PT Aide, Physical Therapy-Per Diem

Meadville Medical Center • Meadville, PA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

To participate, help coordinate and provide professional physical therapy/occupational therapy services directly under the supervision of licensed therapist. This role involves assisting with patient care, preparing treatment areas and equipment, maintaining hygiene, and supporting administrative tasks within the Physical Therapy department.

Requirements

• Must have a high school education.
• Must be able to communicate and effectively exchange information and follow directions with: Physicians, physical therapist, and interdisciplinary team members regarding patient treatments and observations.
• Patients, families and/or significant others and visitors, to provide explanation of hospital procedures, physical therapy treatments, occupational therapy treatments.
• Communicate in positive environment to all members of the P.T. department and staff of MMC for conflict resolution and promoting the effective operation of the department.
• Students, observers and volunteers.
• Organizational skills and initiative necessary to implement physical therapy care appropriate to the patient, and clean, stock and function within the P.T. Department.
• Ability to concentrate, plan, prioritize and react calmly in the health care setting to resolve patient care problems, interact with patient’s families and other team members, occasional stressful situations.

Nice To Haves

• Patient care experience desired but not absolutely necessary.
• Computer experience desired i.e. knowledge of work processing, databases and spreadsheets.
• Should have knowledge of the use of the internet.

Responsibilities

• Monitors patient condition during treatment and notifies therapist of response to intervention.
• Receives patients into the department for scheduled appointment times.
• Redirects any situations when patient arrival time and scheduled time do not coincide.
• Prepares treatment area, equipment, supplies for use.
• Demonstrates correct set-up of equipment (cervical/pelvic traction, electrical stim etc.).
• Correct modality procedures are followed (moist heat, cold pack, paraffin etc.).
• Assists patient with exercise program.
• Performs ambulation activities correctly.
• Assists therapists with gait training.
• Demonstrates knowledge of correct use of assistive devices.
• Cleans and maintains hygiene and sanitary conditions on equipment according to cleaning schedules.
• Uses proper body mechanics while performing job duties.
• Knows proper patient transfer techniques.
• Stocks supplies, prepares gym area, treatment areas for patient care.
• Cleans between patients, as required.
• Attends, participates in monthly unit meetings, other meetings, reads notices.
• Maintains department records, reports, files as required.
• Post information to records and logs (hydroculator, freezer, etc.).
• Assists with clerical duties including but not limited to photocopying, faxing, distribution of mail, answer phone, chart set-up and tear-down, filing.
• Enters data into computer to generate charges for services provided, enters/edits.
• Assists with departmental policy and procedures as instructed.
• Assists with transport of patients to/from therapy as needed.
• Interacts with patients to ensure comfort within the treatment setting.
• Educates patient/family regarding what to expect while receiving therapy services.
• Reinforces handouts given by the therapists; conveys any questions to supervising therapist.
• Demonstrates ability to take vital signs in the adult and geriatric population.
• Recognizes signs and symptoms of shortness of breath, fatigue in adult and geriatric population and reports findings to the therapist.
• Recognizes signs of agitation in infants, pediatrics, adolescents and reports tolerance to treatment to therapist.
• Demonstrates knowledge of surgical precautions following surgery; follows guidelines.

Benefits

• Commitment to review reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities.
• Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Equal opportunity employment for qualified persons with disabilities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED