Physical Therapist Assistant

Purpose & Overall Duties:

  • Administers physical therapy treatments to patients, working under direction of a Physical Therapist.
  • Assists in reporting of patient’s functional skills and gains to determine extent of abilities and limitations.

A. Patient Care

  • Carries out Physical Therapist’s established plan of care for individuals or group treatment as appropriate.
  • 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, and hot and cold packs.
  • Instructs, motivates, and assists patients to learn and improve functional activities, such as pre-ambulation, transfer, ambulation, and daily-living activities.
  • May measure 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.

B. Documentation/ Logistics/ Patient Satisfaction

  • Completes all Medicare and company required documentation per guidelines and timely.
  • Is competent in use of a computer program for clinical documentation.
  • Fits patients for, adjusts, and trains patients in use and care of orthopedic braces, prostheses, and supportive devices, such as crutches, canes, walkers, and wheelchairs.
  • Performs clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, and filling out forms.
  • Responsible for achieving patient satisfaction, reporting and maintaining
    appropriate quality indicator measures for the department/facility and complying with productivity standards set by Progressive Rehab Solutions.

C. Supervisory time with PT/ Collaboration with Team Members

  • 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.
  • Confers with members of physical therapy staff and other health team members, individually and in conference, to exchange, discuss, and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, and coordinating treatment programs.
  • Gives orientation to new Physical Therapist Assistants and directs and gives instructions to Physical Therapy Aides.

D. Personal Development

  • Must comply with Medicare guidelines & State requirement for licensure.
  • Attend continuing education courses approved by the state of LA and in your appropriate field with frequency according to state regulations.
  • Personal development in assuring evidence based practice in the LTC setting.

General Skills Required:

  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships- Developing
    constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Training and Teaching Others –Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems – Analyzing information and
    evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates – Providing
    information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, email, or in person effectively.
  • Time management- Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
  • Social Perceptiveness- Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Active Listening- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Performing General Physical Activities- Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Minimum Experience, Education, and Licensure:

  • Associates Degree in Physical Therapy
  • 1 Year Preferred Experience
  • Must hold current state licensure

Physical Demands:

  • Lifting from ground level, waist level, and/or overhead; Standing, sitting,
    walking, pushing, pulling, bending, kneeling, crouching/squatting and driving
  • Must be able to lift at least 100 lbs, using proper body mechanics

Work Environment:

  • Location: Facility; LTC Facility Following Universal Precautions; Indoors;
    Outdoors if necessary
  • Climatic/Environmental Conditions:. Could face various weather conditions traveling to and from job sites






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