Physical Therapist Assistant

Duties/Responsibilities

• Instructs, motivates, safeguards, and assists patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
• Observes patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provides results to the physical therapist in person or through progress notes.
• Confers with physical therapy staff and others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, and coordinating treatment.
• Communicates with and instructs caregivers and family members on patient therapeutic activities and treatment plans.
• Transports patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.
• Secures patients into or onto therapy equipment.
• Administers active and passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, and heat, light, sound, and electrical modality treatments such as ultrasound.
• Makes measurements of patients’ range-of-joint motion, body parts, and vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
• Maintains records of equipment usage and treatment administration.
• Fits patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, and supportive devices such as assistive devices.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Knowledge and skills to care for patient needs of the SNF population.
• Must possess problem solving skills to successfully perform job.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Must be able to communicate effectively and professionally with other employees, patients, and family members.

Education and Experience

• Associates degree from an accredited physical therapy program.
• Current license from the state Board of Physical Therapy Examiners.
• Proficiency with all applicable state, federal, and professional standards.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• Requires lifting, positioning, pushing, and/or transferring patients.
• Frequent reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and crouching.