Physical Therapist

Job Description Summary

The Physical Therapist (PT) plays a key role in helping patients regain independence and improve their quality of life. In this role, you'll coordinate and deliver skilled physical therapy services that meet state, federal, and professional practice standards while aligning with Health at Home's commitment to extraordinary care. You'll provide evidence-based, cost-effective treatment with a focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for each patient we serve.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities

• Deliver Skilled Assessments: Participate in OASIS assessments and data collection as needed, tailoring evaluations to each patient's unique circumstances.
• Complete Evaluations Promptly and Design Individualized Plans: Performs examinations and evaluations of patients referred through accepted procedure. Upon receipt of referral, schedules and completes physical therapy evaluations according to acceptable time frames. Identify physical impairments and functional limitations and establish a plan of care for each patient based on consultation and approval from the authorizing physician, current practice standards, and the patient's rehabilitation potential and prognosis (or needs for skilled maintenance services). Outlines a complete, individualized plan of care for each patient, including Orders/Interventions and Goals (short- and long-term, with specific time frames for each).
• Provide Skilled Therapy: Carry out physical therapy plans of care, utilizing skilled techniques and treatment interventions for rehabilitation or maintenance according to each patient's prescribed plan of care.
• Educate and Empower: Instructs patients, family/caregivers, and other organization health care team members in patient's treatment regimen and home program as indicated.
• Coordinate with the Care Team: Consult with each patient's authorizing physician and other organizational personnel to ensure that care is well-coordinated and contributes to the comprehensive plan of care as prescribed.
• Document with Excellence: Prepares and submits documentation that is consistent with regulations and practice standards, and per organization policy, including required time frames.
• Identify Additional Needs: Identifies patient and family/caregiver needs for other services and makes appropriate referrals as indicated.
• Engage in Team Collaboration: Participates in scheduled and called care team conferences, in-services, and other required meetings to ensure coordinated patient care and knowledge of current organization information.
• Maintain Clinical Expertise: Demonstrate and maintain clinical competency in physical therapy theory and practice.
• Support Aide Supervision: Participates in supervisory functions of the home health aide in accordance with each patient's plan of care, state and federal guidelines, and organization policy and procedure. May serve as the primary supervisor for a home health aide when the patient is not receiving skilled nursing care, if indicated by the comprehensive plan of care.
• Contribute to Quality Improvement: Participates in Performance Improvement activities and initiatives as assigned.

Position Qualifications

• Possesses a degree in Physical Therapy, including requirements for practicum hours, from an approved Master's or Doctoral program in Physical Therapy, and that meets all requirements according to state and federal regulations for licensure and professional qualifications.
• Possesses an active, unencumbered certification and/or licensure from each state in which he/she will practice.
• Possesses and maintains current CPR certification by Organization-approved provider.
• Preferred: Meets the education and experience requirements for board certification in a specialty area recognized by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS).
• Preferred: Has one year of clinical practice experience as a Physical Therapist in home health.
• Continuing Education Requirements: Organization personnel are expected to comply with mandatory continuing education and development activities as outlined in policy. All personnel must participate in minimal mandatory educational activities and programs, including but not limited to: Corporate Compliance and OSHA/Infection Control. Personnel are expected to accept personal responsibility for educational activities to maintain and enhance job-related skills and abilities. Organization personnel are expected to participate in additional appropriate continuing education as requested and/or required by their immediate supervisor. Licensed professionals are expected to be familiar with and meet all competency and educational requirements as outlined in state regulations for each state in which they hold a license.

Environmental and Working Conditions

Environmental Conditions: May be exposed to extremes of heat and cold in all weather conditions.

Working Conditions: May be exposed to infections and contagious diseases. Contact with patients under wide variety of circumstances. May be exposed or occasionally exposed to patient elements. Subject to varying and unpredictable situations. Handles emergency or crisis situations.

OSHA exposure category: Category I - Position includes tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, tissues.

Required Personal Protective Equipment: as required by working conditions.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. The employee will be expected to perform other reasonably related duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor and / or other management personnel.