Physical Therapist - Home Health (Per-Diem)

Physical Therapist (PT)

At Always Best Care, our focus is providing our patients with personalized and quality skilled care in the comfort of their own home. Our dedicated professional staff of nurses, therapists, social workers, and home health aides work in unison with the patients, families, and physicians to ensure positive outcomes. Our passion for helping the patients to maintain a safe and independent lifestyle, and to achieve their maximum functional independence is our top priority.

The Physical Therapist (PT) is responsible for providing high-quality physical therapy services to adult patients requiring part-time, intermittent visits. This role involves assessing therapeutic needs, implementing treatment plans, and coordinating patient care as part of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team. The PT also supervises physical therapy assistants (PTA) and home health aides when nursing services are not active. This position reports directly to the Clinical Manager.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Skills

• Perform comprehensive patient evaluations, including ROM, strength, coordination, balance, and functional mobility assessments.
• Develop functional goals and individualized Plans of Care, including treatment plans and modality selection, securing physician approval.
• Reassess patients using objective measures and document progress at required intervals.
• Provide therapeutic actions to relieve pain and restore function for maximum independence.
• Delegate and supervise therapeutic actions performed by PTAs in compliance with state practice standards and patient condition.
• Admit patients to service if trained and competency evaluated.
• Act as the primary provider when PT qualifies a patient for skilled care, including care coordination and medical orders.
• Monitor patient treatment response and report findings to physicians and team members.
• Educate patients and families on care requirements and preventive strategies.
• Assist patients in selecting and using medical equipment safely.
• Maintain adherence to medical orders regarding treatment, visit frequency, and managed care authorizations.
• Develop care plans for home health aides and supervise their performance when nursing is not active.
• Participate in on-call weekend, evening, and holiday rotations as scheduled.
• Attend interdisciplinary care conferences and obtain pre-authorization for home visits as needed.

Documentation

• Complete comprehensive admission assessments, including OASIS data sets, within agency timelines.
• Submit timely and accurate documentation of all therapy visits, progress notes, and discharge summaries.
• Maintain records to support recertification and ongoing eligibility for therapy services.
• Ensure compliance with agency documentation policies, including timely submission of reports.

Communication

• Conduct initial patient visits within 72 hours of referral unless otherwise dictated by physician order or patient needs.
• Communicate patient condition updates and rehabilitation goals to case managers and other team members.
• Coordinate with other healthcare providers to ensure interdisciplinary care.
• Report immediate patient clinical needs to the supervising nurse or designee.
• Submit weekly visit schedules using electronic software in real time.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and adhere to HIPAA regulations.

Professional Standards

• Comply with the Physical Therapist Practice Act and professional standards to ensure safe clinical practice.
• Maintain professionalism and uphold the agency's image at all times.
• Follow infection control and safety protocols.
• Adhere to all agency policies to maintain the highest standard of patient care.

Professional Development

• Attend at least one staff meeting or in-service training per year.
• Maintain continuing education (CEU) requirements as per State Board regulations.
• Participate in additional training, care conferences, and performance improvement programs as needed.
• Engage in ongoing learning through workshops, professional organizations, and independent study.

Additional Duties

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy program (CAPTE or equivalent international certification).
• Minimum of 12 months of acute care or rehabilitation center experience; outpatient therapy experience may be considered.
• Licensed as a Physical Therapist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• Current CPR certification.
• Reliable transportation for travel between patient assignments; valid driver's license and insurance required.
• Clear criminal history and required regulatory clearances (e.g., Childline, FBI, OIG, Medicheck, EPLS).

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Moderate exposure risk; Hepatitis B vaccine offered.
• Frequent lifting and moving of patients and equipment up to 40 pounds; occasional lifting of patients up to 50 pounds unassisted.
• Ability to use stairs, curbs, and walkways to access patient homes.
• Repetitive motions required for patient care (grasping, fine manipulation, standing, walking, bending, reaching, pushing/pulling).
• Must have visual, auditory, and speaking capabilities for patient care and communication with the healthcare team.