Physical Therapist Assistant - Part Time

Physical Therapist Assistant

The Physical Therapist Assistant provides direct patient therapy care and support services under the supervision of a Licensed Physical Therapist. Performs interventions as described in the APTA guide to Physical Therapy Practice. Adheres to the State of Ohio Physical Therapy Practice Act and APTA Code of Ethics. This position is 24 hours per pay.

Job Requirements:

• Associates degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant from an accredited program by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
• Physical Therapist Assistant license to practice in the State of Ohio.
• Minimum one year experience as a physical therapist assistant in a supervised setting within the last three years preferred.
• CPR – Approved by American Heart Association.

Organizational Expectations:

• Provides a positive and professional representation of the organization.
• Promotes culture of safety for patients and employees through proper identification, reporting, documentation, and prevention.
• Maintains hospital standards for a clean and quiet patient environment to maintain a positive patient care experience.
• Maintains competency and knowledge of current standards of practice, trends, and developments in related scope of job role or practice.
• Adheres to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
• Participates in ongoing quality improvement activities.
• Maintains compliance with organization's policies, as well as established practices, protocols, and procedures of the position, department, and applicable professional standards.
• Complies with organizational and regulatory policies for handling confidential patient information.
• Demonstrates excellent customer service through his/her attitude and actions, consistent with the standards contained in the Vision, Mission, and Values of the organization.
• Adheres to professional standards, hospital policies and procedures, federal, state, and local requirements, and DNV standards and/or standards from other accrediting bodies.

Adheres to the standards of behavior (ownership, integrity, professionalism, teammate, service excellence, and communication).

Adheres to the five fundamentals of service (acknowledgement, introduction, duration, explanation, and thank you) to promote quality customer service.

Demonstrates a commitment to the service recovery CARE approach (Connect, Apologize, Repair, and Exceed).

Essential Functions:

• Administers active and passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, and heat, light, sound, water, and electrical modality treatments such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and hot and cold packs.
• Administers traction to relieve neck and back pain.
• Instructs, motivates, and assists patients to learn and improve functional activities such as perambulation, transfer, ambulation, and daily living activities.
• Observes patients during treatments and compiles and evaluates data on patients' responses to treatments and progress and reports orally or in writing to Physical Therapist.
• Fits patients for, adjusts, and trains patients in use and care of orthopedic braces, prostheses, and support devices such as crutches, canes, walkers, and wheelchairs, as part of the Plan of Care developed by the Physical Therapist.
• Confers with members of physical therapy staff and other health team member, individually and in conference, to exchange, and discuss patient information for planning, modifying, and coordinating treatment programs, with approval by the Physical Therapist.
• Gives orientation to new Physical Therapist Assistants and PTA student volunteers.
• Performs clerical duties such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, and filling out forms.
• Measures patient's range-of-joint motion, length and girth of body parts, and vital signs to determine effects of specific treatments or to assist Physical Therapist to compile data for patient evaluations.
• Coordinate daily treatment schedules with all disciplines.
• Coordinate therapy treatment schedules for all referred patients and post schedules for nursing staff.
• Coordinate and communicate levels of rehabilitation treatment time following therapists' evaluations to the nursing staff, to support skilled reason for therapy services to managed insurance companies.
• Coordinate maintenance and cleaning of inpatient department equipment, temperature, and culture checks.
• In the absence of Inpatient Therapy Coordinator, PTA may represent the Rehabilitation Department of IDT and HIT meetings, reporting services being delivered. Inform staff of changes in patient's status, as reported in these interdisciplinary meetings.
• Inventory and order inpatient department supplies.
• Communicate daily treatment charges to Office Coordinator by fax or courier.
• Inform evaluating Physical Therapist of new referrals and time frames for completion.

Functional Demands:

Working Conditions and Physical Environment:

• Works in a patient care setting where there is potential exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious materials; and electrical, fire, chemical, physical contact and equipment hazards.
• Fast-paced setting with rapid patient turnover.
• High patient traffic.
• Close-quartered and shared work space.
• Sufficient mobility to negotiate physical plant.
• Strength and endurance sufficient enough to perform physically for long periods of time without sitting (four to eight hours). May include: walking; lifting 25 – 50lbs with or without assistance; bending; twisting; standing; sitting; reaching; stair-climbing and descending.
• Physical dexterity and psychomotor skills to respond adequately and appropriately to routine and emergency patient care needs in an ambulatory setting.
• Visual and auditory capabilities sufficient to read information and respond to patient care needs.
• Ability to work in a computerized environment that includes prolonged sitting and use of keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
• Cognitive ability to accurately observe, analyze, and interpret general and technical data both verbal and written to accurately communicate this information.