Job Summary:

Prepares patients and equipment for treatment and administers treatment as directed by the staff Physical Therapist or Physical Therapy Assistant, assists in administrative duties, and is vital in maintaining an orderly and clean treatment environment to help provide the highest quality of patient care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities – Patient Care:

Exercises

• Perform exercises with patients as specified by the staff Physical Therapist or PTA, updates therapists on patient tolerance and records appropriately in documentation.

Assist Physical Therapist

• Assist the Physical Therapist as needed with patient treatment, transfers, and wound care in an efficient manner to improve flow of patient care.

Vital Signs

• Monitors vital signs of the patient (oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure); maintains adequate knowledge base regarding cardiovascular and respiratory precautions for the patient and communicate results with therapists.

Communicate Patient Changes

• Communicate any changes in physical or mental condition of patient to staff Physical Therapist or other relevant personnel prior to initiating any interventions.
• Communicate patient's tolerance to interventions to help promote advancing the program.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities – Clinic Operation:

Patient Medical Records

• Update patient medical history, assist with educational handout creation, distribution, and upload to medical records.

Clinic Cleanliness/Orderliness

• Clean clinic tables, equipment, and therapy food area.
• Maintain general work area cleanliness and equipment working conditions through established maintenance procedures

Inventory

• Ensure inventory and supplies are fully stocked in treatment areas (equipment, linens, lotions, goniometers, etc); alert appropriate personnel of ordering needs and assist with ordering supplies.

Assists Therapy Office

• Readily answer phones by third ring when office personnel is busy, is able to transfer calls to appropriate location, schedule patients appropriately, and assist with opening and closing tasks when the therapy office staff are in need of assistance.

Equipment

• Utilize correct/safe technique when using equipment and notify appropriate personnel of malfunctioning equipment per department policies.

Departmental Duties

• Perform related departmental duties as assigned by Physical Therapist or Director of Physical Therapy, such as organizing, updating, and ordering.

Educational Activities

• Participate in educational activities to promote the role and advancement of physical therapy in the community, to PBJC staff, and therapy clinic outside of traditional clinic duties.

Information Processing:

Language Use Skills

• Skill in language use, including reading and comprehending instructions, short correspondence, and memos; constructing correspondence, and presenting information in one-on-one, small group situations, in person and electronically.

Computer Use

• Utilize computer to perform department functions and appropriate communication; Check e-mail daily, while at work, to receive departmental communication within, and respond to emails within 24 hours; readily utilize multiple software systems for patient; does not use computers for personal tasks.

Interpersonal Skills:

Compassion

• Demonstrate compassion and caring in dealing with others, including patients, co- workers, and visitors.

Analyzing Skills

• Analyze situations accurately, make decisions to bring a favorable resolution, and take effective action; seeks out help when appropriate.

Flexibility

• Respond with flexibility to changing work load and/or patient assignments.

Working Relationships

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with physicians, co- workers and the public that harbor a friendly, yet professional interaction.
• Demonstrate willingness to readily interact with other staff members and department leaders.

Personal Growth

• Accepts responsibility for own professional growth and personal conduct by seeking knowledge in work specific areas, taking advantage of opportunities at work to observe and volunteer.

Stressful Situations

• Able to be flexible, organized, and function under stressful situations.

Adherence to Facility/Departmental Policy:

Attendance and Punctuality

• Maintain good attendance record and arrive to work punctually. Utilize established time clock system appropriately.

Overtime

• Able to substantiate overtime, minimize overtime and adjust hours as needed.

Dress Code/Identification

• Follow dress code of the department, appear professional when present in the clinic, wear identification while on duty, and communicate name and role to patient appropriately.

Cell Phone Use

• Cell phone may be used for business purposes only.
• Utilize cell phone for personal use only during breaks or meal periods and out of the public eye.

Confidentiality

• Observe confidentiality of information in regards to patients, physicians, and fellow employees; ability to maintain confidentiality under HIPAA standards.

Safety & Infection Control Policies/ Standards of Care

• Adhere to safety and infection control policies and standards of care policies, including patient privacy rights.

Care of Environment, Equipment, & Supplies:

Clean, Neat, Safe Environment

• Maintain a clean, neat, and safe environment for patients and staff, including personal work areas.

Inventory of Supplies

• Notices need for new supplies or inventory and delegates accordingly or notifies the appropriate person.
• Assists the clinic to help maintain appropriate inventory in patient care areas.

Equipment

• Utilize correct/safe technique when using equipment and notifies appropriate personnel of malfunctioning equipment per department policies.

Education:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent - REQUIRED
• Kinesiology or similar - PREFERRED

Certification & License(s):

• Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider (BLS) - REQUIRED

Experience:

• Previous customer service experience, particularly in a healthcare setting - PREFERRED

Physical Requirements:

• Seeing - Must be able to read patient charts, use a computer, and visually evaluate the patient during the rehabilitation process - CONSTANT
• Hearing - Must be able to hear well enough to communicate with physicians, medical staff, physical therapy staff, administrative staff, and patients/families - CONSTANT
• Speaking - Must be able to verbally communicate with physicians, medical staff, physical therapy staff, administrative staff, and patients/families - CONSTANT
• Fingering/Grasping - Must be able to write and type, to use hands and fingers to aid in patient rehabilitative care, and to maneuver rehabilitation equipment - CONSTANT
• Bending/Crouching - Must be able to lower one’s body in order to aid patients during the rehabilitation program, and to maneuver rehabilitation equipment - FREQUENTLY
• Sitting - FREQUENTLY
• Standing - FREQUENTLY

Weight Demands:

• Lifting - Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds - FREQUENTLY
• Lifting - Must be able to lift 26 or more pounds - OCCASIONALLY
• Pushing/Pulling - Must be able to aid patients during the rehabilitation program and maneuver rehabilitation equipment - FREQUENTLY

Working Conditions:

• The fast paced nature of this position may lead to increased levels of personal stress and demand high mental acuity.

Environmental Hazards:

• Work environment contains rehabilitation equipment that may pose a danger if operated improperly.

Physical Hazards:

• Physical harm is possible when performing physical requirements, as listed above.
• Exposure to communicable disease, bodily fluids, and/or toxic substances is possible and can be physically harmful.

Unique Work Schedule/Travel:

• May be required to work after hours, on weekends, or holidays.
• May be required to provide services outside the clinical setting (i.e. at University or High School athletic events).