AMVETS Jobs

Job Title: Physical Therapist Assistant

Reporting to: Physical Therapist

Status: Hourly

Supervises: None

JOB SUMMARY

The Physical Therapist Assistant is a licensed professional who directs, supervises and provides a Physical Therapy Service to patients in the clinic and in home as ordered by the attending physician and directed by a Physical Therapist.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES -- Including but not limited to the following:

• Assists the Physical Therapist in evaluating patient's level of function.
• Applies diagnostic and prognostic muscle, nerve, joint, and functional ability tests.
• Treats patients to relieve pain and/or restore function to maintain maximum performance.
• Makes arrangements for outpatient services, which cannot be given in the home.
• Records and reports to the Physical Therapist of the patient's reaction to treatment and/or any changes of the patient's condition.
• Instructs patients and their families in the use of prosthetic, orthotic, and assistive devices (canes, walkers, wheelchairs, etc.)
• Instructs the family in the patient's total physical therapy program.
• Attends staff meetings and in-service presentations.
• Participates in care conferences.
• Participates in staff and agency development activities.
• Assists the Physical Therapist in preparing assessments of the patient's condition, periodic evaluations and summaries, developing a plan of care and problem list, and writes clinical/progress notes on the date of the visit and incorporates same in the patient record.
• Participates in the development and periodic revision of the physician's Plan of Care.
• Maintains the security and confidentiality of the health information that is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position, while staying in compliance with HIPAA rules and regulations.
• Other duties as requested by the Agency Administrator.

CRITICAL DEMANDS

• Must be able to meet the physical demands of providing physical therapy services, such as ambulating patients, transferring patients, assisting with exercises, etc.
• Must be able to transfer patient as needed according to proper techniques of body mechanics to promote patient and staff safety and well-being.

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 accommodations 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 and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and humid conditions; moving m