PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT

Job Summary

 A Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) implements the treatment plan established by the Physical Therapist with age specific considerations. The PTA performs all functions under the direction and on-site supervision of the Physical Therapist. The PTA has a responsibility to participate actively in work process and program development to enhance the work environment.

Essential Job Functions

• Performs clinical responsibilities in a manner that provides effective, age specific patient care while achieving optimal outcomes.
  • Responds to the treatment plan established by the Physical Therapist.
  • Initiates discussion with other medical team members when appropriate to modify therapeutic programs.
  • Discusses any changes in the treatment plan and/or patient response to treatment with Physical Therapist in a prompt and professional manner.
  • Demonstrates appropriate use of various treatment modalities in patient care.
• Adheres to ethical and legal practice standards.
  • Abides by relevant ethical codes and standards of practice guidelines.
  • Abides by State and Federal laws and regulations, including state licensure laws.
• Maintains records in accordance with department and system policies that are accurate, concise, timely, and legible.
  • Documents therapy care in format and accordance with practice setting including: treatment provided, response to treatment, patient progress, education family conferences, and discharge planning as appropriate.
  • Communicates post- discharge needs to appropriate resources.
  • Documents patient care that is consistent with the guidelines and requirements of agencies and third party payers.
• Educates all patients and families in a manner consistent with their level of understanding and therapeutic needs.
  • Considers patient and family goals in programming.
  • Provides patient and family members with educational materials.
  • Participates in patient/family educational programs as appropriate.
  • Documents education and training as well as patient and/or family level of achievement with training provided.
• Captures maximum revenue for quality services provided while maintain established standards of care.
  • Utilizes appropriate documentation including CPT and CDM codes to match services provided.
  • Maintains adherence to established efficiency standards.
  • Completes daily charge entry accurately
  • Maintains current understanding pf patient care insurances and reimbursement issues.
  • Assures treatment does not extend beyond last covered date.
  • Assures prior authorization has been received prior to initiating treatment.
• Promotes continual performance improvement both within Barclay Rehabilitation and throughout Independence Health. 
  • Demonstrates individual initiative for performance improvement both within Barclay Rehabilitation and throughout Independence Health.
  • Actively identifies needs for improvement in Barclay Rehabilitation and system wide and discusses with manager.
• Collaborates with patients, their families, and other health care members to provide excellence in patient care.
  • Communicates regularly with other team members via verbal, written, and/or established electronic communication methods.
  • Attends interdisciplinary team meetings when indicated.
  • Attends all required Barclay staff meetings. If absent or unable to attend, reads minutes and signs appropriate sign-in sheets to indicate review of material.
  • Will travel to other entities or sites within the System as patient census dictates, in order to provide quality necessary care where patient need is greatest.
  • Staff schedules require flexibility as they are dependent on patient care needs, which may include evening and weekend hours, as necessary to meet demand in their primary area or the needs across the system.
• Participates actively in the ongoing development of new therapy programs and in the enhancement of established programs.
  • Attends appropriate internal or external education opportunities to promote growth and expansion of specific programs.
  • Researches appropriate innovative ides via journal and internet exploration and discusses these with manager leads, and peers.
• Implements a self-directed plan for professional development.
  • Demonstrates an awareness of strengths and weaknesses and seeks guidance as needed to address limitations.
  • Initiates and participates in continuing education: lectures, video/audio conferences, written and online courses.
  • Develops and conducts in-service as appropriate to share information gained from external resources.
  • Maintains yearly record of Continuing Education via completion of Education Record.
• Upholds fiscal and operational responsibility.
  • Utilizes supplies and equipment in a fiscally responsible manner.
  • Maintains a safe and clean work environment.
  • Maximizes utilization of non-direct patient care time.
  • Maintains responsibility for reporting accuracy of hours worked.
• Participates in supervision of studies as appropriate.
• Participates actively in professional activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Associate Degree, Physical Therapist Assistant.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous work experience in an outpatient setting.
• Current Lifeguard Certification through the American Red Cross: Lifeguard/FirstAid/CPR/AED
• Knowledge and application of Microsoft Office programs.
• Experience is specialty areas of orthopedics, neurology, aquatics and geriatrics.

License, Certification & Clearances

• Act 34-PA Criminal Record Check from the PA State Police system with renewal.
• Act 33 with renewal.
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program.
• Current licensure in State of Pennsylvania as a Physical Therapist Assistant.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but does serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between Independence Health System locations.

AAP/EEO

• Independence Health System is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Independence Health System to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, non-job related disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other protected class. Independence Health System will conform to the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.
• Ability to perform the Essential Functions listed on the Physical Conditions and ability to perform the Essential Functions on the Working Condition chart below.

Work Environment

Effective March 2020 or during pandemic: goggles, face shield and mask are required according to CDC guidelines

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Physical Demands

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.