POSITION TITLE: PHYSICAL THERAPIST
DEPARTMENT: Clinical Services
SUPERVISES: PTAs and Aides
REPORTS TO: Clinical Director
POSITION SUMMARY:
Assess, plan, organize and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, decrease or prevent deformity of patients suffering from disease or injury.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS :
- Plan, prepare and carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain and prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
- Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
- Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefits.
- Administer manual exercises, massage or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
- Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
- Confer with the patient, medical practitioners and appropriate others to plan, implement and assess the intervention program.
- Review physician’s referral and patient’s medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatments required.
- Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient’s chart or enter information into computer.
- Obtain patients’ informed consent to proposed interventions.
- Discharge patients from Physical Therapy when goals or projected outcomes have been attained and provide for appropriate follow-up care or referrals.
- Test and measure patient’s strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, and respiratory and circulatory efficiency and record data.
- Identify and document goals, anticipated progress and plans for reevaluation.
- Provide information to the patient about the proposed intervention, its material risks and expected benefits and any reasonable alternatives.
- Inform patients when diagnosis reveals findings outside Physical Therapy and refer to appropriate practitioners.
- Direct, supervise, assess, and communicate with supportive personnel.
- Administer treatment involving application of physical agents, using equipment, moist packs, ultraviolet and infrared lamps and ultrasound machines.
- Teach Physical Therapy students as well as those in other health professions.
- Evaluate, fit, and adjust prosthetic and orthotic devices and recommend modification to orthotist.
- Provide educational information about Physical Therapy and Physical Therapists, injury prevention, ergonomics and ways to promote health.
- Refer clients to community resources and services.
- Conduct and support research and apply research findings to practice.
ESSENTIAL JOB REQUIREMENTS:
EDUCATION: Graduate from an accredited PT program with a Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate in PT. Must continue to maintain current standards of practice as per guidelines of APTA. Must practice as per the standards of the APTA and the NYS Practice Act.
EXPERIENCE: N/A
REQUIRED SKILLS: Computer, good communication, enjoys interacting with others.
LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION: NYS License
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Excellent Health
LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER
The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.
All job requirements are subject to possible medication to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws.