Standards of Professional Peformance
Students enrolled in the DPTE must demonstrate professional behavior for both study and a career in the profession.
Characteristics key to the definition of professional behavior include those areas outlined below:
1. ethical conduct and honesty in all group and individual academic experiences;
2. integrity;
3. ability to recognize one’s limitations;
4. respect for oneself, and respect for others and their rights of privacy;
5. appreciation of and respect for cultural and value system differences among various ethnic and socioeconomic groups;
6. appropriate value judgments with respect to interpersonal relationships with peers, superiors, patients, and their families;
7. dress and appearance consistent with the professional role;
8. punctual and reliable attendance at all classes, clinical education experiences, and scheduled program activities, cooperation with professors, and adherence to test and assignment deadlines set by the faculty and staff.
Other characteristics of professional behavior include those described in the APTA document entitled "CORE VALUES FOR THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST AND PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT.” (APTA, September 2019) https://www.apta.org/apta-and-you/leadership-and-governance/policies/core-values-for-the-physical-therapist-and-physical-therapist-assistant
These characteristics include:
Accountability is active acceptance of the responsibility for the diverse roles, obligations, and actions of the physical therapist and physical therapist assistant including self‐regulation and other behaviors that positively influence patient and client outcomes, the profession, and the health needs of society.
Altruism is the primary regard for or devotion to the interest of patients and clients, thus assuming the responsibility of placing the needs of patients and clients ahead of the physical therapist’s or physical therapist assistant’s self‐interest.
Collaboration is working together with patients and clients, families, communities, and professionals in health and other fields to achieve shared goals. Collaboration within the physical therapist‐physical therapist assistant team is working together, within each partner’s respective role, to achieve optimal physical therapist services and outcomes for patients and clients.
Compassion and Caring: Compassion is the desire to identify with or sense something of another’s experience; a precursor of caring. Caring is the concern, empathy, and consideration for the needs and values of others.
Duty is the commitment to meeting one’s obligations to provide effective physical therapist services to patients and clients, to serve the profession, and to positively influence the health of society.
Excellence in the provision of physical therapist services occurs when the physical therapist and physical therapist assistant consistently use current knowledge and skills while understanding personal limits, integrate the patient or client perspective, embrace advancement, and challenge mediocrity.
Inclusion is creating a welcoming and equitable environment for all, providing a safe space, elevating diverse and minority voices, acknowledging personal biases that may impact patient care, and taking a position of anti-discrimination.
Integrity is steadfast adherence to high ethical principles or standards, being truthful, ensuring fairness, following through on commitments, and verbalizing to others the rationale for actions.
Social responsibility is the promotion of a mutual trust between the profession and the larger public that necessitates responding to societal needs for health and wellness.
source: https://www.apta.org/siteassets/pdfs/policies/core-values-endorsement.pdf
APTA Professionalism in PT: Core Values: Last updated: 9/14/2021