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HEALTHCARE EDUCATION HEALTHCARE EDUCATION HEALTHCARE EDUCATION

Why Health Services Administration Graduate Education?

The United States health knowledge and skills in interacting, and networking with peers, es. From these interactions and profes-
care industry is continuous- the health care industry. which is an experience facilitated in the sional meetings, there are countless
ly changing due to econom- These leaders become class environment. The first step is to opportunities and conversations that can
ic pressures, political issues, versed in the constant read daily newspapers, trade journals be held to expand professional acumen
and technological advance- changes in health care and business publications. This is fol- and discuss matters of the industry. To
ments. In order to maintain delivery, managed care, lowed by perusing professional materials enjoy a successful and fruitful career, it is
the viability and success of policy regulation, and the as well as reading books published by one’s responsibility to continue lifelong
organizations, health care workings of a diversified successful executives to broaden hori- professional education. You must deter-
managers must be fully cog- consumer environment. zons. In addition, the successful health mine the methodologies that work for
nizant of pending changes Classes are taught by expe- care leaders enhance their knowledge you and continually pursue these activi-
and the implications of rienced health profession- base by studying the advances in other ties. Only you control your professional
these changes for their als and are conveniently industries and determining how these destiny!
organization. This keen scheduled on campus on management advances might be applied
awareness will allow them BY ALAN S. select weekends or fully to their health care organization.
to envision the future in WHITEMAN, PH.D., online to meet the needs of The next major step in the venture of For information regarding professional
order to plot the organiza- LIFE FACMPE working professionals. continuing education is to develop net- education in health services administration
tion’s route through rough Students in this program working skills and relationships. It is of contact Dr. Alan Whiteman, Associate
waters. The only way to stem from varied back- the utmost importance to attend func- Program Director, Health Management
focus and prepare for pending change is grounds including physicians, nurses, tions where a health care manager can Programs, College of Business, Florida
through continuous education and earn- therapists, social workers, business lead- interact with his/her peers. This interac- Atlantic University, at Emha.fau.edu.
ing an advanced degree, such as an ers and others. They have chosen health tion allows one to glean information,
Executive Master’s Degree in Health care administration because it provides exchange data and use peers as a sound-
Administration. challenges and rewards not available in ing board for new concepts or approach-
Florida Atlantic University’s (FAU) other careers.
Executive Master’s Degree in Health All healthcare leaders need to develop
Services Administration is designed to continuing education skills through var-
meet the needs of health professionals in ious means. Successful health care lead- Physical Therapy and Physical
developing and enhancing the requisite ers identify issues and trends by reading,
Therapy Assisting – In Demand!

Visit us on the web at
BY DR. ZAHRA A. WEAVER,
www.southfloridahospitalnews.com PT, DPT, MHSA
www.southfloridahospitalnews.com

Physical Therapy is a dynamic, licensed, allied health profession with an
established theoretical and scientific foundation. The profession credits Mary
MacMillian with formalizing it in the United States circa 1921.
The field has widespread clinical applications and is focused on the restora-
tion, maintenance and promotion of physical function and movement for
individuals across the lifespan and anywhere on the physical health spec-
trum. Care can be delivered in a multitude of settings ranging from hospitals
to a patient’s home.
Physical therapy includes mediums of care such as active or passive exer-
cises, gait and balance training, the use of physical agents to decrease pain,
and tissue and joint manipulation to increase range of motion and improve
quality of life. The field also offers specializations in areas such as orthope-
dics, geriatrics, neurology, pediatrics, manual therapy, and healthcare policy
and leadership.
While a physical therapist (PT) must develop a patient’s plan of care and
formulates the therapy diagnosis through a comprehensive evaluation
process, physical therapist assistants (PTAs) are tasked to carry out an estab-
lished plan of care under the direction of a PT. The relationship between
these two members of the profession is vital to the delivery of physical ther-
apy services.
The Right DDirection
The year 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the first PTA graduates. PTA
Brighteer Future. has emerged to not only be vital to physical therapy delivery, but is a well-
for a
established, respected, and in demand profession. While PTs must possess a
clinical doctorate degree to practice, which may take up to six years, PTA
graduates with an Associate of Science, or an Applied Associate of Science,
Visit us at and is able to practice immediately following the passage of the licensure
exam.
soouthuniversity.edu/wwestpalmbeach This makes entry into the profession of physical therapy extremely attrac-
Call us at 1..866.242.1840 tive. Per the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy education,
there were over 300 PTA programs throughout the country in 2019.
As the Program Director at South University’s West Palm Beach campus
(SUWPB), located in beautiful Royal Palm Beach Florida, SUWPB offers an
Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant.
The program can be completed in 9 quarters. With the Bureau of Labor
Statistics projecting PTA employment to grow 31% by 2026
(https://www.bls.gov/oes/2018/may/oes312021.htm#nat), and the median
salary being $57,430 as of 2017’s data, it is a valuable profession well worth
considering.
Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options vary by
school and are subject to change. South University, West Palm Beach,
University Centre, 9801 Belvedere Rd., Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411. © 2019
South University. All rights reserved. Licensed by the Florida Commission for
r P og r ams , cr eden tial lev els , t echnology , and scheduling opttions v ar y b y school and ar e subjec tt o change . Independent Education, License No. 2987.
S outh Univ ersit , y W est P alm B eachh, Univ ersit y C en tr e , 9801 B elv eder e R d ., R y o al P alm B each, FL 334111. © 2020 S outh Univ ersit y . A ll r igh ts r eser v ed .
Lic ensed b y the F lor ida C ommission or Ionf ndependen tE duca tion, Lic ense No . 2987.

30 February 2020 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News