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.

• Promotes and maintains health by providing physical therapy services under the supervision of a physical therapist.
• Contributes to a physical therapist’s effectiveness by identifying patient care issues and reporting those to the supervising physical therapist.
• Evaluates abnormal conditions by reviewing physical therapist’s interpretations of patient evaluations and test results.
• Performs therapeutic procedures by administering physical therapy procedures as identified in the plan of care by the physical therapist.
• Documents patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
• 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.
• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations, and adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Maintains legal and accreditation compliance by adhering to policy positions concerning federal, state, and local regulations and JACHO standards.
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, reading periodicals, maintaining personal networks, and participating in professional organizations.
• Conducts therapy practice within defined standards of care.

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.

Required: Possess a Physical Therapist Assistant Associates degree from program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education and approved by the New Jersey Board of Physical Therapy Examiners.

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

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

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

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

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.

Occasional exposure to cleaning/disinfecting chemicals.

Possible exposure to communicable diseases.