Physical Therapist

Job Summary

• Responsible for assessing, planning, organizing, and administering rehabilitative programs that improve mobility and daily functional activities, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury in accordance with New Mexico Practice Act guidelines.

General Accountabilities

• Performs initial exams, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
• Plans, prepares, executes, and supervises individually designed programs of treatment to restore, improve and maintain physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients and aid in adjustment to disability. 
• Provides quality care to all patients as appropriate for patient pathology.
• Schedules patients efficiently to meet Clinic productivity goals. 
• Utilizes functional activities with proper coding and documentation to maximize patient benefit.
• Manages active patients to ensure attendance and compliance with treatment plan.
• Completes all required daily notes during treatment and other documentation timely.
• Identifies and documents goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.
• Supervises supportive personnel in accordance with regulations.
• Evaluates functional outcomes at various stages and adjusts treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
• Prepares individualized home exercise programs and instructs patients and families.
• Confers with patients, medical practitioners, or other appropriate parties to plan, implement, or assess intervention programs.
• Complies with Clinic policies and procedures and other regulatory standards; Executes practices as appropriate.
• Complies with professional, ethical, and legal standards.

·        Ensures patient service and quality standards are met including patient interaction and cleanliness of facilities. 

·        Ensures professionalism standards of the facilities and staff are met and maintains professional image of the facilities. 

• Participates in plans for continuous quality improvement regarding patient care, staff development and facility advancement.
• Complies with Clinic programs for functional outcomes and patient satisfaction.   
• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.
• Will follow written protocol/procedures for tasks. Will maintain up to date protocol/procedure for tasks.

Job Qualifications

• Minimum Education: Graduate of Accredited Physical Therapy Program.
• Preferred Education: Doctorate of Science Degree in Physical Therapy.
• Minimum Experience: None
• Preferred Experience: At least two years practicing in an outpatient setting.
• Minimum Field of Expertise: None
• Preferred Field of Expertise: Specialized physical therapy techniques and their utilization to restore, improve and maintain functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients. Bilingual in Spanish.
• Certification: Current New Mexico Physical Therapist state license in good standing.
• Clear appropriate Background Check and ability to pass initial and ongoing drug screenings.
• Demonstrates knowledge of anatomy, physiology, etiology, course, prognosis, and manifestations of a wide variety of disease processes. 
• Ability to establish a clinical impression and patient problem list for patients with a wide variety of injury or disease processes with appropriate indications/contraindications for treatment.
• Ability to design, implement and execute an appropriate treatment plan.
• Ability to perform a wide variety of treatment techniques, consistently and accurately.
• Ability to effectively and appropriately document patient care activities according to clinic requirements.
• Ability to supervise support staff. 
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal).

Competencies

• Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively; Listens and gets clarification when necessary; Responds informatively to questions. Writes clearly and concisely; Edits work; Varies writing style to meet specific needs; Presents data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Computer Skills – Skilled with computers, takes advantage of new technology, learns tools quickly, uses technology to enhance job performance. 
• Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures; Conserves clinic resources.
• Customer Service - Focuses on the patient.  Goes beyond basic service expectations and pursues solutions until the patient is satisfied. 

·        Dependability – Meets deadlines; Works independently; Accountable; Maintains focus; Punctual; Good attendance record. 

·        Initiative – Takes action, seeks new opportunities, strives to see projects to completion. 

·        Managing People - Includes staff in planning and decision-making processes; Makes self accessible to staff; Provides regular feedback; Develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; Seeks to improve processes, products and services.

• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives.
• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems time efficiently; Gathers and analyzes information; Develops solutions; Uses reason.

·        Productivity – Manages workload and works efficiently. Respects and achieves Clinic goals and objectives. 

• Professionalism - Approaches others in a polite and tactful manner; Maintains composure and reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments; Maintains professional appearance (uniforms); Keeps a flexible attitude; Arrives to work promptly and is prepared to help patients/clients/co-workers by start time.
• Quality – Strives to eliminate errors; Accurate work is a priority; Seeks opportunities to improve services. 

·        Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Reports potentially unsafe and/or abusive conditions. Uses good body mechanics. Uses equipment and materials properly. 

• Teaching/Training - Clearly explains concepts; Varies presentation style to satisfy different learning needs.

·        Teamwork – Promotes cooperation and commitment within team to achieve goals. Encourages team unity through sharing information or expertise, working together to solve problems, and putting team success first.

·        Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues developmental opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.

Physical Demands

• Frequently required to sit, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms.
• Frequently required to talk or hear.
• Specific vision abilities required for this job include: close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust or focus.
• Frequently cleans and maintains equipment.
• Frequently required to lift, pull, push and place patients on treatment equipment.
• Frequently required to sit, walk or stand.
• Frequently required to stoop, kneel or crouch.
• Occasionally required to lift and/or move greater than 50 pounds with assistance.

Work Environment      

• Exposure to moving mechanical parts.
• The noise level in the work environment usually is moderate.