PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT- CASUAL

Job Summary/Overall Objectives

A Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) implements the treatment plan established by the Physical Therapist with age specific considerations. The PTA performs all functions under the direction and on-site supervision of the Physical Therapist.
The PTA has a responsibility to participate actively in work process and program development to enhance the work environment.

Essential Job Functions

• Performs clinical responsibilities in a manner that provides effective, age specific patient care while achieving optimal outcomes.
• Responds to the treatment plan established by the Physical Therapist.
• Initiates discussion with other medical team members when appropriate to modify therapeutic programs.
• Discusses any changes in the treatment plan and/or patient response to treatment with Physical Therapist in a prompt and professional manner.
• Demonstrates appropriate use of various treatment modalities in patient care.
• Adheres to ethical and legal practice standards.
• Reports any concerns to rehab leadership, or compliance line as appropriate.
• Maintains records in accordance with department and system policies that are accurate, concise, timely, and legible.
• Documents therapy care in format and accordance with practice setting including treatment provided, response to treatment, patient progress, education family conferences, and discharge planning as appropriate.
• Communicates post- discharge needs to appropriate resources.
• Educates all patients and families in a manner consistent with their level of understanding and therapeutic needs.
• Documents education and training as well as patient and/or family level of achievement with training provided.
• Captures maximum revenue for quality services provided while maintain established standards of care.
• Utilizes appropriate documentation including CPT and CDM codes to match services provided.
• Maintains adherence to established efficiency standards.
• Completes daily charge entry accurately.
• Maintains current understanding of patient care insurances and reimbursement issues.
• Assures treatment does not extend beyond last covered date.
• Promotes continual performance improvement both within Inpatient Rehabilitation and throughout Independence Health.
• Demonstrates individual initiative for performance improvement both within the department and throughout Independence Health.
• Actively identifies needs for improvement in the department and system wide and discusses with manager.
• Collaborates with patients, their families, and other health care members to provide excellence in patient care.
• Communicates regularly with other team members via verbal, written, and/or established electronic communication methods.
• Attends interdisciplinary team meetings when indicated.
• Attends all required Inpatient Rehabilitation staff meetings. If absent or unable to attend, reads minutes and signs appropriate sign-in sheets to indicate review of material.
• Will travel to other entities or sites within the System as patient census dictates, in order to provide quality necessary care where patient need is greatest.
• Staff schedules require flexibility as they are dependent on patient care needs, which may include evening and weekend hours, as necessary to meet demand in their primary area or the needs across the system.
• Participates actively in the ongoing development of new therapy programs and in the enhancement of established programs.
• Attends appropriate internal or external education opportunities to promote growth and expansion of specific programs.
• Research appropriate innovative ides via journal and internet exploration and discusses these with manager leads, and peers.
• Implements a self-directed plan for professional development.
• Demonstrates an awareness of strengths and weaknesses and seeks guidance as needed to address limitations.
• Initiates and participates in continuing education: lectures, video/audio conferences, written and online courses.
• Develops and conducts in-service as appropriate to share information gained from external resources.
• Maintains yearly record of Continuing Education via completion of Education Record.
• Upholds fiscal and operational responsibility.
• Utilizes supplies and equipment in a fiscally responsible manner.
• Maintains a safe and clean work environment.
• Maximizes utilization of non-direct patient care time.
• Maintains responsibility for reporting accuracy of hours worked.
• Participates in supervision of studies as appropriate.
• Participates actively in professional activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Competency and Experience (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

Required Qualifications/Experience

• Associate degree, Physical Therapist Assistant.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• Previous work experience in an outpatient setting.
• Current Lifeguard Certification through the American Red Cross:

Lifeguard/FirstAid/CPR/AED

• Knowledge and application of Microsoft Office programs.
• Experience is specialty areas of orthopedics, neurology, aquatics, and geriatrics.

License, Certification & Clearances

• Act 34-PA Criminal Record Check from the PA State Police system with renewal.
• Act 33 with renewal.
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program.
• Current licensure in State of Pennsylvania as a Physical Therapist Assistant.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities but does serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between System locations.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Independence Health and its affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. It is their policy to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other classification protected by law. Independence Health and its affiliated companies will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee.
Moreover, duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Work Environment

Effective March 2020 or during pandemic: goggles, face shield and mask are required according to CDC guidelines

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Essential – Absolute Necessity.

Marginal – Minimal Necessity.

Constantly – 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.

Frequently – 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.

Occasionally – 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.

Rarely – Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.

Physical Condition

Essential

Marginal

Constantly

Frequently

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

Extreme Heat

x

Extreme Cold

x

Heights

x

Confined Spaces

x

Extreme Noise(>85dB)

x

Mechanical Hazards

x

Use of Vibrating Tools

x

Operates Vehicle (company)

x

Operates Heavy Equipment

x

Use of Lifting/Transfer Devices

x

x

Rotates All Shifts

x

8 Hours Shifts

x

x

10-12 Hours Shifts

x

On-Call

x

Overtime(+8/hrs/shift; 40/hr/wk)

x

x

Travel Between Sites

x

x

Direct Patient Care

x

x

Respirator Protective Equipment

x

x

Eye Protection

x

x

Head Protection (hard hat)

x

Hearing Protection

x

Hand Protection

x

x

Feet, Toe Protection

x

Body Protection

x

x

Latex Exposure

x

x

Solvent Exposure

x

Paint (direct use) Exposure

x

Dust (sanding) Exposure

x

Ethylene Oxide Exposure

x

Cytotoxic (Chemo) Exposure

x

Blood/Body Fluid Exposure

x

x

Chemicals (direct use) Exposure

x

x

Mist Exposure

x

Wax Stripper (direct use)

x

Non-Ionizing Radiation Exposure

x

Ionizing Radiation Exposure

x

Laser Exposure

x

x

Physical Demands

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Essential – Absolute Necessity.

Marginal – Minimal Necessity.

Constantly – 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.

Frequently – 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.

Occasionally – 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.

Rarely – Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.

Physical Condition

Essential

Marginal

Constantly

Frequently

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

Bending (Stooping)

x

x

Sitting

x

x

Walking

x

x

Climbing Stairs

x

x

Climbing Ladders

x

Standing

x

x

Kneeling

x

x

Squatting (Crouching)

x

x

Twisting/Turning

x

x

K