Physical and Occupational Therapy Technician - Full-Time - AVALA Hospital - RH310

Primary work location: This position may require travel between two outpatient clinics, as needed.

Summary

The Physical and Occupational Therapy Technician performs a variety of clinical, clerical, and reception duties under the supervision of licensed therapists. They support therapy care delivery by preparing treatment areas, equipment, and materials, and assist in administering treatments and patient care procedures according to the therapists' directions. Their responsibilities also include maintaining the facility, performing housekeeping duties, and ensuring a smooth and safe operation of the facility. Technicians work with patients across all age groups, from infants to geriatrics, and provide care in a manner that ensures patient safety and treatment regardless of race, creed, gender, or disability, without bias or prejudice.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Participate in administration of the assigned facility as requested by the Director of Physical Therapy.

Participate in in-service education as scheduled by the department/hospital.

Perform on-going housekeeping duties within the facility to maintain cleanliness and safety of the facility.

Demonstrate regard for the dignity and respect of all patients, family members, staff and visitors.

Maintains confidentiality of all current and former patients.

Responsible for interacting with fellow employees in a manner that promotes a harmonious and cooperative working environment.

Prepare the clinical area for clean and safe patient care.

Retrieves clinical records for each patient to be treated.

Escort each patient from the reception area to the clinical treatment areas in a safe and efficient manner.

Assist each patient with treatment preparation as necessary, including removal of clothing and proper draping.

Notify the treating therapist of a patient’s readiness to be treated.

Assist the therapist in selected procedures and techniques as specifically directed by the therapist.

Assist the entire facility staff in maintaining a safe and comfortable working environment. Report problems and suggestions to the supervisor.

Prepares treatment area for patients by following prescribed procedures and protocols. Towels under table, tables wiped cleaned with disinfecting wipes.

Greets patients and notifies Therapist of patient arrival.

Prepares patients for occupational therapy treatment by welcoming, comforting, providing and/or assisting patients as directed by the therapists.

Provides information to patients by answering questions and requests, if not sure of questions asked always redirect patient to the therapist.

Educates patients by demonstrating proper use of equipment and exercise routines.

Follows safety standards while performing patient related duties:

Uses good body mechanics.

Carries out transfer procedures correctly

Uses equipment in a safe manner

Maintains patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.

Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.

Provides equipment and supplies by sterilizing and delivering equipment and supplies to treatment area; positioning equipment for therapist access; positioning patient as directed by the therapist.

Ensures operation of occupational therapy equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; following manufacturer's instruction; troubleshooting malfunctions; calling for repairs.

Assists with maintaining occupational therapy supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level; anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies and putting supplies away when received in the clinic

Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications if directed by therapist; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.

Enhances occupational therapy department and organization reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests, exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.

May assist with front office procedures if directed – by answering the phone, scheduling patients and accepting co-pays if properly trained

Under Direct Supervision of the Therapist:

Performs treatment as designated by the Therapist.

Performs treatment as directed by the therapist in a timely manner.

Follows written and verbal instructions.

Discusses with the Therapist patient response, instructions, and need for treatment update.

Helps set up patients by applying heat packs, paraffin dips.

Assisting patients in and out of the fluid therapy.

Helping patients with exercise equipment such as the BTE, monitoring progress and reporting to therapist.

Performing prescribed exercises and strengthening techniques as directed by the therapist.

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

Meets dress code standards and adheres to policies.

Completes annual education requirements.

Maintains regulatory requirements.

Always maintains patient confidentiality.

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.

Attends staff meetings as scheduled, reads and returns all monthly staff meeting minutes.

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.

Assists other staff members in performing any duty that enhances the delivery of patient care.

Advanced Orthopedic and Spine Certification Requirements

(CR.1c) As part of the Advanced Orthopedic and Spine Certification, at a minimum, the Program direct-care staff, must have eight (8) hours of education specific to the Program scope, initially, and at least annually thereafter.

(CR.1e) As part of the Advanced Orthopedic and Spine Certification, staff possess adaptability to processes as related to up-to-date best practices, collaboration between departments, compliance with protocols/processes, communication, cooperation and exceptional customer service.

Within 90 days of hire or, if currently employed, within 90 days of signing the job description, must adhere to:

Orientation of Advanced Orthopedic and Spine Certification

In compliance with the Program education requirements

Completed department specific competencies

Regulatory Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent GED required. Must have sufficient knowledge of the reasons for patient care as administered in the facility. On the job training is available.

Current BLS certification or able to obtain within 30 days of hire.

Skills

Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.

Basic computer knowledge.

Ability to organize time to maintain a high level of efficiency.

Basic clerical skills.

Minimum Work Experience Preferred: One year

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.