Physical Therapist

Under supervision, evaluates the physical therapy needs for assigned patients, and develops, implements, and documents treatment plans and goals to meet these needs, in an inpatient and outpatient hospital or California Children's Services (CCS) setting.

Typical Tasks:

• Performs relatively routine patient care with fundamental skills in clinical reasoning, problem-solving and treatment interventions;
• Examines, evaluates, and tests individuals with mechanical, physiological and developmental impairments, functional limitations, and disability or other health and movement-related conditions;
• Determines diagnosis of the physical impairments or movement-related functional limitations, prognosis, plan of therapeutic intervention and frequency/duration of intervention;
• Designs, implements, and modifies therapeutic interventions to alleviate movement-related impairments, functional limitations and disabilities. Interventions may include, but are not limited to, the following: therapeutic exercise; movement-related functional training; gait training, manual therapy including soft tissue and joint mobilization; therapeutic massage; airway clearance techniques; integumentary protection and repair techniques; debridement and wound care; and physical agent, mechanical and electrotherapeutic modalities;
• Evaluates for, recommends, applies and, as appropriate, fabricates movement- related assistive, adaptive, protective, prosthetic and supportive devices and equipment, and trains patients in their use.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, methods, equipment and theory of the practice of Physical Therapy;
• Pathologies and injuries that result in physical impairment;
• Evaluation and treatment methodologies as applied to routine patient care.

Ability to:

• Develop, implement and adapt treatment programs;
• Evaluate patients and interpret clinical data and make clinical judgments;
• Write clearly and concisely;
• Communicate effectively with patients, staff, and other health professionals;
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with others.