Physical Therapist

Job Summary:

Evaluates, plans and administers comprehensive physical therapy modalities/regimens to patients in their place of residence for the purpose of developing and restoring function through rehabilitative physical therapy as prescribed by a physician.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performs accurate and comprehensive assessments.
• Obtains physician orders for certification and recertification of home physical therapy services.
• Ensures that changes in patient’s clinical status are communicated to other healthcare team members and Agency office staff verbally and in writing in a timely manner.
• Ensures that physician orders are communicated to other healthcare team members and Agency staff in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner.
• Coordinates care planning and delivery with the physician, patient and family/caregivers, other healthcare team members and Agency staff to facilitate optimal patient outcomes.
• Educates patients, their families/caregivers and other staff as appropriate, in appropriate physical therapy modalities.
• Delivers physical therapy modalities appropriate to the patient’s clinical status and needs, and in accordance with the standard of care for patient’s age.
• Provides, modifies or discontinues physical therapy modalities based upon an ongoing assessment/reassessment of the patient’s clinical status and in accordance with physician orders.
• Assesses the patient for the need for durable medical equipment as well as other adaptive equipment needs.
• Develops appropriate home exercise programs tailored to the patient’s clinical status, needs and age.
• Synthesizes data from the physical examination and analyzes data to make clinical judgments regarding patient management.
• Able to appropriately assess and reassess a patient’s pain.
• Utilizes appropriate pain management modalities that include, but are not limited to, physical therapy modalities.
• Educates the patient and/or caregiver in effective pain management modalities.
• Provides physical therapy modalities in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
  Identifies risk of injuries or threats to life and health in the patient’s environment, i.e., environmental/safety/mobility risks and implements appropriate interventions to reduce those risks.
• Addresses and supports cultural practices providing such practices do not harm the patient or others, and do not interfere with the planned course of physical therapy.
• Performs transfer and discharge planning functions in accordance with Agency policy and applicable laws, regulations and standards.
• Participates in the organization’s information management program.
  Complies with the Agency’s policies.
• Adheres to all applicable laws, regulations and standards.
• Completes and submits necessary documentation in accordance with Agency policy and applicable regulations.
• Submits verification of completed visits in accordance with Agency policy.
• Participates in interdisciplinary team conferences in accordance with Agency policy.
• Maintains current knowledge of community resources. Identifies and accesses appropriate external and internal resources to meet patient and/or family needs and to facilitate optimal patient outcomes while home care services are being provided, and for transfer and discharge processes.

Regulatory Requirements:

• Current valid state Physical Therapy license
• Graduate of an accredited physical therapy curriculum/school
• For Medicare certified agencies, Graduate of a physical therapy curriculum approved by:
  • The American Physical Therapy Association, or
  • The Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association, or
  • The Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association and the American Physical Therapy Association; or,
• Prior to January 1, 1966:
  • Was admitted to membership by the American Physical Therapy Association, or,
  • Was admitted to registration by the American Registry of Physical Therapists, or,
  • Has graduated from a physical therapy curriculum in a four (4) year college or university approved by a State department of education; or
• Two (2) years of appropriate work experience as a Physical Therapist, and has achieved a satisfactory grade on a proficiency examination conducted, approved, or sponsored by the US Public Health Service except for those individuals initially licensed by a state or seeking qualification as a physical therapist after
  December 31, 1977; or
• Was licensed or registered prior to January 1, 1966, and prior to January 1, 1970 had 15 years of full-time physical therapy practice experience under the order and direction of attending or referring doctors of medicine or osteopathy; or,
• If trained outside the United States:
  • Was graduated since 1928 from a physical therapy curriculum approved by the country in which the program/school was located and in which there is a member organization of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy.
  • Meets the requirements for membership in a member organization of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy.
• Two (2) years of work experience.
• Prior home health experience preferred.
• Valid state driver’s license and reliable automobile.
• Proof of current automobile insurance.
• Current health certificate/physical examination and TB testing.
• Current BCLS certification.
• Criminal background check.
• Current liability insurance.
• Current CPR card.

Language Skills:

• Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Additional languages preferred.

Skills:

• Understands regulations/standards applicable to home healthcare.
• Knowledge of general physical therapy modalities and scope of physical therapy practice within the state.
• Flexible, yet organized, with ability to exercise sound judgment.

Physical Demands:

• For physical demands of position, including vision, hearing, repetitive motion and environment, see following description.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising patient care.