Physical Therapist

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

The Physical Therapist plans and executes rehabilitation programs to help patients return to a higher level of physical function. They also help manage or lessen the pain experienced by someone stricken with a degenerative condition or terminal disease. The Physical Therapist help patients through a combination of physical activity, reflexology, massage, and muscular and skeletal manipulation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Perform initial and ongoing physical therapy evaluations according to APTA Standards as well as state standards.
• Develop plan of treatment for each patient based on initial and ongoing evaluations including short- and long-term goals, collaboration demands of other staff members, and required patient and caregiver involvement.
• Implement treatment plan on a consistent schedule and adjust this schedule and plan according to patient progress.
• Document patient progress according to approved medical documentation and facility documentation procedures.
• Evaluate mobility, strength, and current level of patient function, while setting goals to improve in these areas that are scaled to patient abilities and realistically attainable.
• Report patient progress to patient, patient caregivers, and facility staff and healthcare professionals involved in ongoing treatment of patients.
• Develop a plan for patients following completion of their treatment plan with appropriate in-home care services.
• Monitors effectiveness of medication treatment, develop plan of care and provide education for patients and family members.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge through attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, etc.
• Assist other facility staff members as needed to provide care and create a clean, orderly, and effective environment for rehabilitation and physical therapy.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge of responsible use of equipment, best practices for equipment use and preventative maintenance procedures.
• Strong sense of empathy and a compassionate outlook on physical therapy and the ability to motivate patients into pushing their limits in a responsible safe way.
• Experience with a wide range of patient age groups and injuries.
• High level of attention to detail
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks without direct supervision.
• Basic computer literacy and typing
• Patient focused

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS

This position requires at least one year of experience providing physical therapy to patients in a fully equipped PT facility. Also required, a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in physical therapy from a physical therapy program approved by the American Physical Therapy Association and a current physical therapy license in Arkansas.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are expected to fluctuate but at a minimum this position will be required to work from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday through Thursday). and occasionally after regular business hours. Regular travel may be required. The position operates in a professional office environment and the incumbent, in the course of performing this position, spends time writing, typing, speaking, listening, driving, seeing (such as close, color and peripheral vision, depth perception and adjusted focus), standing, sitting, walking, and reaching. This positions also may require lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling up to fifty (50) pounds while administering care to patients, etc.; stooping, kneeling, and/or crouching daily in delivery of patient care, obtaining equipment, etc.; standing and walking more than five (5) hours per day in administering patient care in multiple rooms; running, occasionally, in responding to patient care emergencies; and reaching, grasping, handling, and/or feeling five (5) or more hours per day in administering patient care, i.e. operating various radiologic equipment. The incumbent operates all standard office equipment, motor vehicles, and mobile phones. The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.