Physical Therapist

Plans and administers physical therapy treatment for patients suffering from injuries, or muscle, nerve, joint and bone diseases, to restore function, relieve pain, and prevent disability by performing the following duties.

• and Responsibilities include the following; other duties may be assigned.
• Reviews physician’s referral (prescriptions) and patient’s condition and medical records to determine physical therapy treatment required
• Administers manual exercise to improve and maintain function
• Instructs, motivates and assists patient to perform various physical activities and in use of assistant and supportive devices such as crutches, canes and prostheses
• Administers treatments involving applications of physical agents
• Administers massage
• Administers traction to relieve pain
• Records treatment, response, and progress in patient’s chart or enters information into computer, instructs patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home
• Reviews physician referral and patient’s condition to determine Physical Therapy treatment required
• Obtains subjective history from patient or anyone else who is able to contribute
• Tests and measures patient’s strength, motor development, sensory perception, functional capacity and respiratory and circulatory efficiency and records findings to develop or revise treatment programs
• Plans and prepares written treatment program based on evaluation of patient data
• Evaluates effects of treatment at various stages and adjusts treatments to achieve maximum benefit
• Evaluates, fits and adjusts prosthetic and orthotic devices and recommends modification to orthotist
• Confers with Physician and other practitioners to obtain additional patient information, suggest revisions in treatment program, and integrate physical therapy treatment with other aspects of patient’s health care
• Assesses goals and need for revision
• Places gait belt on patient and monitors patient gait my making corrections as needed
• Explains ultrasound procedure to patient and positions for comfort
• Checks patient skin before and after ultrasound treatment, as well as monitors their status before and after the procedure
• Knowledge of how to use general care measures such as ice, moist heat, and electrical stimulation to relieve pain
• Documents any techniques effectiveness
• Notifies MD of persistent pain, change in type, location or characteristics of pain
• Explains/demonstrates proper exercise techniques to patient
• Monitors patient performance during exercise and modifies techniques if necessary
• Evaluates patient during exercise to determine fatigue/exertion