Physical Therapist Assistant FT

Description

Administers physical therapy treatments to patients, working under direction of and as assistant to Physical Therapist, by performing the following duties. To perform this job successfully, an 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.

Qualifications                                                                                                                                                                           

• Currently licensed as a PTA under the laws of the state of Oklahoma.
• Associate degree or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school
• Previous home health nursing experience is preferred.
• Recent experience in direct patient care in an institution or home health setting is preferred.
• Must have valid CPR certification, drivers license, reliable vehicle, maintain valid auto liability insurance, and be able to drive throughout service area under a variety of weather conditions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Administers active and passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, and heat, light, sound, water, and electrical modality treatments such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, ultraviolet, infrared, hot and cold packs.
• Always maintain patient confidentiality.
• Instructs, motivates, and assists patients to learn and improve functional activities such as pre- ambulation, transfer, ambulation, and daily living activities.
• Observes patients during treatments and compiles and evaluates data on patients' responses to treatments and progress and reports orally or in writing to Physical Therapist.
• Adhere to a plan of care for all assigned patients to provide optimal care.
• Adjusts and trains patients in use and care of orthopedic braces, prostheses, and supportive devices such as crutches, canes, walkers, and wheelchairs.
• Confers with health team members, individually and in conference to exchange, discuss, and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, and coordinating treatment programs.
• Provides orientation for new Physical Therapist Assistants.
• Performs clerical duties such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, and filling out forms.
• Measures patient's range-of-joint motion, length and girth of body parts, and vital signs to determine effects of specific treatments or to assist Physical Therapist to compile data for patient evaluations.
• Perform the job in accordance and compliance with policies, procedures, supervisory expectations, and other directives as defined by company, state, and federal regulations.
• Attend staff meetings and in-services as scheduled.
• Frequent daily travel and possible overnight travel required.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of an organization.
• Comply with Progressive Home Health emergency preparedness plan.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of word processing software, spreadsheet software, internet and email software, as well as Point of Care systems.
• 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.
• Ensure compliance with Progressive Home Health policies and procedures as an example to all employees and to provide quality patient care.
• Provide all personal documents for up-to-date personnel files in a timely manner as requested.
• Assist in orientation and training of new staff as needed.

Organizational Relationship

• Reports to the Director of Therapy, Clinical Liaison, and Administrator or another manager as assigned.    

Functional Abilities

• Contact with a variety of housing conditions required.
• Must be able to maintain concentration during frequent interruptions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be flexible to adjust to changing tasks frequently.
• Light to moderate degrees of stress incurred in daily employment.
• Able to communicate verbally and in writing to the extent required by the position.
• Able to physically perform the duties required by the position.
• Able to travel.

Physical Requirements

• Light to moderate physical activity required, including possible lifting up to 50lbs and turning of adult clients.
• Good color vision is essential to determine subtle changes in a patient’s skin color and to rapidly recognize medication and color-coded supplies.
• Requires good hearing to assess situations quickly and respond appropriately. 

Qualifications

Qualifications                                                                                                                                                                           

• Currently licensed as a PTA under the laws of the state of Oklahoma.
• Associate degree or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school
• Previous home health nursing experience is preferred.
• Recent experience in direct patient care in an institution or home health setting is preferred.
• Must have valid CPR certification, drivers license, reliable vehicle, maintain valid auto liability insurance, and be able to drive throughout service area under a variety of weather conditions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.