Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) - Inpatient

Department: 37501 AMC Oshkosh - Acute Care Rehabilitation Status: Part time Benefits Eligible: No Hours Per Week: 0 Schedule Details/Additional Information: 1-weekend/month (Saturday & Sunday) 1 Holiday/ year. Acute care at AMCO. Acute hospital patients with orthopedic and neurological diagnoses as well as generalized weakness due to acute illness Additional hours available Mon-Sun on a PRN basis. Pool premium of $2.50 Pay Range: $25.30 - $37.95

Major Responsibilities

• Assists the Physical Therapist in treatment of patient's musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and/or integumentary systems.
• Provides and progresses patient treatment based on therapist's evaluation and plan of care.
• Treatments may include patient education, exercise (including equipment), gait training, mobility and transfer skills, balance and coordination activities, and modalities.
• Identifies factors affecting patient's physical and psychosocial comfort and attends to these needs.
• Monitors and notifies/updates supervisory therapist of patient's response to treatment given.
• Plans for patient discharge including providing written home programs, patient/family teaching, and ordering equipment with direction of evaluating/supervising therapist.
• Completes all required documentation with appropriate co-signatures, including patient progress notes, team conference reports, discharge summaries, and records patient care and progress of each patient assigned as well as daily statistics, billing, and scheduling.
• Applies insurance guidelines regarding authorization and number of visits.
• Responsible for cleaning up after patient treatment, putting away equipment, and keeping area neat and orderly.
• Performs various manual techniques, patient positioning, transferring and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique.
• Demonstrates skill in use of modalities, exercise equipment and other devices that are available in area worked per department orientation checklist.
• Demonstrates knowledge of indications and contraindications of modalities and exercise.
• Participates in performance improvement activities designed to identify and resolve problems affecting patient care outcomes and to improve quality of care.
• Manages assigned caseload, informing site leadership of coverage needs and ability to cover; assists with coverage, based on department needs and regional needs.
• Pursues professional growth through participation in continuing education courses, department inservices, and reading professional literature.
• Orients new staff to clinical and department policies as requested.
• Participates in the evaluation process of co-workers by providing verbal or written feedback as requested.
• 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

• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) needs to be obtained within 6 months unless department leader has determined it is not required
• Physical Therapist Assistant license issued by the state of Wisconsin.

Education Required

Associate's Degree in Physical Therapy.

Experience Required

No experience required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Intermediate computer skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good organization, decision-making, and problem solving skills.

Certification Addendum

Team members will maintain annual educational requirements for hospital based certifications (e.g.DNV, CARF or others).

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, and squat throughout the workday.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist.
• Must be able to lift up to 10 lbs. from waist to overhead.