Physical Therapy Assistant
About The Position
New England Homes for the Deaf (NEHD) is a life plan community founded in 1901, providing a continuum of care for Deaf, Deafblind, and hard of hearing seniors. Its services include independent living, rest home, skilled nursing, Deaf senior centers, short-term rehabilitation, respite care, and hospice care. NEHD’s mission is to provide long-term healthcare, housing, recreation, and social support in an accessible, barrier-free, culturally sensitive environment with optimal communication and architectural resources. The per diem Physical Therapy Assistant evaluates patients’ physical needs and abilities, develops and implements individualized therapy plans, provides hands-on interventions, and monitors and communicates patient progress. The role collaborates with other clinicians and care partners to support coordinated care, educates patients and families, maintains compliant documentation, and participates in quality improvement and required education. Staff are required to take free, on-site American Sign Language and Deaf Culture classes.
Requirements
- A bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree from an accredited program.
- Knowledge of professional therapy principles, practices, concepts, and procedures as applied to the patient population.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Ability to prioritize and triage priorities.
- Ability to provide clear, meaningful feedback to patients and caregivers.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and FERPA guidelines for patients and employees.
- Proficiency in Microsoft 365 and applicable electronic health record documentation.
- Respectful and compassionate attitude toward residents and staff.
- Pleasant personality and ability to maintain a calm demeanor during excitable or emergency situations.
- Willingness to learn American Sign Language (ASL); all staff must take free, on-site ASL and Deaf Culture classes.
- Ability to use hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- Ability to stand for long periods while examining patients.
- Ability to lift 40 pounds repeatedly throughout the day, including during patient transfers, using proper body mechanics.
Responsibilities
- Conduct assessments to evaluate patients’ physical needs and abilities.
- Develop and implement personalized treatment plans to improve mobility, functional independence, and well-being.
- Use standardized assessments and clinical observations to identify patient strengths, limitations, and intervention needs.
- Administer tests and evaluation techniques to determine functional status and therapy needs.
- Analyze evaluation results and design therapy programs that meet patient needs.
- Implement individualized therapy plans of care.
- Evaluate the need for therapy equipment and assistive devices, and instruct patients, caregivers, and support personnel in their use and care.
- Evaluate and report patient progress to the treatment team, caregivers, and supervisor as necessary.
- Provide hands-on physical therapy interventions, exercises, and modalities.
- Follow department documentation guidelines and maintain accurate, current records in accordance with regulatory standards.
- Participate in department quality improvement initiatives.
- Complete ongoing mandatory educational and regulatory requirements.
- Collaborate with the Occupational Therapist and Speech-Language Pathologist to coordinate comprehensive care.
- Educate short-term rehabilitation patients and their families about therapeutic exercises and strategies for ongoing care.
- Communicate with NEHD team members and outside providers as appropriate to support comprehensive interdisciplinary care.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by the CEO.
Benefits
- Sick time accrued at one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours per year, in compliance with Massachusetts Mandatory Sick Time Law; the amount may be lower in the year of hire.
- Free, on-site ASL and Deaf Culture classes.
