Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) work under licensed physical therapists to help people with physical injuries or illnesses of to regain range of movement and control their pain. Under the PT's direction, PTAs help people who have lost motor function due to accidents, illness or age.

What You Will Do:

• Provide physical therapy services only under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
• Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
• Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes.
• Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
• Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or heat, light, sound, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
• Measure patients' range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
• Communicate with or instruct caregivers or family members on patient therapeutic activities or treatment plans.
• Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.
• Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.

Qualifications:

• Associate's Degree from a college or university accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association required.
• Strong level of skill at building relationships and providing excellent customer service.
• Effective skills in managing difficult clients and patients.
• High degree of knowledge and competency in the practice and associated charting requirements.
• Requisite skills and ability to perform certain clinical tasks as assigned.
• High level of problem solving skill to better serve patients and staff.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to utilize computers for data entry and information retrieval.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to implement, and evaluate operational and administrative processes.
• Experience/knowledge of Joint Commission accreditation process and requirements, as well as all federal, state and local regulations and standards associated with the delivery of care in a Federally Qualified Health Center.