Physical Therapist

About the Role

The Staff Physical Therapist shall be responsible for providing quality physical therapy services and assisting in departmental operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Organizes and renders physical therapy services.
• Evaluates patients referred to Physical Therapy to determine their current physical and functional status and assesses their potential benefit from physical therapy services.
• Plans and conducts a therapy program for patients referred to Physical Therapy, which may include the use of exercise, massage, thermal agents, water, light, and/or electricity.
• Applies diagnostic and prognostic muscle, nerve, joint, and functional ability tests.
• Directs and aids patients in active and passive exercises, muscle re-education, and gait and functional training.
• Utilizes exercise equipment such as pulleys and weights, steps, uneven, and inclined surfaces.
• Makes use of equipment such as muscle and nerve stimulators, ultrasound machines, and other therapeutic electrical machines.
• Gives whirlpool and contrast baths and applies moist heat and cold packs.
• Directs patients in the care and use of wheelchairs, braces, canes, crutches, walkers, and prosthetic and orthopedic devices.
• Gives instruction in posture control and therapeutic procedures to be continued by the patient.
• Adapts conventional physical therapy techniques to meet the needs of patients unable to comprehend verbal commands or voluntarily carry out a regime of therapeutic exercises.
• Observes, records, and reports patient's condition, reactions, and responses.
• Directs and supervises activities of supportive personnel.
• Conducts and participates in training of Physical Therapy Technicians and Physical-Therapist Assistants in physical therapy techniques and objectives.
• Provides a safe, clean Physical Therapy Department.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Physical Demands

• Work is medium, consisting of lifting and carrying equipment, supplies and materials up to 50 pounds without help, over 50 pounds with the help of mechanical devices or other personnel.
• Stooping, pushing, and pulling when moving patient or equipment into position for treatment.
• Reaching when moving patient or equipment into position for treatment.
• Reaching for, handling, feeling, and manipulating equipment and patient when giving treatments.
• Talking and hearing to convey instructions and information to patients and staff members.
• Visual acuity to perceive reactions to treatment and to read instructions.
• Work inside.

Special Demands

• Demonstrates the knowledge and manual skills necessary for performing quality patient care.
• Has a preference for working with people and is able to motivate them to achieve optimum performance.
• Demonstrates the oral and written skills necessary to understand medical terminology, to communicate with staff, patients, and physicians, and to prepare meaningful reports.
• Has the knowledge of statistics and forms required for maintaining accurate departmental and patient records.
• Understands basic concepts of management, has good problem-solving skills, and is able to supervise supportive personnel.
• Performs self-evaluation and accepts criticism in a constructive manner.
• Demonstrates dedication to the profession through reliable and reasonable behavior.
• Able to work with individuals of all ages from neonates to geriatrics.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Physical Therapy procedures as prescribed by a medical doctor.
• Experience with exercise, massage, thermal agents, water, light, and/or electricity.
• Experience with muscle, nerve, joint, and functional ability tests.
• Experience with exercise equipment such as pulleys and weights, steps, uneven, and inclined surfaces.
• Experience with equipment such as muscle and nerve stimulators, ultrasound machines, and other therapeutic electrical machines.
• Experience with whirlpool and contrast baths, and application of moist heat and cold packs.
• Experience with wheelchairs, braces, canes, crutches, walkers, and prosthetic and orthopedic devices.
• Experience with posture control and therapeutic procedures.
• Experience in adapting conventional physical therapy techniques for patients unable to comprehend verbal commands or voluntarily carry out therapeutic exercises.
• Experience in supervising supportive personnel.
• Experience in training Physical Therapy Technicians and Physical-Therapist Assistants.

Qualifications

• EDUCATION: A minimum level of a B.S. degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited institution.
• EXPERIENCE: When educational requirements are met, no previous experience is necessary, but would be desirable.
• REGISTERED: Must be licensed by the Board of Physical Therapy in the applicable State.