In: Nursing
The PTA works for a skilled nursing facility and is frequently encouraged to bill patients for enough time so that they qualify for the highest Medicare payment allowed. The PT and PTA talk and decide that one of the patients is unable to work the amount of time that the manager is requesting. What are the ethical dilemmas presented in this scenario and what options do the PT and PTA have regarding this situation?
Ans) A PTA shall not supervise a physical therapy aide performing patient-related tasks. Aide—A licensed physical therapist may utilize the services of one aide to provide assistance in patient-related tasks.
- Reporting an unethical physical therapist:
File a complaint (such as an ethics complaint) with the licensing
board in your state: Complaints (such as an ethics complaint)
against a PT or PTA can be filed with the State Licensing Board
Disciplinary Agency. Each state has a process and legal authority
to address such complaints.
- Provide guidance for physical therapists facing ethical challenges, regardless of their professional roles and responsibilities. Physical therapist practice is guided by a set of seven core values: accountability, altruism, compassion/caring, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility.
- The Standards of Physical Therapy Practice are WCPT's statement of performance and conditions that they expect physical therapists to aspire to in order to provide high quality physical therapy professional services to society. They provide the foundation for the assessment of physical therapy practice.