Physical Therapy Assistant

Are you a licensed physical therapy assistant, with a heart for the elderly and those who need skilled care? We want you on our team!

Boundary Waters Care Center is seeking a dedicated, compassionate professional to help our residents with their physical therapy needs. We are proud to offer resident-centered care. We strive to maximize our residents' comfort and quality of life, in a dignified and respectful manner, with as much choice and independence as possible. As a PTA on our team, you will assist our physical therapist with organizing, developing, and directing physical therapy services for our residents, ensuring each achieves and maintains their highest level of function.

BWCC offers competitive wages, a generous PTO plan, flexible scheduling, and opportunities for professional growth.

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Graduate of an American Physical Therapy (APTA) accredited program for Physical Therapist Assistants.
• Experience in adult acute and long-term care desired, but not required.
• Ability to incorporate all aspects of physical therapy in total resident care.
• Ability to instruct and supervise personnel to assure adequate and competent resident care.
• Must be organized and able to complete required tasks on schedule.
• Possess “team” philosophy and desire to facilitate long-term care residents to their highest level of function.
• Capacity to grasp new theories and principles and implement them in practice.
• Computer skills desirable.
• Membership in professional organization desirable, e.g. APTA.
• Ability to work a rotating weekend and flexible weekday schedule.
• Must be able to safely perform the essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Hold Current State License to practice as a Physical Therapy Assistant.

KEY ROLES & RESPONSIBILTIES

Direct Care Activities

• Ensure that all residents are afforded the opportunity to achieve and maintain their highest level of function allowed per entitlement.
• Perform screenings of new admits and re-admits to the facility, quarterly and QA screenings, and status post significant change in status as requested. Screening time is kept to a minimum and no recommendations or FMP’s are made.
• Implement a planned treatment program designed by the Physical Therapist by utilizing exercise, physical agents, assistive and/or supportive devices and other treatment procedures and equipment.
• Directly assist the Physical Therapist in performing complex evaluation and/or treatment procedures.
• Obtain Review resident’s chart and obtain current information; recognizing changes that may require alteration of therapy treatment for frequently referred diagnoses.
• Respond promptly to acute changes in resident’ s physiological state and report and record pertinent changes; modify or adjust treatment within the limits of the plan of care based on the resident reaction; inform the Physical Therapist immediately when unexpected responses to treatment occur.
• Obtain approval from the Physical Therapist for any change in orders or treatment; communicate effectively regarding progress and/or problems; progress treatments in a timely manner under the supervision of the Physical Therapist; make recommendations for discharge for residents.

Resident Records and Billing

• Provide accurate and timely documentation of services rendered.
• Adhere to medical documentation guidelines.
• Complete, accurate, and timely submission of billing information and appropriately account for all services rendered.

Communication

• Communicate effectively with physicians, case managers, family, and interdisciplinary team members, regarding resident progress, problems, and functional outcomes.
• Participate in team meetings; resident care conferences, rehab rounds, discharge planning conferences, and other interdisciplinary team meetings as required.
• Demonstrate openness to other points of view on approaches to resident problems.
• Demonstrate the ability to treat colleagues and other professional with integrity and respect.
• Facilitate interdisciplinary referrals.
• Communicate effectively with supervisor, providing timely information regarding any issues or problems.

Follow-up Programs

• Assure continuation of appropriate therapeutic follow-up programs, for example, outpatient, home health, and/or home programs.
• Design home programs in consultation with the Physical Therapist.
• Instruct the resident and/or care givers in appropriate carryover.
• Develop programs to optimize successful discharge with highest function and lest amount of risk possible allowed per entitlement.
• Recommend appropriate assistive equipment and/or environmental adaptations to maximize function.
• Recommend outpatient home health follow-up programs as indicated.

Leadership and Organizational Skills

• Monitor performance of aides in direct resident care or related activities.
• Maintain specified Facility philosophy goals.
• Comply with company safety and infection control policies and procedures.
• Assure all equipment is functioning properly.
• Comply with State and Federal Practice Acts, Physical Therapy Standards of Practice Code of Ethics, Resident’s Rights including confidentiality and facilities’ policies and procedures.

Miscellaneous Duties to Guarantee Resident and Facility Success

• Consult with outside vendors to explore alternatives regarding residents equipment needs as appropriate.
• Perform home evaluations, when indicated to insure successful transition to home.
• Promote therapy services by conducting periodic educational inservices and projecting a professional image.
• Participate in new employee inservicing as indicated.
• Practice good safety habits.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Professional Growth

• Attends facility inservices, seminars, and staff meetings.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, inservices, and reviewing professional publications.
• Participates on committees as the opportunity arises.
• Reports to work on time and utilizes time on duty efficiently.