Physical Therapy Assistant - Outpatient

Department: Outpatient Physical Therapy Status: Full Time Schedule: 8H Day/Eve with rotation as needed Position Function: Under the direction of a Clinical Manager, assists with assessing, planning, implementing Physical Therapy to patients. Maintains the operational aspects of the therapy unit in collaboration with the Clinical Manager. Further contributes to the Physical Medicine Department, Hospital and the American Physical Therapy Association through support of philosophy, objectives, educational and research efforts. Is responsible for the supervision of subordinate staff, students and volunteers as delegated by department administrative personnel. May be required to travel between clinical sites to assist in provision of care. Qualifications and Standards Education: Graduate of an accredited program with an Associates degree in Physical Therapy. Experience: Experience applying customer service behaviors and communication skills required. Certifications/Licensure: Licensed as a Physical Therapy Assistant or eligible for licensure as a Physical Therapy Assistant in Pennsylvania. CPR certification required. Essential Functions and Responsibilities High Productivity: 1. Thinks globally by considering the needs of the facility, department and organization. 2. Communicate needs to manage and modify schedule to maximize productivity. 3. Utilizes any down time to complete needed tasks. 4. Demonstrates multi-tasking by managing the environment of care while balancing patient care needs. 5. Demonstrates multi-tasking by grouping like tasks and patients to maximize efficiency. 6. Sets goals and objectives for each treatment session that prioritizes patient needs and are consistent with the time frame schedule. 7. Organizes tasks for the day and completes them by end of shift. 8. Documentation is completed by real time unless prohibited by patient care and is then done in a timely manner. 9. Delegate tasks to support personnel to maximize staff efficiency. 10. Adapts treatment plan to available resources. 11. Flexible to provide patient care to multiple treatment areas within the department. 12. Recognizes and adapts personal style to meet the “Model of Care” Expectations. 13. Consistently meets or exceeds the established productivity expectations of the department without use of overtime and with expected or superior clinical outcome. High Service Excellence: 1. Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of insurance coverage and limitations, adapts treatment plan accordingly, and communicates necessary information effectively with patients and patient families. 2. Achieves or exceeds expected clinical outcomes, recognizing patient limitations; communicates potential need for modification of treatment plan to therapist when appropriate. 3. Includes the patient and matches their level of self involvement in the Plan of Care, treatment process and time frame, and provides education regarding pathology and prognosis. 4. Recognizes and adheres to professional boundaries during interactions with patient and peers. 5. Complies with billing regulations and bills appropriately for services provided. High Level of Technical Skills: 1. Recognizes professional skills and limitations; refers to and utilizes others with more expertise when appropriate for timely and superior clinical outcomes. 2. Demonstrates a high level of competency to maximize scheduling for superior clinical outcomes. 3. Demonstrates a high level of competency with documentation which includes the following components at a minimum: treatment provided patient response, relevant communication, patient education, and patient progress. 4. Implements orthopedic, neurologic, acute care, rehab, and other treatment plans as appropriate. 5. Initiates a treatment plan and advances the plan according to the patient response; implements all treatments including modalities, manual approaches, and therapeutic exercise with a high level of technical skill. 6. Demonstrates competence with use of orthotics, prosthetics, assistive devices, monitoring of vital signs, and management of patients with IV tubes, NG tubes, PEG lines, supplemental oxygen. 7. Identifies the need to have the therapist or physician reassess the patient in a timely manner. 8. Serves as an effective educator and mentor to patients, families, other staff, clinical students and the community. 9. Overlaps the various elements of treatment to include a holistic approach that maintains the highest levels of professional morals and ethics; compassion; knowledge and clinical reasoning. 10. Identifies emergency situations and responds appropriately.