Physical Therapist PT

PRNs Needed for our therapy team at Sixteen Acres in Springfield MA.

POSITION SUMMARY

Primarily responsible for planning, organizing, developing and directing Physical therapy services in accordance with current applicable federal and state standards, guidelines and regulations. To ensure the highest degree of quality resident care can be maintained at all times. Physical Therapists (PTs) provides a variety of medical services to help individuals who have been injured or physically affected by illness to recover or improve function. A physical therapist must be able to evaluate a patient’s condition and devise a customized physical rehabilitation and treatment plan. The PTs’ goal is to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability, in order to maximize quality of life.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Physical Therapists provide care to patients based on the application of scientific physical therapy principles. Responsibilities of the Physical Therapist include (but are not limited to):

· Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate and direct physical therapy services as well as its programs and activities in accordance with current regulations and guidelines that govern the skilled nursing facility.

· Assumes responsibility for the assessment of patients appropriate to the age of the patient

· Assumes responsibility for the care of patients appropriate to the age of the patient

· Maintains and completes accurate documentation, department records and reports.

· Ensures effective communication regarding PT programs.

· Contributes to the daily management of patient care and rehabilitation personnel.

· Maintains commitment to professional growth and competency.

· Operates and maintains equipment and environment in a safe and orderly manner.

· Contributes to the philosophy of quality care and human dignity at the facility.

· Contributes to the effective operation of the facility by demonstrating dependability in job performance.

· Maintains an efficiency standard of 75% weekly to meet expected facility benchmarks.

· Assumes the responsibility, authority and accountability of directing the physical therapy assistant.

· Performs evaluations/screens in a timely and efficient manner.

· Completed documentation in a timely manner in accordance with state and federal regulations.

· Maintains appropriate continuing education credits in accordance with state regulations.

· Maintains a positive work environment for residents and coworkers.

· Plans and administers medically prescribed physical therapy treatment for patients suffering from injuries, or muscle, nerve, joint and bone diseases, to restore function, relieve pain, and prevent disability

· Reviews physician's referral (prescription) and patient's condition and medical records to determine physical therapy treatment required

· Tests and measures patient's strength, motor development, sensory perception, functional capacity, and respiratory and circulatory efficiency, and records findings to develop or revise treatment programs

· Plans and prepares written treatment program based on evaluation of patient data

· Administers manual exercises to improve and maintain function

· Instructs, motivates, and assists patient to perform various physical activities, such as non-manual exercises, ambulatory functional activities, daily-living activities, and in use of assistant and supportive devices, such as crutches, canes, and prostheses

· Administers treatments involving application of physical agents, using equipment, such as hydrotherapy tanks and whirlpool baths, moist packs, ultraviolet and infrared lamps, and ultrasound machines

· Evaluates effects of treatment at various stages and adjusts treatments to achieve maximum

· Administers massage

· Administers traction to relieve pain

· Records treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enters information into computer

· Participates with discharge planning, development and implementation of resident care plans.

· Instructs patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home

· Confers with physician and other practitioners to obtain additional patient information, suggest revisions in treatment program, and integrate physical therapy treatment with other aspects of patient's health care

· Orients, instructs, and directs work activities of assistants and aides

· Performs other position-related duties as assigned, depending on assignment setting

Other Responsibilities

· Complete required orientation as directed by facility

· Follow facility and OSHA safety rules and procedures while on assignment

· Follow facility and GHR Unusual Occurrence Protocol

· Respect cultural and religious practices of patients

· Uphold HIPAA regulations

· Punctual and dependent for assigned/confirmed shifts Position Requirements

Working Conditions

Evening and weekend work may be required in order to fit patient schedules. The job is physically demanding. Physical Therapists are required to stand for long periods of time. They spend considerable time stooping, kneeling and crouching. PTs move heavy equipment. They assist with patient transfers and lifts or help them turn, stand or walk. So, to guard against back injury, they must follow proper body mechanics and procedures for lifting/moving patients. Physical Therapists that work in sub-acute or long-term care settings, have patients that need more assistance, therefore the job is more physically demanding, compared to PTs that work in out-patient settings.

Physical Demands

• Ability to lift fifty (50) pounds. Moving, lifting or transferring of patients may involve lifting of up to 100 pounds.

• Ability to stand for extended periods

• Fine motor skills

• Visual acuity

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach forward with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Physical Demand Ratings are an estimate of the overall strength requirements that are considered to be important for an average, successful work performance of a specific job. In order to classify the occupation of a worker with a physical demand rating, the most strenuous and frequently performed tasks are evaluated. The overall physical demand rating for a job of the PT falls within the Medium classification according to the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. However, due to the population in contracted facilities, this position has been classified as Heavy (exerting 50 to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 20 to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or 10 to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

All other duties as Assigned:

I understand this job description and its requirements. I understand that this is not an exclusive list of all job functions and that I am expected to complete all duties as assigned. I understand the job functions may be altered by management at any time, and that this job description in no way constitutes an employment agreement. I am an at-will employee.

I further understand that performing this job may involve exposure to body fluids or other potentially infectious materials or residents with communicable diseases.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Competency Statement(s)

• Assertiveness - Ability to act in a self-confident manner to facilitate completion of a work assignment or to defend a position or idea.

• Active Listening - Ability to actively attend to, convey, and understand the comments and questions of others.

• Detail Oriented - Ability to pay attention to the minute details of a project or task.

• Diversity Oriented - Ability to work effectively with people regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or job type.

• Empathetic - Ability to appreciate and be sensitive to the feelings of others.

• Interpersonal - Ability to get along well with a variety of personalities and individuals.

• Communication, Oral - Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word.

• Honesty / Integrity - Ability to be truthful and be seen as credible in the workplace.

• Goal Oriented - Ability to focus on a goal and obtain a pre-determined result.

• Accuracy - Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly.

• Analytical Skills - Ability to use thinking and reasoning to solve a problem.

• Coaching and Development - Ability to provide guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas.

• Communication, Written - Ability to communicate in writing clearly and concisely.

• Conceptual Thinking - Ability to think in terms of abstract ideas.

• Conflict Resolution - Ability to deal with others in an antagonistic situation.

• Persuasive - Ability to influence others to change position or to adopt a specific point of view.

• Motivation - Ability to inspire oneself and others to reach a goal and/or perform to the best of their ability.

• Negotiation Skills - Ability to reach outcomes that gain the support and acceptance of all parties.

• Management Skills - Ability to organize and direct oneself and effectively supervise others.

• Leadership - Ability to influence others to perform their jobs effectively and to be responsible for making decisions.

• Enthusiastic - Ability to bring energy to the performance of a task.

• Ethical - Ability to demonstrate conduct conforming to a set of values and accepted standards.

• Energetic - Ability to work at a sustained pace and produce quality work.

• Safety Awareness - Ability to identify and correct conditions that affect employee safety.

• Delegating Responsibility - Ability to allocate authority and/or task responsibility to appropriate people.

• Resource Management (People & Equipment) - Ability to obtain and appropriate the proper usage of equipment, facilities, materials, as well as personnel.

• Problem Solving - Ability to find a solution for or to deal proactively with work-related problems.

• Training - Ability to develop a particular skill in others to bring them up to a predetermined standard of work performance.

• Team Builder - Ability to convince a group of people to work toward a goal.

• Strategic Planning - Ability to develop a vision for the future and create a culture in which the long-range goals can be achieved.

Education:

· Graduate of an accredited school of Physical Therapy; Masters in PT

· Federal-, State- and GHR-required credentials current and on file

Experience:

· Current PT license, in good standing with the State licensing board

· Licensed Physical Therapist in the state assigned.

· Minimum of one (1) year PT experience, in corresponding setting

· Long term care experience preferred.

· Graduates accepted.

· Cognitive skills as related to the position