Physical Therapy Assistant

Position Summary:

The Physical Therapist Assistant will help Physical Therapists provide physical therapy treatments and procedures. The Physical Therapist Assistant may, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Instructs, motivates, safeguards, and assists patients as they practice exercises or functional activities. Observes patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to the physical therapist in person or through progress notes.
• Confers with physical therapy staff and others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, and coordinating treatment. Communicates with and instructs caregivers and family members on patient therapeutic activities and treatment plans.
• Transports patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements. Secures patients into or onto therapy equipment.
• Administers active and passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, and heat, light, sound, and electrical modality treatments such as ultrasound.
• Measures patients’ range-of-joint motion, body parts, and vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
• Monitors operation of equipment and records use of equipment and administration of treatment.
• Fits patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, and supportive devices such as crutches.

Qualifications/Skills:

• Associates degree or certification from a physical therapy program that included course study in anatomy and physiology, and clinical experience.
• Language –
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.

Mathematical –

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning –

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Other –

• Excellent customer service and patient care skills. ·
• Basic understanding of physical therapy and medical terminology.
• Ability to correlate clinical data with patient care.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, co-workers, and others and adapt communication style as needed for best outcomes.

Physical Demands:

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 essential functions. The position requires the following:

• Prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• Requires lifting, positioning, pushing, and/or transferring patients.
• Frequent reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and crouching.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants are given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.