Summary: Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. In accordance with federal and state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or heat, light, sound, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.

• Administer traction to relieve neck or back pain, using intermittent or static traction equipment.
• Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
• Attend or conduct continuing education courses, seminars, or in-service activities.
• Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment.
• Communicate with or instruct caregivers or family members on patient therapeutic activities or treatment plans.
• Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
• Fit patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices, such as crutches.
• Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
• Measure patients’ range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
• Monitor operation of equipment and record use of equipment and administration of treatment.
• Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes.
• Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms.
• Perform postural drainage, percussions, or vibrations or teach deep breathing exercises to treat respiratory conditions.
• Prepare treatment areas and electrotherapy equipment for use by physiotherapists.
• Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
• Train patients in the use of orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices.
• Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills:

Strong communication skills.

Ability to provide hands on treatment

Excellent customer service skills.

Interpersonal Skills.

Excellent computer skills (Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.)

Ability to use MS office suite software, photocopy, fax and scanning machines.

Ability to learn and operate Electronic Medical Records Software.

Attention to detail: observing patients issues, and analyze what is needed to help them ease their pain, without putting them at risk of further injury.

Ability to lift patients, and spend much of their time on their feet. You will need strength and stamina to do the job.

Education/Experience:

Associates Degree; plus 2-5 years prior experience required.

Licensing and Credentialing:

Must have passed the national exams for physical therapists. In the state in which you are planning to practice in and or apply to.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Language Ability:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from the other Physicians, patients and the general public.

Math Ability:

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest and percentages. Ability to apply concepts of basic mathematics.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions and deal with abstract and concrete variables.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Therapist must be willing and able to work a 40-hour work week; some evenings and weekends to fit the needs of our patients.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and smell.