Physical Therapist

About the position

The Physical Therapist assists the physician in evaluating the patient’s level of function and assesses the patient’s home environment for safety hazards and architectural barriers, identifying equipment needs. They identify functional problems and establish goals and a plan of care designed to improve the patient’s functional status, revising as necessary. The role involves performing patient tests, measurements, and evaluations, such as range of motion and manual muscle tests, gait and functional analysis, and body parts measurement, and recording and evaluating findings to aid in establishing or revising specifics of treatment programs. The Physical Therapist is responsible for completing start-of-care, recertifications, resumption-of-care, and discharge Comprehensive OASIS assessments and associated paperwork in accordance with agency policy. They instruct patients and family members, as well as other health team members, during certain phases of physical therapy. Periodic re-evaluations and upgrades of the patient’s program are necessary to maximize functional improvement. The Physical Therapist administers exercise programs utilizing specialized therapeutic exercise techniques and equipment, plans and administers prescribed physical therapy treatment programs for patients to restore function, relieve pain, and prevent disability following disease, injury, or loss of body part. They recommend prosthetic/orthotic devices for patients or evaluate their devices and make minor adjustments or recommend modifications by the prosthetist/orthotist. The role includes conferring with family, referring physician, and other agency professional staff to promote coordinated, efficient, and quality patient care. Required documentation of patient evaluations, plans of care, clinical notes, and progress reports must be submitted timely. The Physical Therapist orients, instructs, and supervises the home health aide every two weeks in carrying out specific physical therapy modalities. They keep abreast of changes in physical therapy theories and practices, contribute to the ongoing development of programs and professionals, and attend and contribute to in-services and clinical records reviews. The Physical Therapist performs on-site supervision of physical therapy assistants as required by law and must be accessible by phone to the physical therapy assistants at all times while they are treating patients. Compliance with Homecare Agency policies, including Infection Control and HIPAA, is mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Assist the physician in evaluating the patient’s level of function.
• Assess patient’s home environment for safety hazards and architectural barriers.
• Identify functional problems and establish goals and a plan of care.
• Perform patient tests, measurements, and evaluations.
• Complete start-of-care, recertifications, resumption-of-care, and discharge Comprehensive OASIS assessments.
• Instruct patients and family members during physical therapy phases.
• Re-evaluate and upgrade the patient’s program periodically.
• Administer exercise programs utilizing specialized therapeutic techniques.
• Plan and administer prescribed physical therapy treatment programs.
• Recommend prosthetic/orthotic devices and evaluate their effectiveness.
• Confer with family, referring physician, and other professionals for coordinated care.
• Submit required documentation of patient evaluations and progress reports.
• Orient, instruct, and supervise home health aides.
• Contribute to the development of programs and professionals.
• Attend in-services and clinical records reviews.
• Perform on-site supervision of physical therapy assistants.
• Maintain compliance with Homecare Agency policies.

Requirements

• Licensed as a physical therapist by the State in which practicing.
• Graduated from a physical therapy curriculum approved by relevant accrediting bodies.
• Possess 2 years of appropriate experience as a physical therapist.
• Achieved a satisfactory grade on a proficiency examination if applicable.
• For those trained outside the U.S., graduated from an approved physical therapy curriculum.