Physical Therapist

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Position: Physical Therapist

Strength Level: Medium (DOT Standards)

Supervisor: Therapy Manager/ Director of Rehab

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Summary: 

The Physical Therapist is a qualified, licensed professional who provides quality and efficient patient care to all ages of population in an outpatient rehabilitation program. A physical therapist will collaborate with occupational therapists and speech therapists when appropriate and supervise physical therapist assistants, physical therapy students and technicians as needed.

Essential Functions:

· Patient Care

· Lift minimum of 50 pounds

· Documentation and report writing

· In-service for staff, companies-patients

· Cleaning as needed

Marginal Functions:

• Ordering equipment
• Training of new PTs, PTAs, or other staff members

Education/Experience

· Must be a graduate of an accredited physical therapy school and hold a current, valid Texas license or eligible for such (in the case of a new graduate)

· Must have a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree in Physical Therapy 

Confidential Data:

· Has full and complete access to patient records and financial information

· Conforms to all regulations and policies as outlined including HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability)

Orientation

· Orientation time frame of up to three months

· To be oriented by other physical therapists and the Director of Rehabilitation 

Patient Care

· Evaluates new patients using the appropriate evaluative tools.

· Recognizes when patients need to be referred to a physician.

· Can gather information using verbal, auditory, sensory, visual, olfactory, and tactile sources 

· Provides treatment in a safe manner using safe patient care techniques.

· Receives and interprets information from patients including movement, posture, body mechanics, skins conditions, changes in appearance, and gait to compare to normal standards.

· Can receive and interpret aural information from patients including notation of discomfort, pain, or emergent conditions

· Can read and interpret patient charts, professional literature, and notes from patients, family members, physicians, and other health care providers

· Designs individualized treatment programs to meet the needs of the patient and re-evaluate the program a minimum of one time per week.

· Instruct patients in a home exercise program when professionally deemed necessary 

· Can make physical contact with patients in a non-threatening way

· Has knowledge of modalities and can use as needed

· Willing to learn about and use equipment introduced into the clinic

· Maintains a minimal waiting time of less than 10-minutes from the set appointment time 

· Communicate with patients at each visit to answer questions, concerns, review information, and explain new program additions as needed

· Supervise and critique patients during their exercise program

· Makes recommendations for assistive devices and equipment when needed

· Participate in staff meetings with physicians, employers, patients, school systems, and staff as needed

· Reports equipment malfunction and does repairs as able

· Conforms to HIPAA regulations regarding patient/client information

· Must complete full CCUs and turn in for approval in allotted time frame

· Always maintains an active physical therapist license 

Report Writing – Documentation

· Can document treatment plans, daily notes, progress notes, and any other necessary documents in an accurate and proper manner to remain in compliance with guidelines of medical/ legal standards or laws

· Evaluation and reports are completed and sent to the appropriate person in a timely manner

· Progress notes are completed in a timely manner, prior to patient’s doctor visits, or otherwise needed (every 2-4 weeks) and contain all necessary information 

· Other reports are completed as required

· Completes daily notes in patient charts within 24 hours of treating the patient

· Documents clearly and legibly in the patient’s record, to physicians, and other required documentation as necessary

· Completes discharge notes within 2 weeks of notification of patient completing therapy 

· Sets specific, objective, quantifiable, and appropriate goals on all initial evaluations during documentation in the patient chart 

In-service for staff, companies, patients/ Continuing education

· Attends all in-services as required for staff

· Provides educational training and in-service training as needed

· Attends approved continuing education classes as required, occasionally followed by an in-service to staff

Cleaning

· Will clean mats and gym area as needed

· Will change pillowcases as needed

· Will fold linens as needed

· Will perform assigned cleaning duties

Requirements:

Skills/Specialization:

· Knowledge of proper use of modalities and other equipment used

· Computer skills needed, including electronic documentation 

· Previous experience preferred

DIRECTS WORK of OTHERS / Number of employees for work/ supervised

· 1 PT to provide therapy to a patient at a time, with assistance from technicians/ PTAs as available 

· Assists with supervision of PT students, PTAs, PT techs, and volunteers. 

Measurements (Not all inclusive)

· Boxes to shelves - weighing up to 18 pounds empty, for stacking

· Weights to load boxes – 5–10-pound weights

· Sacks of material - 20-50 pounds

· Reaching overhead, to the floor, horizontally

· Assistance with patient transfers

OSHA Category:

· OSHA risk category 1- High Risk

Number of Employees Supervised: 

· Helps orient, train, supervise PTA’s, technicians, volunteers, and students

Physical requirements: 

· Be able to perform CPR, walk, and balance well enough to assist patients with walking and transferring without injury to self or patient

· Must have manual dexterity to safely operate and adjust buttons and dials on therapeutic modalities and other equipment.

· Must be able to measure vital signs

· Must use proper body mechanics to sit, stand, walk, lift, carry, push, pull and transport patients on a variety of surfaces to reduce injury risk

· Must be able to safely and effectively position hands and apply mobilization techniques or palpate body surfaces and tissue

Standing--Frequent

 

Walking--Frequent

 

Reaching overhead, to the floor, horizontally--Frequent

 

Squatting--Occasional

 

Sitting-- Occasional to Frequent

 

Seeing-- Continuously

 

Hearing--Continuously

 

Speaking--Frequent

 

Writing--Frequent

 

Pushing--Occasional

 

Pulling--Occasional

 

Lifting at least 50#--Frequently

 

Driving--Occasional

 

Gripping--Frequently

 

Pinching--Occasional

Psychological Considerations:

· Ability to take initiative

· Able to communicate with doctors, patient’s family members, fellow employees, and employers in a respectful and professional manner.

· Ability to work under stressful conditions and at times under deadlines 

· Willingness to do other tasks and duties as assigned

· Conducts self in a professional manner inside and outside of the clinic

· Employees have access to all patient information due to cross training and must conform to HIPAA regulations

Cognitive/Motor/

· Ability to read and write

· Ability to use a computer and type 

· Ability to communicate clearly with patients, colleagues, physicians, other health care professionals, community, or professional groups in all the following manners: Orally, in writing, via computer, via telephone, and aurally 

· Ability to problem solve

· Ability to understand new techniques of treatment

Physiological Considerations:

· May be exposed to hazardous chemicals, fumes, and dust, loud noises, or potential falling objects on ergonomic evaluations which could affect respiratory functions, hearing, and possible injury.

Environmental Considerations:

· Most of the work is done indoors. 

· May be exposed to blood and body fluids and contagious diseases: OSHA risk- HIGH

· May find the need to perform emergency care.

· May be subjected to unpredictable situations.

Reports to:

· Therapy Manager/ Director of Rehabilitation 

Background Check: Job is contingent upon background check which includes the following:

• Criminal background check 
• Drug test
• Current CPR
• Current immunizations 
• Driver’s license check
• License verification