Physical Therapist

POSITION DESCRIPTION: PHYSICAL THERAPIST

POSITION SUMMARY: The Physical Therapist (PT) is a licensed health care professional that administers Physical Therapy to adult patients requiring part-time intermittent visits and assesses their therapeutic needs. The therapist works as a member of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team serving as care managers with responsibilities for assessing implementing coordinating and evaluating patient care whenever nursing is not active with the patient. The PT supervises the physical therapy assistant (PTA) who has been approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to work in an indirect supervision setting and the home health aide if nursing is not active with the patient.

RESPONSIBLE TO:Director of Professional Services or designee.

I.CLINICAL SKILLS

1. Performs a comprehensive evaluation of patients by applying tests such as ROM strength coordination balance and functional mobility.
2. Develops functional goals and the Plan of Care for PT interventions including visit frequency duration treatment and modality; discusses the Plan with the physician seeking verbal orders and sending for written confirmation of the orders.
3. Reassesses the patient using objective measures and at time-points required by clinical status and payer requirements.
4. Provides therapeutic actions to relieve pain and/or develop or restore function to regain maximum independence.
5. Delegates therapeutic actions to a physical therapy assistant (PTA) considering professional practice standards the practice setting and factors such as the patients condition patient acuity and competency of the specific physical therapist assistant in deciding whether to delegate care.
6. Supervises the PTA based on State Board and PA legislation and as outlined in the Physical Therapy Service Policy.
7. Admits patients to service if trained and competency evaluated in the activity.
8. Serves as primary provider with care manager responsibilities when physical therapy service qualifies the patient for skilled care with responsibility for activities such as care coordination medical orders appropriate comprehensive/re-certification/care resumption/transfer/discharge assessments including OASIS data set requirements following training and competency evaluation.
9. Assesses clinical signs and treatment response of patients on each visit making applicable reports to the physician and sharing with other team members.
10. Teaches supervises and counsels the patient and family members regarding the care requirements of the patient and related health teaching utilizing a preventive and rehabilitative approach.
11. Assists the patient in the selection instruction and troubleshooting of safe equipment supplies and services.
12. Adheres to medical orders for treatment and visit frequency and authorized visits for managed care clients securing verbal medical orders within practice area and completes documentation for requesting physician authentication of orders.
13. Develops the care plan for home health aide activity whenever nursing is not active as applicable to specific patients and to the physician Rx/Plan of Care including supervision and evaluation of the care given by the home health aide to her/his primary patients.
14. Maintains and utilizes supplies responsibly seeking medical orders for non-routine supplies as necessary.
15. Participates with other therapists in taking weekend evening holiday calls on a rotating basis as scheduled.
16. Participates in care conferences.
17. Obtains pre-authorization for home visits for Managed Care patients as needed.

II. DOCUMENTATION

1. Completes comprehensive admission chart including OASIS data set when applicable and submits it to the office within the agency documentation timeliness requirements.
2. Completes the initial physical therapy assessment and reassessments as required and clinically appropriate and/or physical therapy visit report.
3. Completes all required documentation in an accurate and timely manner based on recording timeliness requirements including skilled care provided objective measures patient response progress to goals and ongoing eligibility determination.

D. Completes the discharge/transfer OASIS/assessment and summary and submits them to the office based on agency documentation timeliness requirements.

1. Prepares patient record for re-certification including the OASIS/comprehensive assessment as necessary.
2. Completes the day sheet record appropriately.

III. COMMUNICATION

A. Makes the initial visit within seventy-two (72) hours of referral unless physician order care needs or patient request dictate otherwise.

B. Reports to the case manager a summary of the patients condition including:

1. Problems concerning the patients and how these may be resolved.

2. Changes in patient needs and how these can be met.

3. The need for involvement of other members of the health team such as nursing HHA speech/language pathologist occupational therapist and social services.

C. Communicates with health team members to achieve interdisciplinary coordinated care.

D. Calls the supervising nurse or designee with any immediate patient clinical needs.

E. Alerts supervisor or designee to concerns/changes related to the patients rehabilitation goals.

G. Submits patient visit schedule based weekly or using the electronic software in real time..

H. Maintains confidentiality of client information adhering to HIPAA regulations.

IV. PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

A. Adheres to all policies set forth in the Physical Therapist Practice Act and to Physical Therapy Practice Standards to maintain safe clinical practice.

B. Maintains a professional standard of conduct projecting a positive image of agency at all times.

C. Complies with infection control and safety policies and procedures.

D. Adheres to all policies and practices of the agency to maintain established Standards for Care.

V. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

A. Attends a minimum of one staff meeting/inservice per year.

B. Maintains CEU requirements set by the State Board of Physical Therapy.

C. Participates in additional staff meetings care conferences required educational sessions and the Performance Improvement Program as appropriate.

1. Continually strives to improve care by broadening and deepening knowledge

through formal education attendance at workshops conferences active participation in professional and related organizations and individual study and reading.

VI. PERFORMS ADDITIONAL DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

VII. QUALIFICATIONS

1. Graduate of state approved school of physical therapy accredited by The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) or a successor organization. An education program outside the US that is determined to be substantially equivalent to PT entry level education in the US by a credentials evaluation organization approved by the APTA or an organized identified in 8 CFR 212.15(e) as it relates to PTs is acceptable.

B. Minimum of 12 months acute care or rehabilitation center experience. Outpatient therapy experience may be considered if medical/surgical patients treated.

C. Licensed/registered as a physical therapist in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

D. Holds a current CPR card.

1. When required to travel from one assignment to another on the same day a reliable

independent means of transportation is required. Drivers must have a valid drivers license and car insurance limits adhering to the limits established in the personnel

policies.

F. Obtains and retains a clear criminal history report and as appropriate Childline FBI OIG Medicheck EPLS and any additional required regulatory clearances.

EXPOSURE CONTROL CATEGORY: Moderate Exposure

Offer Hepatitis B vaccine and provide cautionary information on all potential communicable diseases.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT POSITION

Lifting: Regularly lifts and moves patients equipment patient supplies. Frequently lifts up to 40 pounds. Occasionally lifts and moves patients unassisted up to 50 pounds.

Carrying: Carries medical supplies and other items weighing up to twenty (20) pounds.

Pushing/Pulling: Pushing and pulling is required when administering patient therapy and care.

Climbing: Ability to use stairs curbs walkways in order to access patient home.

Bending: Required when administering patient care.

Reaching/Turning/Twisting: Required when administering care.

Repetitive Motions: Hands - Required for certain aspects of patient care: simple grasping fine manipulation.

Feet - Able to walk and stand for various duties.

SENSORY ABILITIES

Speaking: Ability to clearly speak English to communicate assess and educate patients. Must also be able to communicate with physicians and other professionals involved in patient care.

Hearing Ability to hear in order to perform physical assessments including use of stethoscope (may be amplified). Must also be able to hear to detect critical information regarding patient condition and to communicate with physicians and other professionals involved with patient care.

Seeing: Ability to see to administer patient care and perform physical assessment of patients.

Visual acuity - Required within normal limits for monitoring equipment

reading medical data.

Depth perception - Required for fine tasks.

MACHINES TOOLS EQUIPMENT AND WORK Aides

Various medical equipment supplies medications charts computer terminals and other aides are used by the nurse in performance of duties.

I UNDERSTAND THE POSITION DESCRIPTION AND HAVE BEEN ORIENTED TO ITS RESPONSIBILITIES. I ACCEPT THESE RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDING THE AGENCY MISSION AND CORE VALUES. I AGREE TO ADHERE TO THEM.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT the statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees but are not a complete list of responsibilities duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.