2. WHAT DO PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPISTSWHAT DO PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPISTS
DO?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.
3. EDUCATIONEDUCATION LEVEL &LEVEL & INTERNSHIPINTERNSHIP
OPPORTUNITIESOPPORTUNITIES
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
4. SKILLSSKILLS
REQUIRED/REQUIRED/
QUALIFICATIONSQUALIFICATIONS
NEEDEDNEEDED
•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)*
6. 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
VS.VS.
“Care e rCast ranke d physicalthe rapy #2 fo r m o st allaro und satisfying pro fe ssio n. ”
7. Work Environment: a
hospital facility.
CHILDREN’SCHILDREN’S
HOSPITAL OFHOSPITAL OF
PITTSBURGH OFPITTSBURGH OF
UPMCUPMC
PITTSBURGH, PA
8. WORK ATTIREWORK ATTIRE
Physical 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.
9. HOURSHOURS
▪ Typically works a flexible 40-hour week, with some weekends and evenings
required.
SALARYSALARY
•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.
10. EMPLOYEEEMPLOYEE
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:
11. HOWDOES PSYCHOLOGY APPLY TO MYHOWDOES PSYCHOLOGY APPLY TO MY
CAREER?CAREER?
▪ ABNORMAL PSYCHABNORMAL PSYCH – deals with abnormal behaviors and disorders, such as
developmental disorder.
▪ BEHAVIORAL PSYCHBEHAVIORAL 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 PSYCHSOCIAL PSYCH – seeks to explain and understand how we relate to one another.
▪ SPORTSPSYCHSPORTSPSYCH – Deals with how psychology influences sports, physical activity
and exercise.
▪ HEALTH PSYCHHEALTH PSYCH – It focuses on promoting health
12. SOURCESSOURCES
HEALTHHEALTH COVERAGECOVERAGE:
• https://www.emergencyresourcemanagement.com/ext/advanced/Benefits_Overview_2012.pdf
▪ http://extra.upmc.com/SPD/SPDHealthWelfare.pdf
INFORMATION: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
