Physical Therapy Assistant

LionStone Healthcare•Eaton, OH

13d•$35 - $38•Onsite

About The Position

This Per Diem position involves assisting a Physical Therapist in planning, developing, organizing, evaluating, and directing physical therapy activities. The role includes facilitating Telehealth services, communicating with other departments, maintaining therapy standards, and interpreting procedures to staff, residents, and families. Responsibilities also encompass participating in care conferences, discharge planning, resident assessments, instructing residents and families in home programs and adaptive equipment, and maintaining documentation. Accurate billing and timely completion of daily notes are crucial. The position requires performing administrative duties, reporting concerns to supervisors, and assisting in interviewing residents to evaluate their daily living skills and capacities. The Physical Therapy Assistant will address all goals in the Plan of Care weekly, documenting any challenges and communicating with the Physical Therapist for modifications. They will assist in determining appropriate treatment, selecting activities and exercises, and scheduling therapy services. The role involves informing residents of procedures, preparing necessary equipment, and transporting residents. Demonstrating treatment procedures, performing therapy in resident rooms if necessary, reassuring residents, and preparing them for treatment are key functions. The assistant will provide individualized physical therapy services according to the Plan of Care, ensuring notes are informative and descriptive. Staff development includes participating in in-service education, on-the-job training, and workshops to stay current with field changes. Safety and sanitation involve following established safety standards, departmental policies, and infection control procedures, including universal precautions and wearing personal protective equipment when necessary. The role requires maintaining a clean and safe therapy area, reporting hazardous conditions, and wearing safety equipment when lifting or moving residents. Equipment and supply functions include providing necessary materials, reporting needs, utilizing equipment efficiently, and operating it safely. Resident rights are paramount, including honoring refusal of treatment, abiding by participation in treatment decisions, informing residents of consequences of non-participation, reporting complaints, allowing participation in treatment planning, adhering to HIPAA, and reporting medical concerns to the nurse and therapy supervisor. The working conditions involve office areas, therapy rooms, and resident rooms, interacting with various individuals under diverse circumstances. Constant alertness for resident safety is required, along with participation in continuing education. The role involves lifting, carrying, and supporting residents, and maintaining communication for planning physical therapy needs.

Requirements

Must possess an Associate degree from an accredited program conferring the title of Physical Therapist Assistant.
Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to assure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this Facility, which may include a medical and physical examination.
Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as a Physical Therapist Assistant in Ohio.
Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
Must be knowledgeable of physical therapy procedures.
Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.
Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies, procedures, etc., of the physical therapy service.
Must maintain the care and use of supplies, equipment, etc., and maintain the appearance of therapy areas.
Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing therapy services.

Responsibilities

Assist the Physical Therapist in the planning, development, organization, evaluation, and directing of Physical therapy activities.
Facilitate Telehealth services as instructed to ensure that all required evaluations, recertifications, progress notes, and discharges are completed timely.
Communicate with staff from related departments when planning therapy services.
Assist in maintaining physical therapy standards of practice.
Maintain departmental policies and procedures, safety, environmental and infection control.
Interpret physical therapy procedures and recommendations to staff, residents, family members, as necessary.
Participate in care conferences, discharge planning, and resident assessments, as necessary.
Assist in instructing resident and family members in home programs and use of adaptive equipment.
Assist in maintaining documentation for residents receiving physical therapy.
Ensure that billing for therapy services rendered are coded accurately and in accordance with current standards.
All billing and daily notes must be completed on the date of service.
Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, and charting, as necessary.
Report any questions or concerns to your Director of Rehabilitation and/or supervising Physical Therapist.
Assist in interviewing residents to evaluate daily living skills and capacities to determine extent of abilities and limitations.
Address all goals in the Plan of Care a minimum of once per week.
If a goal cannot be targeted, clearly document the rationale and communicate with the Physical Therapist for modifications needed.
Assist in determining appropriate treatment, selecting activities and exercises based on medical and social history of residents.
Assist in scheduling therapy services, as needed.
Inform resident of procedures involved in physical therapy and prepare necessary equipment.
Assist in transporting resident to and from physical therapy room or area.
Demonstrate to residents and staff personnel the procedures involved in the treatment process, as necessary.
Perform physical therapy in the resident’s room, if necessary.
Reassure resident before and during therapy session.
Prepare resident for treatment and administer physical therapy in accordance with established policies and procedures.
Instruct and supervise resident during therapy.
Assist in designing and adapting equipment in living environment.
Promote participation in individual, group, and concurrent activities.
Recommend modifications and changes in the resident’s therapy treatment, as indicated.
Ensure that all notes are informative, follow guidelines, and are descriptive of the care provided and of the resident’s response to the care.
Provide individualized physical therapy services to residents according to the Plan of Care.
Participate in programs designed for in-service education and on-the-job training.
Attend and participate in workshops, seminars, to keep informed of current changes in the field, as well as to build skills and enhance growth and development.
Attend and participate in Facility in-service training programs as scheduled (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Safety, Infection Control, etc.).
Follow established safety standards for the physical therapy department.
Follow established departmental policies and procedures at all times, including appropriate dress code.
Comply with the Facility’s established safety precautions at all times.
Wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies when lifting or moving residents.
Assist in identifying departmental procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids.
Follow established infection control procedures and universal precautions when performing duties.
Ensure that the therapy area is maintained in a clean and safe manner for resident comfort and convenience by assuring that necessary equipment and supplies are maintained to perform such services.
Follow reporting procedures when observing any hazardous conditions or equipment.
Wear personal protective clothing when performing services that involve potential exposure to blood or body fluids.
Provide necessary material and equipment for resident to perform required therapy.
Report any inventory, equipment, or supply needs to your supervisor.
Utilize all department equipment and supplies in an efficient manner that promotes desired therapy outcomes and minimizes waste.
Operate physical therapy equipment in a safe manner.
Honor the resident’s refusal of treatment request.
Report such action to your supervisor.
Abide by the resident’s participation in treatment decision.
Inform the resident of consequences of not participating in prescribed therapy and document such action in the resident’s clinical record.
Report any resident complaints or grievances to the department supervisor.
Allow the residents to participate in the planning and scheduling of their treatment, as requested.
Adhere to all HIPAA requirements.
Report medical concerns and changes in condition to the resident’s nurse and the therapy supervisor.