Home Health Physical Therapy Assistant

Major Responsibilities:

• Provides and progresses patient treatment based on therapist's evaluation and plan of care. Treatments include patient education, exercise, gait training, mobility and transfer skills, balance and coordination activities, use of modalities, soft-tissue/joint mobilization, and orthotic/prosthetic training.
• Manages own caseload, including scheduling and informing supervisor of coverage needs.
• Teaches appropriate treatment procedures and supportive activities to patients and caregivers and develops plan for obtaining adaptive devices as needed.
• Provides on-going assessment of patient's response to treatments and teaching. Discusses caseload issues and changes in case census to the supervisor. Communicates problems so a plan of action can be developed.
• Plans for patient discharge including providing written home programs, educating patient and family, and ordering equipment with direction of supervising therapist.
• Maintains and updates accurate clinical and patient records according to agency, state and federal guidelines.
• Interprets information concerning agency services and programs to patients and families.
• Cleans up after patient treatment, putting away equipment and keeping area neat and orderly.
• Follows published policies and procedures and regularly monitors changes or additions to them.
• Performs various patient positioning and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• A valid drivers license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles, and
• Physical Therapist Assistant license issued by the state of Wisconsin, and
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providerscertification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) needs to be obtained within 6 months unless department leader has determined it is not required.

Education Required:

• Associate's Degree in Physical Therapy.

Experience Required:

• Typically requires 2 years of experience in physical therapy assisting within home health care, hospital acute care or other relevant environment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Demonstrated proficiency in clinical skills with the ability to work independently and make sound judgments.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served in his/her assignment.
• Good human relations, organization, problem solving, and decision-making skills.
• Displays initiative, versatility, and positive interpersonal skills.
• Intermediate computer skills.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Must possess and provide proof of a valid Driver License and a registered, functional car with adequate insurance coverage.
• Must be capable of the manual dexterity required to use and operate a variety of medical equipment and supplies, writing implements and office equipment.
• Must have the physical ability to move about in confined spaces, including bending, twisting, kneeling, squatting and occasionally reaching one or both arm overhead.
• Must be able to work safely with people of various sizes and weight with diverse and complex medical conditions and physical limitations.
• Must be able to:
• Lift up to 50 lbs from floor to waist.
• Lift up to 20 lbs from waist to overhead.
• Lift and carry up to 40 lbs. at waist height reasonable distance.
• Must be able to:
• Push/pull with 30 lbs. of force.
• Perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present.
• Must be able to sit, stand, walk and climb stairs for limited to prolonged periods of time to complete required paperwork, gain entry to patients’ residences, travel from assigned visits and attend a variety of work related activities.
• Must have the physical stamina to attend to patient care requirements over a period of three or more hours without complete rest.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.