Cornerstone College of Healthcare & Business

Healthcare, Wellness, Pharma Programs

• Personal Support Worker (PSW)
  The original PSW program standards were developed by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in Ontario, and the Ontario Community Support Association produced the original curriculum package. The NACC curriculum was developed in response to member requests to adhere to the highest standards. The current program, while originally based on the MOHLTC curriculum, has evolved to keep pace with the needs of the clients and PSWs. The program is reviewed annually to ensure that it continues to be relevant. The NACC program content, standards and guidelines, combined with the clinical component of the program, ensure that the graduates have the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful as a Personal Support Worker or Personal Attendant. The PSW will develop a skill/knowledge level that includes basic care and social service training. The scope of responsibilities for a Personal Support Worker is as follows: Cooperates with all members of the health team Promotes safety and works in a safe manner Assists with walking, movement and positioning Assists with mechanical and physical lifts and/or transfers Assists with all aspects of personal hygiene, including laundry related tasks Assists with meal preparation, grocery shopping, feeding, dietary planning, food handling Answers call bells Checks and records vital signs Teaches life skills Assists with range of motion exercise and other rehabilitative measures Practices universal precautions and maintains a clean working environment Provides emotional and social support services to care-receivers and their families Assists with oxygen therapy, hot and cold applications Provide first aid and tend to common allergies Work as a supportive care worker for palliative care and hospice patients Observes and reports clinical and treatment findings, behavioral changes along with changes in ongoing conditions Maintains records and documents procedures In everything personal support workers do, they aim to preserve the dignity, independence, privacy and desires of the people they care for. Where do they work? Personal support workers can be found in a variety of settings including (but not limited to): Hospitals, private care facilities, long-term care facilities group homes, doctor’s offices and community centres (for adult day programs). They can also be dedicated to one or several clients and work with them in their own homes. The NACC Personal Support Worker program provides quality education and training for aspiring PSWs. The NACC PSW Program contains the content to be taught, learning outcomes and skills competencies to be effective as a Personal Support Worker. Topics covered in the NACC PSW Program:

  • PSW Foundations
  • Safety and Mobility
  • Body Systems
  • Assisting with Personal Hygiene
  • Abuse and Neglect
  • Household Management, Nutrition and Hydration
  • Care Planning/Restorative Care/Documentation/Working in the Community
  • Assisting the Family, Growth and Development
  • Assisting the Dying Person
  • Assisting with Medications
  • Cognitive/Mental Health Issues and Brain Injuries
  • Health Conditions
• Physiotherapy Assistant & Occupational Therapy Assistant
  PTA/OTA provides a client-centered clinical care for assigned patients under the direction and supervision of a Physiotherapist/Occupational Therapists. The range of employment provided by the PTA/OTA depends upon the individual needs of each person they support and may include assistance in the patient’s physical demands such as walking, standing, lifting, bed mobility, and activities of daily living. They will gain knowledge on the use of assistive device and adaptive equipment such as cane, walker, wheelchair, and other seating, eating, and walking equipment. Types of Jobs:

  • Physiotherapist aide
  • Physiotherapy aide/assistant
  • Physical therapy aide/assistant
  • Physiotherapist attendant

  Pre-requisites/Requirements: First Semester:

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent

  Second Semester (Prior to starting on the job training):

  • First Aid
  • Record of immunization
  • Criminal Record check by employer

  Program Introduction The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) defines a physical therapist assistant as “an educated individual who works under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist.” A physical therapist assistant is considered by the association as the only individual who assists the physical therapist in the delivery of selected physical therapy interventions. The program is a combination of physical therapist assistant and occupational therapist assistant where an occupational therapist assistant works under the direction and supervision of the occupational therapist. The program earns a diploma upon the completion of both the classroom and clinical instructions and training. Graduates of the said program can work in a variety of work settings and environments such as the following: Acute Care Facilities, Primary Care Facilities, Subacute Care Facilities, Rehabilitation Hospitals, Chronic Care Facilities, Hospice Care Facilities, Home Health Care, Private Care Facilities and Schools. The Physical Therapist Assistant and Occupational Therapist Assistant Program are delivered for a period of one year. The students will deal with variety of patients and will be able to team up with the other members of the rehabilitation team (nurses, doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, etc..) Course Outline: I. Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology II. Kinesiology and Body Mechanics III. Medical Terminology IV. Therapeutic Exercises V. Rehabilitation Physical Therapy VI. Canadian Healthcare System VII. Electro physical Therapy VIII. Human Growth and Development IX. Clinical Practice of Physiotherapy X. Patient Care XI. First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation