Summary
The Physical Therapy Assistant is responsible for treatment, record documentation and teaching of therapeutic programs. The assistant is also responsible for accurate and effective communication with referral sources, patients and the support staff. Finally, the therapist assistant is responsible for direct supervision of the clinical support team and provides treatment, care, and safety of patients regardless of race, creed, age (e.g. infants, children, adolescents, adults, geriatrics, age 0 - 120 years) gender or disability without bias or prejudice.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Provide treatment for clients not limited to joint assessment, musculoskeletal functions, sensorimotor skills, functional and work abilities.
Carry out a treatment plan based on data collected as well as monitor and modify plan to achieve goals.
Provide physical therapy techniques not limited to ROM, joint mobilization, massage, myofascial release, traction, vestibular rehab, balance training, dressing changes, and job simulation.
Utilize thermal and electrical physical agent modalities not limited to providing hot/cold packs, ultrasound, phonophoresis, TENS, NMES, iontophoresis.
Communicate effectively with staff regarding client's condition, and also may include their physician, rehab nurse, case manager, employer and family members to ensure consistent quality physical therapy services.
Participates in administration of the assigned facility as requested by Manager of Physical Therapy.
Maintains a working knowledge of current rehabilitation techniques and procedures, including knowledge of therapeutic equipment, proper operation and maintenance.
Practices physical therapy in accordance with all company policies which shall always represent currently approved methods and standards of practice as defined by the American Physical Therapy Association.
Practices in compliance with the currently approved and published guidelines of Professional Conduct and Codes of Ethics of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Maintains confidentiality of all current and former patients as defined by company policy.
Delivers patient care under the referral of a physician licensed to practice in the State of Louisiana.
Administers physical therapy techniques relative to indications, precautions and contraindications.
Administers physical therapy treatment with regard to patient's social, psychological and emotional status.
Documents the patient's medical record on subsequent follow-up visits in a professionally acceptable method, using Cerner our current EMR system.
Reports any and all changes in the patient's condition to the Managing Physical Therapist.
Assist the support team in maintaining a safe and comfortable working environment. Reports problems and suggestions to the Manager of Physical Therapy.
Directly supervises all patient care provided by any member of the support team
Administers appropriate charges for services rendered based on the company standard fee schedule.
Core Competencies
Action Orientation - Targets and achieves results, overcomes obstacles, accepts responsibility, establishes standards and responsibilities, creates a results-oriented environment, and follows through on actions.
Communications - Communicates well both verbally and in writing. Effectively conveys and shares information and ideas with others. Listens carefully and understands various viewpoints. Presents ideas clearly and concisely and understands relevant detail in presented information.
Creativity/Innovation - Generates novel ideas and develops or improves existing and new systems that challenge the status quo, takes risks, and encourages innovation.
Critical Judgment - Possesses the ability to define issues and focus on achieving workable solutions. Consistently does the right thing by performing with reliability.
Customer Orientation - Listens to customers, builds customer confidence, increases customer satisfaction, ensures commitments are met, sets appropriate customer expectations, and responds to customer needs.
Interpersonal Skills - Effectively and productively engages with others and establishes trust, credibility, and confidence with others.
Leadership - Motivates, empowers, inspires, collaborates with, and encourages others. Builds consensus when appropriate. Focuses team members on common goals.
Teamwork - Knows when and how to attract, develop, reward, and utilize teams to optimize results. Acts to build trust, inspire enthusiasm, encourage others, and help resolve conflicts and develop consensus in creating high-performance teams.
Professional Requirements
Adheres to dress code policy.
Completes annual education requirements.
Maintains regulatory requirements.
Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
Reports to work on time and as scheduled, completes work within designated time.
Wears identification while on duty, uses computerized punch time system correctly.
Completes in-services and returns in a timely fashion.
Attends annual review and department in-services, as scheduled.
Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.
Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
Communicates the mission, ethics and goals of the hospital, as well as the focus statement of the department.
Promotes professional growth of subordinates by sharing knowledge and/or directing them to sources if information appropriate to given situation. Utilizes journals, books, etc. to learn and/or improve new techniques and equipment.
Assists other staff members in performing any duty that enhances the delivery of patient care.
Regulatory Requirements
Associate degree or higher from an accredited school.
Current Physical Therapy Assistant License as required by the state regulatory agency.
BLS certification required.
Skills
Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
Basic computer knowledge.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and requires repetitive motions, standing, walking, bending, kneeling and stooping all day. The employee must frequently lift or move items weighing up to 100 pounds.