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How exposed to AI is a Physical Therapist Aide?

Of the 19 tasks O*NET lists for physical therapist aides, 1 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 15 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Physical Therapist Aide (PTA)Physical Therapy Aide (PTA)PT Attendant (Physical Therapy Attendant)PT Tech (Physical Therapist Technician)PT Tech (Physical Therapy Technician)Rehabilitation AideRehabilitation AttendantRehabilitation Technician (Rehabilitation Tech)Restorative Aide (RA)Therapy Aide
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
19
tasks rated for this occupation
19%
hold a degree, from a survey of only 19
42k
people do this job in the US
10 of 19
least protected in healthcare support

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

1
  • Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms

Only with software built on top

3
  • Record treatment given and equipment used
  • Schedule patient appointments with physical therapists and coordinate therapists' schedules
  • Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment

Cannot be sped up

15
  • Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment
  • Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff
  • Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, or heat, light, sound, water, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound
  • Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support
  • Change linens, such as bed sheets and pillow cases
  • Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment
  • Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist
  • Arrange treatment supplies to keep them in order
  • Maintain equipment or furniture to keep it in good working condition, including performing the assembly or disassembly of equipment or accessories
  • Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings
  • Measure patient's range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations
  • Administer traction to relieve neck or back pain, using intermittent or static traction equipment
  • Train patients to use orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices
  • Fit patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices, adjusting fit as needed
  • Participate in patient care tasks, such as assisting with passing food trays, feeding residents, or bathing residents on bed rest
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.