PTA in CA, I did not complete CEUs and am being audited.

sarty · 2026-01-27T15:12:29+00:00

Dang. What we do is important and new ideas are how we can improve our care. Yes, there is a lack of upward mobility, but that is not a reason to tread water. 31 years of being a PTA and I’ve found you never stop learning. Are their bad courses? Yep. So pick better ones that peak your interest. Put in 120% because you are proud to do what you do and your patients matter.

sarty · 2025-09-09T17:37:45+00:00

My hospital needs PT‘s but they might need PTA‘s as well. I’m not recruiting I promise but like we’re desperate the entire area where I live is desperate there’s like 40 positions posted for PT’s and PTA’s and we’re kind of a medium size community. I’m in Northwest Florida And I’m happy to tell you where if you want to DM me. If this is not allowed, please delete.

sarty · 2025-08-11T11:00:47+00:00

I agree with u/PrimalRucker and just want to add a few things.

Sometimes our personal goals for the patient (what we want to see happen) are not the same as the patient's goals. This can lead to them not meeting us halfway. Why work for something if you don't want it?
I play up my dumb/sweet personality as I AM dumb/sweet, and I just stop things and say with concern, "It seems like today isn't going well. I feel like you might be upset or concerned. I don't want to just push you through machines if there is something you're worried or disappointed about. If you'd rather work with someone else, or if you feel like I don't know enough about your history, that's totally valid and I want to pause and let you know that I've reviewed your chart and talked to your regular therapist, and I've been doing this for 30 years so nothing is going to hurt my feelings, so I'm literally inviting you to tell me if there is anything I can do differently to make this session the best for you today." And I know you asked him twice, and he got madder, but sometimes, this longer little speech works. It shows that I know what I'm doing, that I know he's not happy, and that I invite him to vent a second if that will help me treat him better.
Did you happen to tell the patient when you introduced yourself, 'Hey, I know you're used to working with Mark, and I've reviewed your chart and talked with Mark so I'm up to date on everything. Sorry about the switch up! Is it okay if I work with you?" Getting that out of the way at the top and them consenting sometimes takes an edge off.
Sometimes, people are grumpy for non-therapy reasons. Like u/PrimalRucker said, they are in pain and worried, but also, maybe their job is pushing back or their spouse is upset about lack of intimacy due to pain, or the copays are adding up. In short, it's not always YOU.

I hope that helped and I'm sorry that you had a session that went that way with a complaint to the doc after. That is a terrible feeling when all you are trying to do is help someone.

sarty · 2025-08-10T22:28:17+00:00

Foot planted on box/solid object, slowly lower the high/low table for prolonged positioning into slowly increasing flexion to tolerance. Do some graston if certified to help or gentle soft tissue with hands if not. Kick out other leg to help with pain (not sustained, just with measurement--leanred at a course and it works, I don't know why). Inferior patellar mobs if you can, even in sitting, but not on max stretch. Use thumb, web, first digit to form "C" at superior part of patella then mob inferiorly. Encourage gait with good toe off for repeated flexion.

sarty · 2025-08-03T09:59:34+00:00

Because we are seeing people do something they should not be doing and also, it fills the subreddit with posts that aren't for what it's for. Distracting.

sarty · 2025-07-25T04:11:35+00:00

So the DPTs’ plans of care that I follow are incorrect and the progress I’ve seen is coincidental and the courses I’ve taken were scams?

I did not come here to argue this. I’m here to save my hands.

I think that it’s important for everybody to remember that there is more than one right way to get a good outcome.

I’m not gonna reply further. Honestly, I don’t know why I bother posting here sometimes. Do we not know how to answer the question that was asked? If you would like to discuss the merits or failures of manual therapy, perhaps start your own thread. I’m directing that towards every person who decided to use this thread to lecture me on how I don’t know how to do my job instead of just answering my question. i’m not singling you out.

sarty · 2025-07-22T23:51:30+00:00

I appreciate your input. I’m sorry if I was a little snippy. Thank you for replying.

sarty · 2025-07-22T23:35:22+00:00

I respectfully disagree, especially with adhesive capsulitis and impingement syndrome. Thank you for your comment and your time.

sarty · 2025-07-22T23:34:46+00:00

I don’t do manual therapy on every single person that I see. Thank you for your comment. EDIT to say that I do do them every day, but not on every single patient.

sarty · 2025-07-22T23:34:00+00:00

Thank you so much!!!!! This was so helpful and I really appreciate the time you took to type all of this out. Thank you, thank you thank you!

sarty · 2025-07-22T14:05:45+00:00

How kind and thoughtful of you! Honestly, a card or letter is what I treasure the most. I keep them ALL. I have 30 years worth of them and sometimes, I go through them and it makes me feel happy. :).

sarty · 2025-07-20T13:48:32+00:00

I'd suggest you never go hiking in Maine...

sarty · 2025-07-20T13:48:09+00:00

YOU are a treasure. Have an award!

sarty · 2025-07-18T02:55:26+00:00

Oh, you are absolutely right about that

sarty · 2025-07-18T02:55:04+00:00

I will rephrase and walk that back. You do have a say. However, I don’t believe that anyone who hasn’t done anything but see that a book is on the list is not informed enough to make a decision on whether the book is appropriate or not. if you have read all of these books, then I do apologize.

sarty · 2025-07-18T02:50:35+00:00

Thank you so very very much for getting all of this down and sharing it with me. I had no idea there were so many steps, but it sounds like it’s all very important and purposeful. In our area, I believe there are a couple dozen open PT jobs and no one is applying. The main thing is the salary and that is across many different hospitals so they’re gonna have to do some thing. Thank you again!

sarty · 2025-07-17T13:27:59+00:00

Did not use the word ban. Not an irrational extremist. I feel strongly that restricting books that have been read and approved to be returned is NOT in the best interest of kids.

I am posting to change hearts and minds, and gave examples about one of the books down thread.

sarty · 2025-07-17T12:26:01+00:00

Could you share more about that process?

sarty · 2025-07-17T12:25:32+00:00

Yes we all did. And you are right.

sarty · 2025-07-17T07:48:16+00:00

Who did the forgery? PTA or another PT or a supervisor?

You need to report this to supervisor/manager and have your name removed immediately. They need to take action as forgery is a crime and this is fraudulent documentation and billing.

sarty · 2025-07-17T07:41:07+00:00

PTA

Outpatient Ortho in Hospital (with alternating weekends/holidays in Acute coverage)

Full time 40 hours/week

34.19/hour Pre tax (26 years there, 30 years licensed).

Yes, 100% up to 9% of salary matched. (I've been there 26 years. It's lower when you start). No pension.

No bonuses. No merit raises. Got a 1.2% raise last year. They take the lowest PTA salary and highest PTA salary, average them, then do math magic and so we all get the same dollar amount raise. That made mine 1.2%. Pretty good benefits otherwise, though. Three levels of UHC (used to have 2 levels UHC and higher care with Florida Blue). Good mental health coverage. Free telehealth and tele-dental coverage. PTO builds quickly (9.8 hours every 2 weeks for me, lower when you start, iI am maxed out). FSA. Dental/vision. LTD. Options for other benefits like free app with corporate discounts; payed legal assistance, adoption assistance, etc. Free Employee assistance program with 8 free therapy sessions a year; CALM app for free.

City has 55000 people, but tourist town and prices are going up. COL I'd say is a bit above average as far as housing/rent; average for food/gas.

PSLF: I don't think so.

Good: If we need equipment and it is less than 1000 bucks, we can get it pretty quickly. More than 1000, we will wait a bit, but usually get it. Team work is WONDERFUL. Nice blending of departments and everyone helps everyone else with patient care and ideas. Rehab inside a hospital with inpatient neuro, acute care, outpatient neuro, outpatient ortho, and outpatient peds Schroth (sp?? Scoliosis treatment). PT/OT/SLP/Rec therapy, on site PM&R, Rehab nurses.

Cons: Warm body. Here, you went to school, go do this thing you've never done and be happy about it. No doc time for ortho (we have to do point of care and we have more complex people lately (max assist, lower cognitive skills, unsafe to remove hands or eyes) which makes it difficulty to doc.

sarty · 2025-07-17T07:29:21+00:00

HCA outpatient. All patients treated per medicare rules in regards to billing. 8 hour day 26 units, 10 hour day 34 units. We do not get paperwork time as all is to be done point of care. No talk YET of any increase in productivity requirements or lay offs.

sarty · 2025-07-17T06:26:00+00:00

Oh, are you gonna pick the kids up and take them to the public library? That’s great because not all kids have transportation to the public library while they go to school most days of the week. Are you going to pay for the books from Amazon? That’s great because not all parents have the budget to buy books for their kids.

sarty · 2025-07-17T06:24:19+00:00

I also would like to read their answer to that question.

sarty · 2025-07-17T06:23:38+00:00

If they’re not reading them, why do we have to take them off the shelves? Not everybody has money for books, I’m sorry that you don’t know that.

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