Field Physical Therapist - Care at Home

Day (United States of America)

Field Physical Therapist - Care at Home

The physical therapist contracted or employed through the Agency is responsible for providing physical therapy services to promote positive therapeutic outcomes and for adherence to all conditions outlined in the Personnel Services Agreement.

JOB 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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Graduate of a physical therapy curriculum accredited jointly by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association and the American Physical Therapy Association. Possesses a degree from a baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate program in physical therapy approved by an accredited organization. Minimum of two years of appropriate experience as a physical therapist. Community/home health experience is preferred. Possesses and maintains current CPR certification and BLS Certification. Must have valid Florida Driver's license, a reliable automobile and minimum insurance as required by law. Licensed to practice as physical therapist within the State. Must possess a caring and compassionate demeanor.

SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND LICENSURE:

Has a working knowledge of a skill or discipline that requires basic analytic ability. Has an overall understanding of the work environment and process. Has working knowledge of the organization. Basic computer software skills in Microsoft Word and Excel. Ability to work holidays and weekends as operation demands. Ability to maintain the highest standards of ethical professional and clinical judgment. Ability to address staff and patients in a courteous and friendly manner as well as accept constructive criticism. Must be willing to communicate with patients of various levels of functioning and various types of personalities. Willingness to communicate perceived physical and emotional needs of patients to other skilled staff to assist with addressing their care needs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES:

Provides physical therapy services to patients according to a written physician plan of care.  This may include, but will not be limited to: Screening of patients; implementing treatment for assigned patients; delivering treatment to achieve identified objectives according to the established treatment plan; appropriately documenting progress toward identified objectives and communicating patient status and needs to the patient, the patient’s family, the staff and other professionals as appropriate. Identifying a problem list, long-term goals, short-term goals and a treatment plan. Interventionient’s response to intervention and plan of care modifications is indicated. Physical Therapist will adapt treatment to meet the individual needs of the patient. Assesses and evaluates therapeutic/rehabilitative/functional status and participates in case conferences to develop the total plan of care. Can initiate therapy prime plan of care at any Oasis time point: Start of Care, Resumption, and Recertification. Able to perform an admission, recertifications, and/or resumptions of care that are specific to each patient Evaluates home environment to assure services can be safely provided in the home. Assists the physician, ARNP, or PA in evaluating patient’s potential for rehab through applying diagnostic and prognostic muscle, nerve, and joint and functional abilities tests. Adheres to department and patient schedules and modifies as appropriate for treatment regime. Provides/recommends/fabricates adaptive devices, orthotics or prosthetics. Trains patient, family and appropriate staff in the use or application of the devices, orthotics or prosthetics. Utilizes physical agents, including, but not limited to heat, cold, water, light, electricity, ultrasound and massage. Confers formally and informally with other team members in coordinating the total rehabilitation program of the patient. Determines priority needs for physical therapy. Reports to physician, ARNP or PA, the patient’s reaction to treatment or changes in condition. Initiates the physical therapy program and instructs other health team personnel and/or family/caregiver members in certain phases of physical therapy with which they may work with a patient, when appropriate. Instructs the patient and/or the caregiver on the patient's total physical therapy program. Identifies patient and family/caregiver needs for other home health services and refers as necessary. Observes and records activities and findings in the clinical record per Agency standards and reports to the physician, Patient Care Coordinator, ARNP or PA, the patient's reaction to treatment and any changes in patient's condition, or when there are deviations from the plan of care; Prepares and submits clinical and progress summaries based on the attainment of goals as directed by Agency policy and procedure. Provides physical therapy consultation to patient’s families/caregivers when indicated. Participates in peer consultation process. Supervises Physical Therapy Assistants according to organization policy and state regulations, Is accessible at all times during working hours. Attend in-service training and facility meetings as required. Provides in-service education to the members of the patient care team and to members of the community. Assumes responsibility for ongoing continuing education and professional development. Complies with all Infection Control, Universal Precautions, and OSHA standards for the healthcare professional. Assists with and participates in Continuous Quality Improvement Program as required. Adheres to established confidentiality standards as required Halifax Care at Home policies and procedures. Acts as case manager in cases when therapy is the only skilled service, and may instruct, supervise and evaluate home health aide care every two (2) weeks Participates in discharge planning for patient. Meets Agency productivity goals. Uses limited independent judgment to make decisions based on precedents and established guidelines. Solves problems using standard procedures and precedents. Knows when to refer issues to supervisor and when to handle them personally. Maintains clinical competency in physical therapy practice and theory. The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job.  The incumbents may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in this description. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. The ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals.  Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.  Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors as appropriate.

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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.

The employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and taste or smell.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles.  The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals and outside weather conditions

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT/ WORK AIDS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of the home health agency software, Internet software and Word Processing software, and demonstrate competency with documentation in the agency EMR system.

Computer, calculator, telephone, fax machine, sphygmomanometer, stethoscope, thermometer.