Physical Therapy Assistant

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Establishes and maintains effective communication with physicians, staff, and other departments.
• Executes plan of care within and in full compliance with state board recommendations and guidelines.
• Responds to patient questions and inquiries as required to resolve problems and maintain high
• patient standards.
• Documents care and other patient information for the medical record and per state practice act.
• Fully integrated as the primary member of the treatment team for each case in caseload.
• Complies with department policies and procedures and state regulations for OSHA and infection control.
• Assists with training Physical Therapy Technicians.
• Maintains patient confidentiality.

EDUCATION

• Requires an Associate’s Degree in Physical Therapist Assisting from an accredited program and must be certified in the state of which physical therapist (PTA) practices.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of one year experience in an out-patient Physical Therapy clinic or equivalent experience.

REQUIREMENTS

• Current state PTA certification

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of physical therapy principles, standards, and practices.
• Knowledge of how to use the physical therapy equipment.
• Knowledge of company policies, OSHA, and infection control regulations.

SKILLS

• Consistently using effective problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Skill in coaching successfully and communicating with a wide variety of learning styles.
• Critical communication skills.
• Skill in recognition of fall risk patients/high risk or non-compliance patients.

ABILITIES

• Ability to communicate clearly and engage fully with providers, each patient, and any appropriate family members/support structures
• Ability to interpret appropriately physical therapy plan of care, participate in the development of progressions within the plan of care, and execution of the plan of care for every patient.
• Ability to use effective problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to use effective problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to integrate and communicate fully in a team atmosphere to best support patients/clients and colleagues/co-workers.
• Ability to work with and engage fully with patients of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities.
• Ability to engage fully with all patients, colleagues, and co-workers.
• Ability to work with and support patients with a wide range of physical abilities.
• Ability to use the computer system to document patient medical records.

ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS

• Normal office environment.
• Some travel within the community.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS

• Requires sitting and standing associated with a normal office environment.
• Requires occasional support all size patients in transfers.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. Demands of kneeling, squatting, overhead lifting.

ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• HOPCo Mission, Vision, and Values must be read and signed.

This description is intended to provide only basic guidelines for meeting job requirements. Responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities, and working conditions may change as needs evolve.