Physical Therapy Assistant - PRN - St. Mary's Acute

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital•Grand Rapids, MI

About The Position

The Physical Therapy Assistant provides physical therapy services as assigned by and under the supervision of a physical therapist. The role supports treatment planning and evaluation, delivers treatments using modalities, therapeutic exercise, assistive devices, and functional activities, and serves as the primary therapist for treatment following a physical therapist’s evaluation and direction. The assistant documents patient status and progress in accordance with applicable standards and reimbursement guidelines, communicates observations and changes to the physical therapist, and coordinates care with interdisciplinary team members. The position also supports patient and family education, program operations, quality improvement, and organizational goals. Care must be appropriate to the ages and developmental needs of patients served and provided within the employee’s scope of license, certification, or registration and applicable law and regulation.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapist Assistant Program.
Licensed with the State of Michigan.
Possess and maintain BLS certification in accordance with department or program protocol.
For the Munson location, hold a current American Heart Association BLS Course for Healthcare Professionals certification; training will be provided within 60 days of hire if applicable.

Responsibilities

Provide patient care, treatment, and services within the scope of license, certification, or registration and as required by law and regulation.
Assist the physical therapist with treatment planning and evaluation procedures.
Assist the physical therapist in treating patients using modalities, therapeutic exercise, assistive devices, and functional activities.
Report significant observations or changes in a patient’s condition, reaction, and response to treatment to the physical therapist verbally and/or in writing.
Assist with determining equipment and supply needs and may participate in acquiring and inventorying items.
Function as the primary therapist in treating patients following the physical therapist’s evaluation and direction.
Document patient status and progress according to established internal and external time standards and reimbursement guidelines.
Coordinate physical therapy treatment with other aspects of patient care, including participating in interdisciplinary conferences and exchanging written records as directed by the physical therapist.
Instruct patients and families in physical therapy procedures and provide written instructions as needed.
Participate in designated meetings and in-services.
Follow hospital policies and procedures, including patient confidentiality and infection control requirements.
Meet or exceed program productivity expectations.
Provide discipline-specific coverage within the Mary Free Bed system following cross-training, as requested.
Support program operations as assigned and function as a patient advocate.
Demonstrate competence in software and hardware relevant to job responsibilities.
Follow Mary Free Bed Standards of Behavior with patients, coworkers, and community members.
Serve as a clinical instructor for physical therapist assistant students; supervise, teach, and evaluate students’ and volunteers’ skills and communicate with participating universities about student skill levels.
Serve as a resource person in the area of expertise.
Participate in assigned program development and/or research activities.
Participate in orientation and training of new staff.
Help maintain clean and orderly treatment areas.
Provide excellent customer service, encourage and coach team members on service standards, promote teamwork and direct communication, and handle confidential information discreetly and sensitively.
Contribute to quality improvement by identifying problems and seeking solutions, promoting patient and family satisfaction, and participating in departmental customer-service monitoring and reporting.
Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide age-appropriate care, including understanding growth and development across the life span and interpreting patient data to identify age-specific care needs.