Pediatric Physical Therapist

Summary: Assesses, plans, organizes, and participates in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, alleviate pain, increase strength, restore function, prevent disability and promote overall fitness and health of patients. A Pediatric physical therapists also provide habilitative programs to children to develop motor skills not yet achieved.

Duties and Responsibilities

Plans, prepares, and carries out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, restore physical functioning in or alleviate pain and prevent physical dysfunction in patients.

Tests and measures patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity and respiratory and circulatory efficiency and records data.

Performs and documents initial evaluations, treatment goals and plans of care; regularly updates documentation and maintains prescriptions and signatures.

Reviews the physician's referral and patient's medical records in addition to performing an initial evaluation to determine patient diagnosis, prognosis and subsequent treatment interventions.

Discusses diagnoses and prognoses with patients and/or caregivers as well as treatment plans and goals of physical therapy.

Performs treatment interventions, including use of exercise, manual techniques, modalities and mechanical traction.

Evaluates effects of treatment at various states and adjusts treatments to achieve maximum benefits.

Confers with the patient and/or caregivers, medical professionals, and relevant individuals to plan, implement, and evaluate the intervention programs.

Promptly and thoroughly documents and maintains clinical and administrative records for patients' treatments, including treatment performed, response to treatment and progress towards goals; also bills accordingly.

Discharges patients from physical therapy when goals or projected outcomes have been attained and instructs patients and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.

Directs, supervises, accesses and communicates with support personnel including physical therapist assistants and medical assistants.

• Supervises physical therapy and physical therapist assistant students.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education/Skills

Must hold a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) or equivalent; and equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Active licensure as a Physical Therapist in New York State
• Current CPR certification ( Preferred)
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Thorough knowledge of physical therapy practices and principles.

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

Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet software and electronic medical record software

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Physical Requirements

Ability to regularly stand, walk, use hands, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, talk and hear

• Ability to climb/balance
• Ability to sit
• Ability to lift and move up to 75 pounds
• Specific vision abilities including close vision, distance vision, depth perception, ability to adjust focus and see color
• Ability to carry, push, pull and lift equipment necessary for care

Ability to Transfer Patients

The Chautauqua Center is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age disability or status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era, pregnancy, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, citizenship or membership in any other legally protected class.