)

WA State: 30.2% projected growth through 2016 (Workforce Explorer)

Wages continue to rise from $14 - $16 up to $20 - $25 with signing bonuses

Growth in Online Learning Nationally: over 3.9

million students taking an online course; growth rate of 12% increase from the previous year (Sloan Foundation 2008 Survey)

WA State: 9,323 FTE online students in 2004; 18,038 FTE in 2008

Whatcom Community College: 911 students in 2004-05 to 1641 students in 2007-08

History of WCC’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program

Traditional campus based program

Only four PTA Programs in WA State

Requests from health care clinics for an online PTA Program

$10,000 research grant for assessment of demand

History Continued Development of online

delivery of PTA program February 2005

Transition of courses Approval of

accreditation for expansion program

Outreach to potential students

First cohort of 17 students -spring quarter 2006

Online/Hybrid PTA Format Didactic courses in

pure online delivery via WAOL (Washington Online)

Procedural courses with online delivery of didactic material and face to face (hybrid) delivery of practical/hands-on material/skills

Lab Class Format Students meet 3-4

weekends per quarter for 2-3 full 8 hour days in lab

All practical skills taught, demonstrated, practiced and tested

All written exams completed during lab weekends

Agreement with hotel in walking distance for reduced rates for online students

Transition to Online Early adapters and self-learners Skeptics and early resistors Curriculum challenges How to assess? Providing accommodations Travel and personal interruptions Building community

Online Student Support 24/7 tech support from

Washington Online Online resources, iTunes, You

Tube, podcasting, Camtasia, Jing, wiki, blog, skills videos

“Primal Pictures” – human anatomy

Group projects Instructors respond within 24

hours Weekend labs Online mentoring

Primal 3D Online Anatomy Software

Primal Demo

Collaboration with Yakima Valley Community College

Yakima Valley, four hours away over a mountain pass, rural region, high percentage of Latino residents

Liaison for WCC at Yakima Valley Community College, a federally recognized Hispanic Serving Institution

Strong interest in Yakima physical therapy community for increased numbers of PTAs

Eastern WA Clinic PartnersMaintain an active PT/PTA consortium.

Donate facilities, equipment and supplies for PTA education.

Volunteer PT/PTA to serve faculty appointments and be ‘guest speakers’ for specialty skilled lab courses.

Majority are hiring students and paying for their PTA program in return for 2 years of work upon graduation with great pay and benefits.

Advantages of YVCC Partnership Students in PTA program from Yakima region,

able to complete didactic and practical courses in their region

Increases access Students do not need to relocate Students can continue working Students able to perform clinical education

courses in their region Community physical therapy business able to

hire local students on completion of their course of study

Outcomes and Results First cohort graduated 13

students in 2008 (4 from Eastern WA)

Second cohort of 23 students will graduate spring 2009 (8 from Eastern WA)

Third cohort of 27 students will graduate spring 2010 (10 from Eastern WA)

Fourth cohort of 20 students will graduate spring 2011 (6 from Eastern WA)

Where do our online students live?

Feedback Student feedback: WCC and YVCC Clinic feedback: “Things are going great. He is

very knowledgeable and has more experience than the physical therapy students that I have had here….I am having difficulty finding any areas that he needs to improve. Thanks for sending him here. We will hate to see him go.”

Faculty feedback: “I see an increase in critical thinking skills. This is reflected by comments from clinical instructors. I have a huge connection with the students.”

Governor’s Award 2008Workforce Best Practices Award for leadership and exemplary accomplishment in an initiative in the workforce development system

Inquiries from potential students

Where Are We Now

Accreditation process New Partnerships Alaska: University of Alaska, ASHNHA WA State CTCs

Questions?