Description

Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines.
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Summary:

• The Physical Therapist assumes the responsibility for assessing the physical abilities of patients, restoring maximum function and maintaining maximum performance of the patient's capabilities, relief of pain, preventing further disability or deformity, and developing or improving the physical abilities of the patient.

Responsibilities:

• Provides skilled physical therapy to patients in the home.
• Provides home health management when a primary nurse is not involved with the patient's case. Review patient progress with other disciplines involved with the patient, as needed, but at least every 14 days.
• Notify the team leader of any patient problems, concerns, or issues as they occur.
• Review patient progress with the team leader during biweekly case conferences. Review the case with the team leader more frequently than weekly if the patient's condition warrants it.
• Communicate with social and/or government agencies providing services to a patient.
• Assess and identify patient’s needs and problems to determine the patient’s need for care and services.
• Assess the physical capabilities of the patient through testing and functional abilities.
• Assess the home environment for safety.
• Assess the patient’s need for medical equipment and assist the patient in obtaining the necessary durable medical equipment.
• Contact the physician to discuss the need for nursing, additional rehabilitation, or medical social services, if these services were not ordered at the time of referral.
• Contact the physician with patient changes or problems on the day they occur.
• Contact the physician after the first patient visit for confirmation of orders or to report patient problems as appropriate.
• Contact the primary nurse with a report of the initial assessment and plan of care.
• Assess for abuse and neglect. Notify the physician and meet with the social service and team leader to discuss a plan of action.
• Complete the initial assessment within 24 hours of the start of care date.
• Reassess patients on each visit throughout the course of service.
• Instruct the patient on the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities/Advanced Directives/Financial Responsibility.
• Inform the patient how to contact the therapist and/or home health department.
• Explain the purpose and frequency of services to the patient/caregiver.
• Develop a care plan based on the assessment findings.
• Identify patient problems and needs.
• Discuss plans and prioritize patient needs with the patient/caregiver.
• Update the care plan as the health status of the patient changes, but at least every 62 days.
• Provision of skilled care
• Identify the patient’s learning needs and receptiveness to learning. Use written teaching material with the patient; leave written teaching instructions and exercise programs in the home with the patient. Document the use of teaching tools and exercise programs.
• Provides direct skilled therapy.
• Reassess patient response to therapy; revise care plan as needed. Contact the physician with changes in the patient's condition.
• Managed Care patients
• Update the case management department with patient status in a timely manner and prior to the date of the last approved visit.
• Provide case manager with comprehensive data to support physical therapy needs and visits.
• Follow the approved visit schedule.
• Supervise the home health aide every two weeks, when the nurse is not involved with the case.
• Review the home health aide care plan with the aide.
• Review and update home health aide care plan as patient functional status changes, but at least every 62 days. Notify home health aide of changes in plan of care.
• Discuss the care provided by the home health aide with the patient/caregiver to assure patient/caregiver satisfaction.
• Place a copy of the home health aide care plan in the home.
• Discharge a patient from home care when the patient no longer requires skilled care.
• Assess possible discharge needs on patient admission; include in the plan of care.
• Prepare patient/caregiver for discharge from home health care before the discharge visit.
• Document discharge reason on the daily time sheet.
• Notify the physician of patient discharge.
• Notify other disciplines on the case of the physical therapy discharge.
• Complete discharge summary.
• Complete documentation of the following information in a timely manner
• assessment paperwork (24 hours)
• progress note for each patient visit.
• discharge summary (day of discharge)
• daily timesheet
• home health aide care plan
• plan of treatment (24 hours)
• verbal order
• Schedule patients according to the plan of treatment (485). Provide a copy of the schedule to the team leader/assistant. Record changes on schedule.
• Schedule patient for weekend/holiday visits as needed.
• Complete the plan of treatment (485) in conjunction with the physician within 24 hours of admission. Complete recertification of plan of treatment two weeks prior to recertification date.
• Discuss needed changes in the plan of treatment with the physician. Document changes in a verbal order.
• Follow physician orders on the plan of treatment; no changes are made without a physician order. Document the change orders on a verbal order.
• Participate in performance improvement processes.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and demonstrate respect for patient and patient property.
• Attends biweekly team meetings and case conferences.
• Attend monthly staff meetings.
• Attend in-services.
• Attend special programs to ensure competency of skills.
• Attend all mandatory in-services.
• Attends a minimum of 12 hours of education time in one year (may include services in the home care department)
• Precept new employees and/or students according to all policies, procedures, and mission of the Penn Care.

Credentials:

• Basic Cardiac Life Support (Required)
• Car Insurance (Required)
• Driver's License (Required)
• Physical Therapist (Required)
• Currently licensed as a physical therapist in Pennsylvania required.

Education or Equivalent Experience:

• Bachelor of Science and 1 years Home health physical therapy required.

We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission. Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.
Live Your Life's Work

We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, citizenship status, military status, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable law.