Summary

The Physical Therapist plans and administers medically prescribed physical therapy treatments for patients suffering from injuries, or muscle, nerve, joint, and bone diseases, in an effort to restore function, relieve pain, and prevent disability by performing the following duties: providing education and information to patients and caregivers; participating in required discharge planning, and completing all required documentation according to policy; and directing patient participation in selected tasks to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

These duties and responsibilities described below represent the general tasks performed on a daily basis; other tasks may be assigned.

• Maintain professional development to keep abreast of physical therapy trends
• Maintain on-going participation in professional affiliations
• Attend outside conferences, seminars, and workshops
• Serve as a clinical instructor for student affiliations
• Participate in performance improvement and program development initiatives as needed
• Review physician's referral (prescription), patient's condition, and patient’s medical records to determine physical therapy treatment required
• Test and measure patient's strength, motor development, sensory perception, functional capacity, respiratory, and circulatory efficiency, recording findings to develop and/or revise treatment programs when needed
• Plan a variety of sensorimotor, educational, recreational, and social activities to provide physical therapy to patients ranging from adolescents to geriatrics
• Teach patients the skills and techniques required for participation in physical therapy
• Evaluate patient progress, attitudes, and behaviors on an on-going basis
• Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit
• Prepare reports summarizing patient’s reactions to therapy
• Conduct internal training programs for medical and nursing staff on physical therapy techniques and objectives
• Initiate collaborative interactions with physicians and other hospital staff to improve patient care outcomes
• Meet productivity expectations and positively assist department in achieving financial goals
• Instruct the patient, and the patient’s family as necessary, in treatment procedures to be continued at home
• Orient, instruct, and direct work activities of assistants, aides, and students
• Support both inpatient and outpatient areas as needed 
• Complete assigned tasks within timeframes allocated
• Attend required hospital-wide orientations, meetings, and in-services
• Demonstrate a commitment to flexible work scheduling when necessary to ensure patient care

Supervisory Responsibilities

Reports to: Director, Rehabilitation Services

Supervises: May provide direction to Physical Therapy Assistants and other Rehabilitation Support Staff

Responsibilities: Train employees; plan, assign, and direct work; address complaints and resolve problems

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.

Education and Experience

Minimum Required Education: A Doctorate in Physical Therapy from an accredited program (can substitute a master’s degree with 5 years’ experience or a bachelor’s degree with 10 years’ experience)

Preferred Education: Not applicable

Experience: Previous experience is preferred, but will accept new MD or PhD graduates

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Applicant must have an up-to-date license to practice Physical Therapy in the Commonwealth of Virginia. BLS certification is required.