Physical Therapist Assistant

Job Summary:
The Physical Therapy Assistant will assume responsibility and accountability for providing physical therapy modalities and treatment procedures as determined by a treatment plan of care established by a Physical Therapist.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides patient/resident care and assessment in accordance with established practice standards and facility/departmental policies:
• Provides care per physician's orders and plan of care developed by evaluating therapist.
• Takes measurements of patient's/client's status, within the limits of his/her licensure and ability, as appropriate in providing care and to assist in assessing the effectiveness of care.
• Maintains communication and collaboration with the evaluating therapist, to promote maximum benefits from therapy. Summarizes patient performance according to established goals.
• Implements education plan as outlined by the evaluating therapist, determines additional educational needs of the patient/client, family, caregiver or significant other as they arise and in collaboration with the evaluating therapist provides education to meet those needs.
• Follows plan for discharge and discusses with the evaluating therapist any additional discharge concerns which may arise. Assists therapist in goal reassessment and discharge planning.
• Communicates with patient, family, caregivers, significant other and other members of the healthcare team to promote maximum benefit of care.
• Demonstrates appropriate knowledge and correct application of clinical techniques, procedures and programs for clinical setting and patient/resident population served.
• Displays appropriate technical knowledge and application of available modalities and other equipment.

Safety/Security:

• Provides and environment conducive to safety for patients/clients, visitors and staff.
• Assesses the risks for safety and implements appropriate precautions.
• Complies with appropriate and approved security and safety standards.

Leadership:

• Utilizes appropriate leadership skills in delegating, organizing and education coworkers and staff.
• Participates in and contributes to quality improvement process.

Demonstrates effectiveness in allocation of time resources and work efficiency.

• Distinguishes between low and high priority activities.
• Makes effective use of discretionary time.
• Meets established productivity standards.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervision of rehabilitation technicians/aides, students and volunteers assigned to Physical Therapy, in accordance with practice act, regulatory and payor guidelines.

Competency:
To perform job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Compliant Clinical Practices-Delivers care in an ethical and legal manner.
• Competent Clinical Skills-Consistently performs tasks and procedures safely, correctly and effectively to achieve optimal patient outcomes.
• Communication-documentation is current, concise, meaningful, and legible. Able to read and interpret written information. Delivers clear verbal messages using appropriate grammar and tone.
• Interpersonal Skills-Maintains confidentiality. Keeps emotions under control.
• Customer Service-Manages difficult or emotional customer situations. Responds promptly to customer needs. Solicits customer feedback to improve service. Responds to requests for service and assistance. Meets commitments.
• Adaptability-Adapts to changes in the work environment. Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Teamwork-Bypasses personal wants, when needed, for the good of the whole. Shares in the work to achieve team goals. Supports projects and extra duties as needed. Once team decisions are made, supports them. Participates in giving feedback for performance review as requested.
• Delegation-Delegates work assignments. Matches the responsibility of the person. Sets expectations and monitors delegated activities. Provides recognition for results.
• Professionalism-Exhibits professional demeanor. Assesses own strengths and weaknesses. Pursues training and development opportunities. Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills. Shares expertise with others.
• Teaching and Learning Initiative-Teaches and supports other team members. Encourages team members to enhance competencies. Asks for and offers help when needed. Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities. Is active in learning and applying new skills. Keeps up to date on industry and professional trends.
• Time Management-Plans with the end in mind. Ensures clear priorities. Uses appropriate resources to clarify and resolve problems. Ensures deadlines are met. Is dependable.
• Attendance/Punctuality-Is consistently at work and on time. Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
• Prepares for Planned Absences-Takes responsibility for communicating and coordinating with peers to ensure continuous workflow during own absences. Completes paperwork and provides clear description of work requirements. Provides sufficient level of detail to ensure seamless coverage while absent.
• Quantity-Meets productivity standards. Completes work in a timely manner.
• Process Improvement-Recognizes and communicates the opportunity to improve. Analyzes problems and offers solutions using data. Voluntarily assumes or seeks additional responsibilities.

Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, and individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Education and/or Experience: Must be a graduate of a professional training program approved by the American Physical Therapy Association.
• Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and response to questions from groups of managers, customers, and the general public.
• Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute percentages.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Computer Skills: Knowledgeable in Internet navigation using Internet Explorer and basic computer skills to utilize email, and open and close documents.
• Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Current Physical Therapist Assistant license as per the state of Michigan.

Other Qualifications/Job Responsibilities:

• Prepare daily therapy schedule, with maximum effort to avoid conflicts with other therapist schedules and patient appointments.
• Screens to be completed quarterly as well as by referral per facility policy.
• Communicate with other health care professionals, verbally and in writing, in regards to nursing concerns, changes in functional status, adaptive equipment needs, or any aspect of the patient/resident's care that would involve other departments.
• Update Careplan and Kardex daily as needed.
• Complete billing sheets, productivity sheets, and manages caseload tracking log with treatment duration adjustments as needed and/or per departmental policy.
• Participates in home evaluations. Must be able to travel within a 30-minute area of this facility using personal vehicle. Facility will reimburse all therapists for mileage related to home evaluations.
• Make recommendations as to discharge planning in regards to projected setting and discharge date.
• Develop functional maintenance programs and restorative aide training.
• Participates in inservices, staff meetings, team meetings, continuing education courses, patient conferences, and other meetings as needed.
• Maintains a clean and safe environment and demonstrates safe work-place practices.
• Assist with departmental maintenance and supplies.
• Any other duties as assigned by the Rehabilitation Services Supervisor.
• Must maintain a positive attitude.
• Available to work weekends at the discretion of the Rehabilitation Services Supervisor.

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. Reasonable accomodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; kneel; bend; and/or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.