Physical Therapist Assistant

Job Summary

Responsible for evaluating/assessing needs of referred patients and formulating treatment plans. Provides therapy services defined in treatment plans. Work cooperatively with physicians, case managers, and adjustors. May supervise physical therapy assistants and aides. Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within physical therapy field. Relies on experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals. Performs a variety of tasks. A certain degree of creativity and latitude is required.

Essential Functions 

• Meets the patient's goals and needs and provides quality care by assessing and interpreting evaluations and test results, determining, and implementing physical therapy treatment plans.
• Helps patient accomplish treatment plan and accept therapeutic devices by administering manual exercises, instructing, encouraging, and assisting patients in performing physical activities, such as exercises, ambulatory functional activities, and daily-living activities and in using assistive and supportive devices, such as crutches, canes, and prostheses. Applies physical agent modalities as needed to meet patient and treatment goals.
• Evaluates effects of physical therapy treatments by observing, noting, and evaluating patient's progress, recommending adjustments and modifications.
• Assures continuation of therapeutic plan following discharge by designing home exercise programs; instructing patients, families, and caregivers in home exercise programs; recommending and/or providing assistive equipment; recommending outpatient or home health follow-up programs.
• Participates in discharge planning by consulting with physicians, nurses, social workers, and other health care workers, contributing to patient care conferences.
• Practices established hospital and departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality improvement program, safety, environmental, and infection control standards.
• Documents evaluations, re-evaluations, treatment goals and plans in an accurate and timely manner. Completes required forms and documents in accordance with company policy and state and/or federal regulations.
• Conducts therapy practice within defined standards of care.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
• Complies with federal, state, and accrediting body requirements.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Minimum Education/Certifications

Required: Possess a minimum of a master's degree in physical therapy from an accredited college or university except for an applicant who prior to January 1, 2003, graduated from an accredited physical therapy program and possessed a minimum of a bachelor's degree in physical therapy or a bachelor's degree and a certificate in physical therapy from an accredited college or university

Preferred: Doctor of Physical Therapy

Licensure: Licensed as a Physical Therapist by the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs

Certification: Basic Life Support (BLS) by American Heart Association (AHA).

Minimum Work Experience

Minimum: 3 Months experience in acute/subacute care and/ or outpatient physical therapy setting treating orthopedic, neurological, medical populations.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

Must be willing to work holidays, weekends and provide additional coverage as needed

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift, transport, and/or transfer patients and/or equipment
• Must be able to walk, stand and bend for extended periods of time
• Must be able to provide heavy manual resistance while exercising patients.
• Must possess good manual dexterity and good visual and hearing acuity.

Working Conditions

Occasional exposure to cleaning/disinfecting chemicals. Possible exposure to communicable diseases.