Physical Therapist

Physical Therapist

Under general supervision, is responsible for professional physical therapy work of average difficulty and performs related work as required.

This is the entry-working class in the Physical Therapy sub-series. An employee in this class is certified to perform professional-level physical therapy work where the principles and techniques of treating disease, bodily weaknesses, or physical defects are applied through therapeutic exercises, mobilization, and other physical remedies. This class differs from Physical Therapy Director in that an incumbent of the latter directs all professional and paraprofessional physical therapy personnel at a facility or agency.

Responsibilities include:

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events:

1. Identifies and recognizes changes in an individual's status such as medical or behavioral issues that may interfere with the implementation and performance of overall plan of care.

Assisting and Caring for Others:

1. Uses behavioral management techniques as a means to modify service recipient behaviors to promote successful outcomes.

2. Ensures service recipients receive prompt medical/mental health care from appropriate personnel to promote health, welfare and safety.

3. Assists service recipients in restoring lost skills, gaining new skills or maintaining existing skills through physical therapy to promote positive outcomes.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People:

1. Administers physical therapy screenings and/or evaluation procedures in order to determine an individual's present skill level and needs.

2. Evaluates an individual's use of adaptive equipment while in treatment for further assessment to ensure positive individual outcomes.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others:

1. Investigates, responds, and resolves complaints and other disputes among staff, customers, and other sources to provide the most effective use of program resources and positive outcomes through mediation, discussions, or other problem solving techniques deemed appropriate.

Controlling Machines and Processes:

1. Operates a variety of therapeutic equipment (i.e., exercise equipment, treatment modalities, etc.) as part of the plan of care.

2. Fabricates and modifies adaptive equipment to meet service recipient needs.

Getting Information:

1. Gathers information through observation, chart review, interviews, hands-on evaluation, and team collaboration to determine need for physical therapy intervention, to develop individualized treatment plans and/or to assess effectiveness of current treatment plans.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization:

1. Provides information to outside agencies, vendors, manufacturers or medical personnel and/or other disciplines regarding progress and effectiveness of intervention to ensure goals and objectives are being addressed.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others:

1. Provides discipline-specific consults as requested by other professionals to promote optimal outcomes.

Performing General Physical Activities:

1. Performs physical activities that require considerable use of arms and legs and whole body movement such as lifting, transferring, walking, and stooping while assisting to implement the plan of treatment.

2. Uses hands and arms to handle, position, move, and manipulate treatment equipment to provide the most optimal therapeutic environment for clients.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others:

1. Explains assessment results, medical terminology and/or treatment plans to provide clarity and understanding in a manner appropriate for the individuals.

Thinking Creatively:

1. Designs, creates or adapts equipment, treatments and programs to achieve optimal functional outcomes.

2. Works with staff to formulate creative ideas and find solutions to problems in an effort to promote and improve service delivery.

Developing Objectives and Strategies:

1. Develops treatment programs as indicated by evaluation results to best meet the needs of the service recipient.

Documenting/Recording Information:

1. Documents all concerns/complaints to ensure health and safety of all parties involved per protocol.

2. Records and maintains documentation in order to meet physical therapy, facility, federal and state guidelines.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems:

1. Develops recommendations based upon evaluation results for such treatment needs as individual follow-up, orthopedic and/or neurological review, use of adaptive equipment, individual positioning, and referral to other program services.

2. Performs assessments in specific areas such as, but not limited to, functional mobility, gross motor skills, and adaptive equipment to provide information for the development of individualized treatment plans.

3. Assesses the environment for safety concerns and determines appropriate equipment usage or environmental modification based on service recipient needs.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:

1. Uses relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with physical therapy, facility, federal and state guidelines.

2. Identifies training needs by reviewing documented staff issues.

Processing Information:

1. Actively processes information to update and/or change individual treatment as related to physical therapy sessions.

2. Actively participates in team/interdisciplinary meetings to process all related information and to determine need to change or update the individual plan of care.

3. Processes paperwork to ensure effective and quality services are delivered to service recipient.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:

1. Provides information regarding progress and effectiveness of intervention to ensure goals and objectives are being addressed.

2. May act as a resource person and offer guidance to co-workers to provide an efficient cohesive work environment.

Performing Administrative Activities:

1. Responds to email, phone calls and other correspondence as required in a timely manner.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge:

1. Attends conferences, in-service training, and continuing education programs as required to maintain licensure.

2. Attends conferences, in-service training, continuing education programs and other related meetings as required to remain current on new practices in the physical therapy field specialty areas, such as, but not limited to, assistive technology, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships:

1. Develops constructive working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, and other facility staff to promote a positive work environment and ensure quality service.

Scheduling Work and Activities:

1. Prioritizes and delegates tasks to other staff to assist with carrying out treatment plans.

2. Schedules treatments and interventions for service recipients receiving physical therapy services/programs.

3. Schedules meetings and trainings to inform and update staff and customers regarding program changes and other relevant information.

4. Flexible hours if needs are met.

5. Travel to all 18 sites as needed.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings:

1. Monitors the proper use of adaptive equipment by individuals engaged in therapy to ensure the equipment is appropriate and meets the needs of the client.

2. Keeps equipment in good repair or refers to appropriate discipline to assure safety standards are met as directed.

3. Orders equipment and materials needed in the implementation of therapeutic treatment to guarantee appropriate equipment and material resources are maintained.

4. Maintains treatment area and/or working environment in orderly manner to ensure work areas function optimally.

5. Requests supplies as needed to maintain appropriate supply inventories.

Interacting With Computers:

1. Operates computer hardware and software, scanners, and other equipment to complete reports, input data, communicate with others, and capture and maintain program information.

Qualifications (Education must be from an accredited institution):

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in physical therapy.

OR

Graduation from a physical therapist program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Education (CAPTE) and approved by the Board of Physical Therapy.

Competencies:

Functional/Technical Competency

Learning on the Fly

Written Communications

Customer Focus

Process Management

Problem Solving

Drive for Results

Ethics and Values

Self-Development

Dealing with Paradox

Knowledge:

Intermediate Knowledge of Education and Training

Intermediate Knowledge of Physical Therapy Principles and Methods

Intermediate Knowledge of Psychology

Intermediate Knowledge of Medicine and Dentistry