Physical Therapy Assistant - Per Diem

SUMMARY

To provide professional PTA services by working under the supervision of the Physical Therapist in accordance with treatment plan and according to licensure designation from the Commonwealth of PA.

JOB DUTIES

Determines treatment plan in conjunction with PT upon completion of the evaluation (by the PT).

Performs evaluations/portions of evaluations as stipulated by the APTA and to PT Department guidelines.

Monitors patient progress/response to therapy and alters treatment plan as required. Correspond with supervising PT any changes professionally.

Submit accurate charges based on services rendered according to department policies and procedures.

Utilize assistive devices to enhance a patient's functional independence. Train patient and/or significant other in use.

Fabricate splint/order orthotics as per PT guidelines and department policies and procedures.

Demonstrates knowledge of standards of PT care when implementing PT interventions.

Ensures supervision by the PT per APTA requirements and state regulations, including co-signing notes and treatment planning.

Completes required documentation on medical record according to department policies and procedures.

Able to adjust communication style to suit the patient/significant other at their level of understanding.

Communicates with other members of the PT Department routinely regarding caseload, patient status and response to PT intervention and the need for assistance and availability to assist on other units based on daily caseload.

Demonstrates an active role in acquiring/maintaining a caseload that satisfies productivity standards.

Presents a departmental in-service after attending a continuing education seminar.

Assists with departmental policy and procedure review as instructed.

AGE/DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Demonstrates knowledge about specific reflexes/balance reactions for infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric.

Alert for signs of decreased stamina; adult, geriatric.

Considers life’s changing roles; adult, geriatric.

Considers limitations that might be pre-existing; geriatric.

Alert to patient’s visual and hearing status during treatments; geriatric.

When interacting with infant, pediatric, and adolescent involves parents/caregivers allows a security object when appropriate to relieve anxiety and increase the benefit of PT encounter.

Utilizes handouts to reinforce material; infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult, geriatric.

Involves family/patient/significant other; adult, geriatric.

Documents outcomes and progress with therapy; infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric.

Recognizes and reports norms not at age level; infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric.

Ensures safety in treatment environment; infant, pediatric, adolescent.

Considers limitations of patient and takes measures to protect them; infant pediatric, adolescent, adult, geriatric. SPECIFIC JOB DEMANDS

Strength: Medium Work - Lifting, Carrying, Pushing, Pulling 20 - 50 Lbs. occasionally, 10 - 25 Lbs. frequently or up to 10 Lbs. constantly.

Stooping: Occasionally - Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist, requiring full use of the lower extremities and back muscles.

Reaching: Frequently - Extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction.

Handling: Frequently - Seizing, holding, grasping, turning, or otherwise working with hand or hands. Fingers are involved only to the extent that they are an extension of the hand, such as to turn a switch or shift automobile gears.

Fingering: Frequently - Picking, pinching, or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm as in handling.

Feeling: Frequently - Noting attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture, by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

Talking: Frequently - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word to impart oral information to clients or to the public and to convey detailed spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Hearing: Frequently - Perceiving the nature of sounds by ear.

Near Acuity: Frequently - Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less.

Accommodation: Occasionally - Adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus. This factor is required when doing near point work at varying distances from the eye.

Color Vision: Frequently - Ability to identify and distinguish colors.

Must have the physical abilities that allow one to walk/sit/stand/push-pull/lift/transfer patients/bend/squat/reach/manipulate and operate OT equipment.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

Must have a degree in physical therapy assistant from an accredited community or junior college, university or vocational-technical school. Must have Pennsylvania state licensure, which requires the degree and passing of the registration examination. Computer skills necessary including word processing and the use of the Internet. Experience in spreadsheets and databases is desired.

Communication skills necessary to effectively:

Communicate observations and treatments with physical therapist.

Communicate with other members of the health care team.

Communicate with patients, families, S.O. to explain treatment plan, procedures and the purpose of P.T. intervention.

Provide instructions to students, volunteers and observers.

Ability to plan and perform professional P.T.A. care, interact with patient/S.O. and other team members, occasional stressful situations.

Analytical skills and organizational skills necessary to develop and implement a plan for physical therapy care appropriate to the unique needs of the patient. Problem solving in a timely, efficient manner concerning patient’s mental and physical well-being to enhance a patient’s functional independence.

Ability to concentrate, prioritize, plan, react calmly, and perform as a professional physical therapist to resolve patient care problems, interact with patients, families and other team members, in occasional stressful situations

 WORKING CONDITIONS

Normal patient care environment, inside a climate controlled environment with little exposure to excessive noise and dust. Occasional exposure to variations in temperature with moist heat and cold packs, exposure to electrical appliances. Employee may be required to perform onsite consulting for industries and/or businesses.

Subject to patient care activities including toileting, occasional exposure to communicable diseases. May be required to deal with patient elements.

Normal working hours of day shifts. Occasional weekends included, occasional holidays included.

DISCLOSURE

MMC commits to review, under the intent of this standard, and in coordination with medical professional opinion’s and physical demands job analysis performed by certified professionals, an individual’s ability to be reasonably accommodated within the role they are responsible and qualified to perform.

MMC is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and providing equal opportunity employment for qualified persons with disabilities. All employment practices and activities are conducted on a nondiscriminatory basis. Meadville Medical Center will follow any state or local law that provides individuals with disabilities greater protection that the ADA.

Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. However, this in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific tasks does not exclude them from the position if the task is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position, or is imperative for patient care and to meet emergency situations.