Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical Therapist Assistant

The Physical Therapist Assistant provides direct resident care evaluating and managing residents with physical disability due to illness or injury. Under the direct supervisor of the Physical Therapist, the Physical Therapist Assistant implements individualized treatment plans, administers physical therapy treatments to relieve pain and improve patient's mobility, and provides education to patient, family and caregivers.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain positive relationships with patients, visitors, and other employees. Interacts professionally, courteously, and appropriately with patients, visitors and other employees. Behaves in a manner consistent with maintaining and furthering a positive public perception of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Center and its employees.
• Contributes to and participates in the Performance / Quality Improvement activities of the assigned department. Contribution and participation includes data collection, analysis, implementation of and compliance with risk management and claims activities, support of and participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) teams, consistent adherence to the specific rules and regulations of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Health Center (a) Safety and Security Policies, (b) Risk Management : Incident and Occurrence Reporting, (c) Infection Control Policies and Procedures, and (d) Patient and Customer Service.
• Evaluates patients that are referred by a physician (written order) for physical therapy. Patients are of all ages with specialty in pediatrics.
• Establishes any realistic objective measurable goals based on their evaluation, referring doctor's input and patient and / or family member goals.
• Designs a treatment plan based on goals including an estimate of time necessary to achieve goals.
• Integrates the treatment plan into the total patient care plan, in consultation with other personnel providing patient care.
• Implements treatment and documents each treatment according to established guidelines in the medical record.
• Modifies goals and / or treatment according to patient's needs and in concurrence with physician. Formal re-evaluation must take place at least every two (2) weeks for inpatients and every four (4) weeks for out patients.
• Recommends to physician that treatment be terminated when there are no longer any realistic, objective, measurable goals or if goals are unattainable.
• Documents Md's Forms.
• Terminated treatment of an inpatient if a significant medical change occurs including any type of surgical procedure. Documents such in chart and awaits a new referral.
• Assists / attends in staff in-service program.
• Attends pertinent institutional meetings, clinic and rounds.
• Assists in instructing other patient care personnel in proper procedures.
• Participates in multidisciplinary care team.
• Delegates appropriate responsibilities to physical therapy assistant and rehabilitation technicians.
• Responsible for maintaining treatment area in appropriate manner.
• Works together with all members of the department to assure quality care for our patients.

Qualifications