Doctor of Physical Therapy – Essential Functions

The learner must have the ability to observe a patient at a distance and up close. Observation requires a combination of vision and somatic sense functions and may necessitate the sense of smell.

The learner must have functional hearing to actively listen to patients’ past medical history and present complaints. Communication requires the ability to identify both verbal and non-verbal cues to qualify a patient’s mood, activity, and posture. The learner must demonstrate the ability to communicate sensitively, effectively, and efficiently in all forms (oral, written, and non-verbal) with patients and all members of the healthcare team.

The learner must be able to perform gross and fine motor movements competently to complete a physical examination using a variety of physical examination techniques. The learner must develop sufficient psychomotor skills necessary to perform physical therapy interventions, which includes the management and operation of therapeutic healthcare equipment in the general practice of a physical therapist. Gross and fine motor movements and psychomotor skills must be performed in a coordinated manner, without a loss of equilibrium. The learner must demonstrate physical and mental stamina to meet the demands associated with extended periods of sitting, standing, moving, lifting, and physical exertion required for patient care and classroom/laboratory settings.

The learner must be able to develop and refine problem solving and reasoning skills required as a physical therapist. This includes gathering data, calculation, analysis, and synthesizing information for practical application and patient-focused care. The learner must demonstrate the ability to comprehend spatial relationships and applied physics in a three-dimensional space. The learner must have the ability to comprehend and integrate evidence from the literature to cognitively make decisions and reflect metacognitively on decisions to adapt and collaborate with patients and colleagues.

Flexibility, compassion, integrity, motivation, effective interpersonal skills, and a genuine concern for others are attributes required of the physical therapist. The learner must possess the emotional health and stability required for full utilization of intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, timely completion of all responsibilities related to patient/client management, and development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients, support members, and other members of the healthcare team. Emotional health and stability optimize the learner’s ability to tolerate physically tiring loads and still perform under stress, demonstrate adaptability through uncertainty or changing environments, accept critical feedback to improve performance, and handle difficult interpersonal situations or conversations.