Physical Therapy Assistant, JCH

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) will aid in a variety of patient care routines and perform components of physical therapy procedures and related tasks under the direction of a physical therapist. The PTA will work with other members of the rehabilitation team to implement the agreed-upon course of care for each patient. The physical therapy assistant will help in providing services that improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease in a variety of age groups to include: infant (birth to 1 year), Pediatric (1year to 12 years), Adolescence (13-17 years, Adult (18-64 years), and Geriatric (65 years and above).

RESPONSIBILITIES (ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS): Patient and family education/training, in addition to counseling individuals and families on ways to cope with functional impairments and disabilities. Helps develop and implement purposeful goals with supervising physical therapist. Performs therapeutic procedures by administering manual exercises and instructing, encouraging, and assisting patients in performing physical activities, such as non-manual exercises, ambulatory functional activities, and daily-living activities under the direction of a licensed physical therapist.

Instructs and counsels patients by describing therapeutic regimens, giving normal growth and development information, and promoting wellness and health maintenance. Observes patients during treatments and compiles and evaluates data on patients’ responses to treatments and progress and reports verbally or in writing to the physical therapist. Maintains current state licensure by completing licensing board and state requirements.

Contributes to a physical therapist’s effectiveness by identifying patient care issues and administering treatment programs for patients. Complies with federal and state physical therapy regulations. Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations, and adhering to infection-control policies and protocols Demonstrates understanding of the obligation to preserve the confidentiality of customer and staff health and financial information and circumstances.

Takes responsibility for care given to patient by support staff, which includes orienting, instructing, and directing work activities of students and aides. Completing administrative tasks including documenting billing information and keeping timely and accurate records of daily notes, treatment progress and any treatment plan notes as required by law and hospital policy and procedures. Maintains legal and accreditation compliance by adhering to policy positions concerning federal, state, and local regulations and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JACHO) standards.

Appropriately adapts assessment, treatment, and/or care methods to accommodate the physical, cultural, age-specific, and other developmental needs of each person served. Maintains professional and technical knowledge through continuing education opportunities including internal and external educational offerings. Utilization of assistive devices for lifting is mandatory.

Must adhere to safety protocols at all times. Per DRH policy, all required conditions of employment must be met and maintained including required vaccinations. This position requires respirator and fit testing.

Required testing will be performed on all team members at risk for exposure to airborne infectious diseases, droplet producing procedures, or any caustic chemicals. Implement DRH Standards of Behavior and exhibit behaviors consistent with DRH core values. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Communication skills including fluency in oral and written English. Basic computer skills including the ability to send/receive/email, navigate information technology associated with the position, and use Electronic Health Record information tools. Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; Ability to remain flexible to quickly adapt to urgent situations.

Ability to adapt procedures, processes, tools, equipment, and techniques to accomplish the requirements of the position. Analytical skills for selecting the best diagnostic tools and analyzing results to identify an accurate diagnosis while developing an effective treatment plan; Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents; Communication skills for communicating diagnoses, test results, and available treatments in terms that clients and their families can understand; Compassion when working with individuals frustrated by the difficulties they are experiencing; Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints; Critical thinking skills for adjusting treatment plans as required and identifying alternative ways to help; Attention to detail for maintaining notes on treatment and progress; Listening skills for listening to concerns and symptoms of clients so they can decide the most appropriate course of treatment; Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as frequency distribution, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques; Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.

Education and/or

• Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy Assistant program; at least one (1) year PTA experience preferred. Certifications, Licenses, Registrations: Current Oklahoma State licensure. American Heart Association BLS; May have up to 30 days from date of hire or transfer to obtain. For those positions requiring travel, a current valid driver’s license and automobile liability insurance must be maintained. Safety
• Sensitive Position - This is a “Safety
• Sensitive” Position as defined by Oklahoma law. As such, please be advised that applicants for this position cannot test positive in pre-employment drug tests (or any drug tests administered after employment begins) for the presence of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive component of cannabis. This is true even if the applicant is in possession of a valid medical marijuana card that otherwise allows the license-holder to legally use and consume medical marijuana. Team Members in “Safety
• Sensitive” positions are not permitted to test positive for the presence of THC in any pre-employment drug test, or any other drug test administered after employment begins. This information is provided to applicants as a resource to the application process. This is not a request for any applicant to disclose personal medical information during the application process. If you have any questions about the information in this disclaimer please direct these questions to a member of Human Resources. This position requires respirator and fit testing. Required testing will be performed on all team members at risk for exposure to airborne infectious diseases, droplet producing procedures, or any caustic chemicals. As a condition of employment, vaccinations are required per DRH Policy. Medical and Religious Exemptions are available upon request.