Physical Therapist Assistant

Description

Job Duties (include, but are not limited to the following):

1. Provides direct physical therapy according to directions of physical therapist and in accordance with the plan of care.
2. Treats patient to relieve pain, develop or restore function, and maintain maximum performance.
3. Instructs patient and family members, as well as other health team members, during certain phases of physical therapy in which they may work with the patient.  
4. Directs and aids patients in active and passive therapeutic exercises, muscle reeducation, gait and functional training, transfer activities and prosthetic training.
5. Administers the exercise program utilizing specialized therapeutic exercise techniques and equipment. 
6. Utilizes physical agents, including, but not limited to, heat, cold, water, light, electricity, ultrasound and massage.
7. Observes and reports to the physical therapist and the Organization personnel the patients reaction to treatment and any changes in patients condition.
8. Instructs patients in care and use of wheelchairs, braces, crutches, canes, and prosthetic or orthotic devices.
9. Maintains necessary records, clinical notes and conference notes, which will be incorporated into the patients clinical record in prescribed time frames.
10. Keeps his/her immediate supervisor informed of problem areas and makes suggestions for improvement.
11. Attends and contributes to in-services, clinical records reviews, meetings required to ensure coordinated and comprehensive plans of care for the patients of the agency.
12. The Physical Therapist will be accessible by phone to the physical therapy assistants at all times while the physical therapy assistant is treating patients.
13. Complies with Homecare Agency Compliance Plan.
14. Complies with Homecare Agency’s Infection Control Policies.
15. Complies with Homecare Agency’s HIPAA Policies.

Working Environment:

Field experience may expose employee to temperature extremes, physical injury by patient, family, animal or other in the community, unsafe environment or exposure to infectious diseases and offensive odors.

1. Equipment and Supplies: Prudent and efficient use of routine office supplies and equipment. Prudent and efficient use of routine medical supplies, sphygmomanometer and stethoscope, and equipment. All the preceding items should be protected from theft and weather at all times.
2. Knowledge and Competency: Must demonstrate basic knowledge of all procedures included in the Physical Therapy description. Must have the ability to follow instructions from the physician, Nursing Supervisor, Physical Therapist and other professional staff. Ability to communicate effectively with managers, patients, families and co-workers. Must have effective means of transportation, which will enable employee to make visits to patients’ homes if needed. Must be able to assess safety of home situations for self, patients, and other staff members, including physical and psychological dangers. Must have the ability to effectively cope with patients, families and all others with varying backgrounds, socioeconomic conditions, and value judgments. Skills include the ability to use cognizant approach to problem solving in delivering patient care with considerations being given to the patient’s past experience, finances and other resources. Skills are needed to assess both physical and psychological needs of patients and institute the appropriate nursing intervention. Must possess ingenuity to handle medical and situational emergencies.
3. Maintains confidentiality of information relating to patient. Will discuss only those aspects necessary to care and treatment of patient with those directly involved in the patient’s care.
4. Physical Demands: Must be able to complete all physical demands of the job, which may include, but not be limited to: the ability to lift and transfer patients, carry supplies, and read normal typewritten print. Have corrected vision and hearing within normal range and have manual dexterity with normal range of motion of all extremities. May be requested to work weekends, holidays, and occasional overtime. Must be able to work alone without usual support systems immediately available in acute care settings. Must have the ability to deal with abrupt schedule changes and to maintain objectivity in coping with the stress of working with acute, chronic and terminally ill patients. 
5. Image Responsibility: Complies with the Homecare Agency dress code, projects a professional attitude toward self, patients, and other staff members, and follows department public relation policies regarding outside speaking and professional affiliations, clearing all such requests through Homecare Agency. 

Requirements

Qualifications:

A person who is:

1. Licensed as a physical therapist assistant by the State in which practicing, if applicable, and
2. Has graduated from a physical therapy curriculum approved by:

• The American Physical Therapy Association; or 
• The Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association; or 
• The Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association and the American Physical Therapy Association; or 
• The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education

If trained outside the United States: 

1. Was graduated since 1928 from a physical therapy curriculum approved in the country in which the curriculum was located and in which there is a member organization of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy; 
2. Meets the requirements for membership in a member organization of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy.