The Library provides books, magazines, journals, newspapers, CD-ROMs, videos, online databases, and other materials for your research needs. In addition to our collection, we offer one-on-one reference assistance and classes in research strategies and skills.

This Research Guide is designed to help you become familiar with some of the Physical Therapy resources available from the Miami Dade College, Medical Center Campus Library. If you need assistance, please contact a librarian by phone at (305) 237-4087 or by email/chat.

PREAMBLE

This document of the American Physical Therapy Association sets forth standards for the ethical conduct of the physical therapist assistant. All physical therapist assistants are responsible for maintaining high standards of conduct while assisting physical therapists. The physical therapist assistant shall act in the best interest of the patient/client. These standards of conduct shall be binding on all physical therapist assistants.

STANDARD 1
A physical therapist assistant shall respect the rights and dignity of all individuals and shall provide compassionate care.

STANDARD 2
A physical therapist assistant shall act in a trustworthy manner towards patients/clients.

STANDARD 3
A physical therapist assistant shall provide selected physical therapy interventions only under the supervision and direction of a physical therapist.

STANDARD 4
A physical therapist assistant shall comply with laws and regulations governing physical therapy.

STANDARD 5
A physical therapist assistant shall achieve and maintain competence in the provision of selected physical therapy interventions.

STANDARD 6
A physical therapist assistant shall make judgments that are commensurate with their educational and legal qualifications as a physical therapist assistant.

STANDARD 7
A physical therapist assistant shall protect the public and the profession from unethical, incompetent, and illegal acts.

American Physical Therapy Association, Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapy Assistant.

American Massage Therapy Association, Code of Ethics.

Search the Library Catalog to find print books, ebooks and media, such as videos, CDs, CD-ROMs, and audio cassettes.

*Please note: Our electronic resources have restricted access and are only available to Miami Dade College students, faculty or staff with a current login. 

Most universities and colleges use the Library of Congress Classification System to organize their materials. Items are arranged A-Z, with each letter corresponding to a subject area. Most physical therapy materials are shelved in the following areas:

Following is a list of journals relevant to the Physical Therapy program and related fields subscribed to by the Miami Dade College, Medical Center Campus. By following the link, you can find the latest issue received by the library and other holding information.

American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT)

Drug Topics

Journal of Allied Health (contact the Library for passwords for online access to fulltext articles)  

Journal of the American Medical Association(JAMA) (contact the Library for passwords for online access to fulltext articles)  

Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy (contact the Library for passwords for online access to fulltext articles)  

Journal of Physical Therapy Education

Massage & Bodywork

New England Journal of Medicine (online access to fulltext articles is available only in the library)

Physical Therapy (online access to fulltext articles is available only in the library)

PT Magazine

Following is a list of Physical Therapy Journals available on the web. The Library does not currently subscribe to print copies of these journals. 

Advance for Physical Therapists and PT Assistants: fulltext articles from February 5, 1996 - present are available.

Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association: fulltext articles from January 1999-present are available.

Lancet: selected articles from June 1996-present are freely available from the publisher's website at http://www.thelancet.com. Fulltext from January 1991-present available via Academic Search Premier and Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition; fulltext from March 1990-present available via General Reference Center Gold, Health & Wellness Resource Center and InfoTrac OneFile.

Massage Magazine: selected fulltext articles from March/April 2000-present.

Massage Therapy Journal: selected fulltext articles from Winter 1999-present.

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: fulltext from July 1989-present available via Health & Wellness Resource Center and InfoTrac OneFile; fulltext from July 1996-present available via Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition and Academic search Premier.

PT Bulletin Online: fulltext articles from January 14, 2000-present are available.

Miami Dade College's Libraries subscribe to a number of online databases that provide access to full text reference materials, such as medical dictionaries, and to periodicals, such as journals and magazines.

Please note: Our electronic resources have restricted access and are only available to MDC students, faculty or staff with a current login

Click here for descriptions of the health & medicine databases & tutorials on how to login & search them.

Click here to go to the login screen.

American Heart Association 2005 Guidelines for CPR and ECC

What you will find: provides a summary of changes and webcasts on the 2005 American Heart Association guidelines for CPR and ECC for 3 different populations: hospitals, EMS, and the community.

Career Guidance Resources on the Internet  

What you will find: provides links to the websites for Occupational Outlook Handbook, Florida Health Careers, Choices Planner and other related sites.

The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy

What you will find: provides information on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).

Florida Department of Health: Massage Therapy Board Overview

What you will find: provides licensure information and Florida laws and statutes related to massage therapy.

Florida Department of Health: Physical Therapy Board Overview

What you will find: provides licensure information, continuing education information, and Florida laws and statutes related to physical therapy.

Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body

What you will find: features 1,247 vibrant engravings—many in color—from the classic 1918 publication.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

What you will find: links to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance procedures.

Healthy People 2010

What you will find: a statement of national health objectives designed to identify the most significant preventable threats to health and to establish national goals to reduce these threats. 

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations

What you will find: the United State's predominant standards-setting and accrediting body for health care organizations and programs.

KidsHealth for Parents: Physical Therapy

What you will find: describes what physical therapy is and when and where physical therapy might help a child.

Learn CPR

What you will find: provides illustrated guides on performing CPR on adults, children, infants, and pets. Video demonstration also provided.

Massage: A Relaxing Way to Relieve Muscle Tension

What you will find: provides information on different types of massage from Swedish to Sports to Neuromuscular, information on what to expect during a massage and information on the benefits of massage for a number of health conditions.

Massage Therapy.com

What you will find: provides a massage therapist directory, information about careers in massage, a massage and bodywork glossary of terminology, and other information on the benefits of massage.

MedlinePlus

What you will find: includes a Medical Encyclopedia, Medical Dictionary, Interactive Tutorials on common procedures and conditions, and Doctor and Dentist Directories.

MERCKSource Resource Library

What you will find: includes A.D.A.M. Health Illustrated Encyclopedia, Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, Merck Manuals, and the PDR Family Guide to Over-the-Counter Drugs.

National Center on Physical Activity and Disability

What you will find: provides information on aquatic therapy, exercise guidelines for people with disabilities, exercises for children, flexibility exercises for older adults, and other information on fitness and exercise.

National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork

What you will find: provides study resources and other information on the National Certification Exam.

Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma: Physical Therapy Corner

What you will find: provides a listing of common sports injuries and physical therapy exercises that can be performed to treat the injuries.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

What you will find: provides health standards, regulations, and inspections to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths.

PhysicalTherapist.com

What you will find: provides job listings, clinic listings, a message board and links to news and other relevant information.

Physical Therapy: The Web Space

What you will find: provides a listing of sites that deal with diseases, injuries, and conditions that are often seen by physical therapists, such as hip replacement, carpal tunnel syndrome, multiple sclerosis, etc.

PTCentral

What you will find: provides career information, job listings, and other current news and events relevant to physical therapy.

Real Bodywork: Massage Learning Center

What you will find: created by Sean Riehl, this site links to information and video clips on conditions and muscles that can be treated with massage therapy.

Student Success Center (SSC), Medical Campus, Miami Dade College

What you will find:  provides a listing of computer based tutoring programs accessible from computers in the Medical Campus Library and in SSC. SSC also offers online and face-to-face tutoring services. For more information on any of these services or programs, contact SSC at (305) 237-4499.

Touch Research Institutes

What you will find: founded by Dr. Tiffany Field of the University of Miami, the Touch Research Institute is dedicated to studying the effects of touch therapy and researches the effects of massage therapy at all stages of life from newborns to senior citizens.