DPT Technical Standards

Trine University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status or age in the administration of any of its educational programs, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school-administered programs, or in employment. However, students are informed that the process of becoming a physical therapist requires the completion of a graduate education program which is intellectually, as well as physically, challenging. The candidate should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner and understand that reasonable accommodation does not mean that students with disabilities are exempt from certain tasks.

Student Compliance with Technical Standards 

Graduates of Trine University’s DPT program are prepared to serve as primary providers of physical therapy care.  The program is a complex and intensive course of study that places specific demands on students that closely resemble the physical and intellectual challenges graduates of the program will encounter as practicing physical therapists.  In order to function as clinical physical therapists, individuals must be able to meet certain physical, emotional, intellectual, and communication expectations for performance.

The purpose of technical standards is to delineate the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective skills and abilities deemed essential for matriculation into, continuation in, and graduation from the educational program.  Technical standards are necessary to create specific expectations for student performance in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical education environments.  Students are to familiarize themselves with these essential functions and determine whether or not they are able to perform the specified tasks.  Technical standards must be met with or without reasonable accommodations consistent with The Americans with Disability Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

• Psychomotor Skills
  Gross and fine motor skills are required to meet the responsibilities of a physical therapist student in a wide variety of educational and clinical settings.  A student must be able to perform motor movements required to provide general and emergency care to all patients.  These demands include reasonable endurance, strength, equilibrium, and precision.  A student must have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, diagnostic maneuvers and procedures, and other diagnostic manual maneuvers in a safe and effective manner.  A student must be able to execute general motor movement such as transferring/transporting, gait training, positioning of patients, physically restraining adults and children who lack motor control, and manual mobilizing techniques.

• Observation
  Observation is an essential component of evaluation and assessment for a physical therapist student.  In general, this requires functional use of vision, hearing, and somatic sensation including the ability to perceive position, pressure, movement, weight, and vibration.  A student must be able to demonstrate the following observational skills: examination of non-verbal patient communication, skin integrity, radiographic findings, graphic representations of data, changes in body position/movement, and gauges on equipment.  In the classroom, a student must be able to independently observe and participate in laboratory dissection of cadavers, the microscopic analysis of tissues, and lecture and laboratory demonstrations in all courses.

• Communication
  Effective and sensitive verbal, non-verbal, and written forms of communication must be demonstrated by a student.  This is necessary in order to elicit information; describe changes in mood, activity and posture; assess non-verbal communication, and be able to effectively and efficiently transmit information to patients, fellow students, faculty and staff, and all members of the health care team.

• Intellectual, Conceptual, and Integrative Abilities
  To effectively solve problems, a student must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate, and synthesize information in a timely manner.  A student must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures.  A student must be able to synthesize knowledge and integrate relevant aspects of the patient history and examination findings in order to develop an accurate physical therapy diagnosis and determine an effective treatment plan within reasonable time constraints imposed by the needs of the patient, the facility, and the standards of care.

• Affective, Behavioral, and Social Capabilities
  Empathy, compassion, integrity, honesty, concern for others, effective interpersonal skills, interest, commitment, and motivation are all required personal characteristics that a student must have.  A student must possess adequate mental and emotional health necessary for the full utilization of his/her intellectual abilities; the exercise of good judgment, academic honesty, maintenance of patient confidentiality, and the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the care of patients and course assignments; and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and others.  A student must also be able to tolerate taxing workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical situations.  A student is expected to be able to accept and reflect upon appropriate suggestions and criticisms and, if necessary, respond by modifying personal behaviors.  A student should also conduct him/herself at all times in a manner consistent with the American Physical Therapy Association Code of Ethics and Guide for Professional Conduct.