Physical Therapy Specialist

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Summary:

As a member of the health care team, evaluates and treats patients whose ability to function is impaired by disease or injury. Utilizes therapeutic exercise, rehabilitation procedures and physical agents within the scope of a licensed physical therapist. Collaborates with other hospital personnel to ensure quality care for the patient. May supervise the activities of PTA, Therapy Technicians and student interns. 

Responsibilities:

Evaluation of Patients:

• Gathers pertinent data from chart and other caregivers; discusses with physician as necessary.
• Independently assesses all patient types as assigned.
• Demonstrates ability to recognize additional needs during evaluation; exercises good judgment in decision making when requesting, scheduling and/or performing additional testing.
• Interprets results and formulates relevant, measurable, realistic and attainable goals.
• Reassesses patient progress regularly per department and regulatory policy, or when need arises.
• Identifies appropriate equipment, discusses with patient and family and makes appropriate referral to physician, social services and/or vendor.
• Able to complete wound assessment and develop appropriate treatment plan. May require occasional peer assistance.
• Demonstrates ability to exercise critical thinking during evaluation process.
• Ensures that all areas of assessment are completed in a timely manner; able to coordinate assessment with treatment activities.

Care of the Patient:

• Able to independently deliver a treatment plan that addresses identified problem(s), deficits and discharge needs and assists with decreasing LOS.
• Actively seeks out a diagnosis mix to facilitate ability to independently treat throughout the facility.
• Demonstrates skilled expertise when monitoring patients during treatment. 13. Able to apply reasoning and judgment to skilled observations and reports adverse reactions to physician, supervising PT and/or nursing.
• Reports findings to supervising PT and solicits their involvement when needed.
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of the use of modalities and their contraindications. Offers alternatives to physician when appropriate. 16. Actively seeks research based treatments and applies to daily treatment.
• Knowledgeable of available wound care supplies, current protocols and techniques.
• Demonstrates the ability to exercise critical thinking, objectively reassessing patients each session, making adjustments during treatment that lead to highly efficient care.

Communication and Education of Patients:

• Able to explain the role of physical therapy; provides information on what to expect and works to build rapport.
• Determines the education needs of the patient and family. Actively engages caregivers to ensure education needs are met. Delivers education within the allotted treatment time.
• Provides written home exercise program to ensure maximum benefit. Solicits demonstration of exercises contained in home exercise program to ensure maximum benefit.
• Recognizes the need for additional education and incorporates into treatment plan and discharge planning.
• Places patient at ease and builds confidence that fosters recovery.
• Works to identify the personal values of patients and their families, giving consideration to values during interactions and treatment

Conferences and collaboration:

• Prepares for team/supervision conferences in advance. Reports patient status objectively.
• Understands role in discharge planning during conferences. Provides pertinent information that aids timely discharge.
• Recognizes when physician needs to be informed of patient status or d/c needs. Consistently contacts appropriate care giver.
• Works effectively with other team members to foster mutual respect, trust and positively affect the continuum of care.
• Demonstrates ability to work in multiple departments; able to communicate with supervisors when this need arises; able to transform from one setting to another easily; seeks out opportunities for new learning in different settings.

Time Management:

• Anticipates patients'/department's needs during planned absences. Provides endorsements for patients as needed.
• Coordinates with peers so that support personnel are maximized with minimal down time. Meets supervision requirements of APTA and the state licensing board.
• Performs reassessments/reevaluations at designated times.
• Meets productivity standard 90% of the time.
• Reviews schedule in advance when requesting PTO; ensures that requested time does not place patient care in jeopardy.
• Is able to demonstrate flexibility in a staffing crisis; willing to adjust schedule to ensure patients' needs are met.
• Distinguishes between high and low priority activities.
• Daily behaviors ensure that evaluations/treatments held (IT'd) are limited and productivity is maximized.
• Uses systematic methods to accomplish more in less time.

Documentation:

• May be requested to assist with training of new associates on floor or with documentation
• Documentation reflects need for skilled therapy services provided; allows another therapist to treat patient with minimum explanation
• Consistently documents education including topic, method, effectiveness and potential need for further education.
• Reassessment of patient's progress is completed per department/regulatory policy and is clearly evident in documentation; goals are updated and adjusted care plans are visible to all caregivers.
• Documentation reveals therapist's expertise and understanding of continuum of care.

Department Business

• Attends 85% of all department meetings.
• Readily identifies clinical development needs and participates in clinical development
• Actively participates in problem solving with issues that arise and demonstrates good judgment. Looks for timely resolution and remains calm and effective.
• Ensures that all base and annual competencies are completed prior to due date. Completes self-assessment annually.
• Takes opportunities to educate physician and other health care workers on role of PT and appropriate use of services.
• Remains aware of department goals and requirements - productivity, patient safety, regulatory requirements.
• Researches new or needed equipment, discusses with peers and makes recommendations to manager. Removes any faulty equipment from services, forwards equipment/information to bio med and notifies manager.

Professional Growth:

• Adheres to professional code of ethics, as well as organizations core values 52. Maintains state licensure. Provides manager with renewal information 15 days prior to expiration date. 53. Maintains AHA CPR certification.
• Participates with clinical student affiliation through direct or adjunct supervision.
• Applies knowledge of growth and development from infant through geriatrics and is able to modify interventions for care based on each stage.
• Participates in students' clinical affiliation as clinical instructor and/or adjunct.

Hospital Procedures:

• Accrues no more than 3 unscheduled absences annually. Reports to assigned work station at designated time. 58. Follows established call in procedures.
• Consistently follows hospital and/or departmental procedures for dress, hygiene and ID badges.
• Follows all safety precautions
• Has no avoidable accidents or injuries during the annual review period.
• Attends and/or completes all mandated infection control and safety programs on or before scheduled performance review date.
• Adheres to hospital policies and department rules consistently.
• Consistently exhibits a professional demeanor that supports the CHRISTUS mission, creating an atmosphere of security and comfort for patients and families and that influences others to strive for professionalism.
• Follows the CHRISTUS Health guidelines related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) designed to prevent or detect unauthorized disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI). xhyhwjd

Requirements:

Education/Skills

• Graduate of an accredited school of Physical Therapy with a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy

Experience

• Graduate or experienced therapist

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

• Must be licensed in the state of Texas as a physical therapist.
• American Heart Association BLS – within two (2) weeks of employment

Work Schedule:

5 Days - 8 Hours

Work Type:

Full Time