Full Time Outpatient Physical Therapist Assistant

St. Luke’s Health Network, Inc.; Nazareth (Northampton County); On-site; USD 48,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Luke's Health Network, Inc. is seeking a Physical Therapist Assistant to support outpatient physical therapy services.

The role involves following the PT's plan, assisting with exercises, educating patients about home care, and monitoring responses to treatment. The PTA will maintain safety and assist with documentation and discharge planning. Requirements include an accredited PTA degree, PA/NJ PTA license, and BLS certification.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in an accredited physical therapy assistant program.
• Current PTA license in PA or NJ, based on work location.
• BLS certification required upon hire or within 30 days.
• Experience in outpatient physical therapy preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Follow the treatment plan established by the physical therapist and adjust it as needed.
• Assist patients with exercises, manual therapy, modalities, and other interventions.
• Educate patients and their families on home exercises, precautions, and self-care.
• Monitor patients' vital signs, pain level, and response to treatment.
• Record patients' outcomes, goals, and discharge plans.
• Communicate effectively with the physical therapist and other team members.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work environment.
• Comply with all ethical, legal, and professional standards.
• Attend meetings as designated or requested.
• Accurately bills patient's accounts for services rendered.

Skills

Excellent communication

Team collaboration

Instruction following

Independent work

Education

Associate's degree in PTA

Job description

St. Luke's is proud of the skills, experience and compassion of its employees. The employees of St. Luke's are our most valuable asset! Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Follow the treatment plan established by the physical therapist and adjust it as needed
• Assist patients with exercises, manual therapy, modalities, and other interventions
• Educate patients and their families on home exercises, precautions, and self-care
• Monitor patients' vital signs, pain level, and response to treatment
• Record patients' outcomes, goals, and discharge plans
• Communicate effectively with the physical therapist and other team members
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work environment
• Comply with all ethical, legal, and professional standards
• Participate in continuing education and professional development activities
• Maintains confidentiality of all materials handled within the Network/ Entity as well as the proper release of information.
• Complies with Network and departmental policies regarding issues of employee, patient and environmental safety and follows appropriate reporting requirements.
• Demonstrates/models the Network's Service Excellence Standards of Performance in interactions with all customers (internal and external).
• Demonstrates Performance Improvement in the following areas as appropriate: Clinical Care/Outcomes, Customer/Service Improvement, Operational System/Process, and Safety.
• Demonstrates financial responsibility and accountability through the effective and efficient use of resources in daily procedures, processes and practices.
• Complies with Network and departmental policies regarding attendance and dress code.
• Demonstrates competency in the assessment, range of treatment, knowledge of growth and development and communication appropriate to the age of the patient treated.
• Attend meetings as designated or requested.
• Accurately bills patient's accounts for services rendered
• Provides in-services to PT department staff and others
• Participates in QI data collection/planning
• Attends multi-disciplinary meetings as applicable
• Cleans and orders supplies, as assigned by facility director, for daily operations
• Other related duties as assigned, e.g. peer record review

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to sit for up to ninety minutes at a time.
• Able to stand for thirty to forty-five minutes consecutively.
• Must be able to use hands/fingers to manipulate dials on machines.
• Must have the ability to occasionally stoop/bend, squat, crouch, kneel and reach above shoulder level.
• Must have the ability to lift/move patients up to 50 lbs., push/pull patients weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Must be capable of tactile sensation as it relates to feeling for muscle spasms, texture and skin temperature.
• Must have the ability to hear as it relates to normal conversation.
• Must be capable of seeing as it relates to general vision, depth perception, and peripheral vision.

EDUCATION:

• Associate's degree in an accredited physical therapy assistant program is required.
• Current Physical Therapist Assistant license in the State of Pennsylvania or New Jersey, based on work location, is required. The Physical Therapist Assistant shall work within the practice guidelines as defined by Pennsylvania or New Jersey state law (based on work location).
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association (AHA) or equivalent, required upon hire or to be obtained within 30 days of hire.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Successful completion of certified physical therapist assistant program and affiliations.
• Experience in outpatient physical therapy setting preferred.
• Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and pathology.
• Ability to follow instructions, work independently, and collaborate with others.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Compassionate, patient, and respectful attitude.
• Current license and certification as a physical therapy assistant in PA and/or NJ.
• Active CPR certification required.