Physical Therapist Assistant - 36 Hours, Days

Physical Therapist Assistant

Hospital for Special Care

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36

Work Shift: First Shift

Department: Inpatient Rehabilitation Services

We are dedicated to creating an environment of care and engagement that makes us one of the most desirable places to work, providing exceptional care to each patient each and every day!

QUALIFICATIONS

• Required: Graduate from an accredited Physical Therapist Assistant Program.
• Required: Initial certification or eligibility as a Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) by the National Board for Certification in Physical Therapy.
• Required: Current Connecticut licensure.
• Required: Maintains continued competency requirements as defined by state.
• Required: Valid drivers license.
• Preferred: Current CPR certification.
• Preferred: Member of the American Physical Therapy Association

JOB SUMMARY

• To work under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist in the performance of physical therapy procedures and related tasks, including data collection. To participate in the planning, implementation, and documentation of patient status and goal oriented physical therapy interventions and education that facilitates optimal musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, integumentary, physical function and health. To participate in an interdisciplinary team approach, communicating effectively with team members, patients, and families. May supervise a therapy extender, volunteer, or physical therapist assistant student.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Ability to tolerate up to four hours of consecutive work, which may include constant sitting and one hour periods of independent mobility. Ability to safely transfer patients and provide contact guarding or hands-on assistance. Ability to lift or carry objects up to 10 pounds continuously, to 50 pounds frequently, over 75 pounds occasionally for patient transfer. Ability to push/pull over 60 pounds frequently throughout the day for patient transport. Frequent need to initiate body positional changes, such as bending and reaching and occasionally climbing, squatting, kneeling or crawling to access equipment from high and low areas while providing treatment interventions. Functional fine and gross motor skills and upper extremity sensation needed. Intact vision needed for observation of patient's non-verbal responses and skin assessment. Must be able to initiate and interpret communication with patient and others. Additional physical demand for Physical Therapist Assistant at main campus: Ability to tolerate submersion in up to shoulder depth water for 1-3 hours.

COGNITIVE DEMANDS

• Job requires problem identification. Abstract reasoning, adaptability to new situations, changing environment and information and quick decision-making are required. A high degree of selective attention, discernment, perception and/or concentration in the presence of noise/distraction are necessary.
• Job requires the ability to analyze and synthesize information, discriminate relevant from irrelevant information, learn new techniques and apply theory to functional context. Reading and auditory comprehension of abstraction and an ability to make inferences are also required.
• Job requires a high degree of writing proficiency including attention to detail, adherence to all elements of style and ability to postulate. A working knowledge and familiarity with medical terms and definitions is required.
• Job requires a high level of communication skill including expression of abstract/complex ideas, use of negotiation and active listening and an ability to dialogue with multiple parties. Also, to modify communication skills to the listener's level of ability or readiness to comprehend.
• Job requires the ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide with all units of measure, and the ability to perform these operations with common and decimal fractions. Also, to compute ratio, rate and percent and perform arithmetic operations involving American monetary units.
• Job requires a working knowledge of current Medicare guidelines and requirements for documentation and billing. For outpatient therapists, a working knowledge of relevant documentation and billing requirements for other payers is also required.

WORK DEMANDS

• Job requires working primarily indoors, only occasionally needing to be outdoors. Job requires working around and with others on a continuous basis. Schedule fluctuation is frequent and often unpredictable due to census or caseload, documentation requirements, program development and potential weekend therapy coverage needs. Work may be carried out in a noisy and somewhat crowded setting. There is exposure to body fluids, contagious disease and blood borne pathogens. There is occasional exposure to particles, chemicals, chlorinated pool water, electromagnetic, electrical, ultrasonic, and or thermal agents that could cause eye, nose, or skin irritation-such as those utilized for casting/splinting, patient treatment or cleaning.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Demonstrates competency in Physical therapy interventions utilized. Carries out interventions, patient and family education as directed by physical therapist. Complies with physician orders or requests changes in orders as appropriate to patient status/needs in collaboration with PT.
• Communicates with PT and team members to develop an interdisciplinary plan of care. Educates team members on patient care plan or activities and attends team meetings as needed to share patient data and goals.
• Measures patient progress, modifies goals and intervention in collaboration with PT. Administers secondary assessments or screening tools once competency demonstrated.
• Completes documentation of all patient assessments, interventions, education, interdisciplinary communication and outcomes as applicable in daily notes and for updated care plans in accurate and timely fashion. Completes and submits charges as per departmental standard.
• Supports and reinforces team and interdisciplinary goals when interacting with patient/family and/or other team members. Coordinates patient education in preparation for discharge providing training and resources.
• Manages schedule independently including arrangement of coverage in advance for paid time off. Communicates with front office staff for efficient scheduling of patients to meet needs. Meets productivity expectations. Attends relevant staff meetings. Completes assigned audits.
• Employs behavior management strategies and principles in adherence with CSC policies and training. Accesses policies and procedures as needed. Uses High Reliability Organization (HRO) concepts in all interactions with internal and external customers.