Full Time Outpatient Physical Therapist Assistant

St. Luke’s University Health Network; Pocono Summit (PA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Luke's University Health Network is seeking a Physical Therapist Assistant for outpatient services. The PTA will follow plans set by a licensed Physical Therapist, document progress, and report concerns, while educating patients and families on home exercises and precautions.

The role requires an Associate's degree in a PTA program, PA or NJ PTA license based on work location, and current CPR/BLS certification. Prior outpatient PT experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in an accredited PTA program is required.
• Current PA or NJ PTA license based on work location is required.
• BLS certification from AHA or equivalent is required on hire or within 30 days.

Responsibilities

• Follow the treatment plan and adjust as needed.
• Assist patients with exercises, manual therapy, modalities and other interventions.
• Educate patients and families on home exercises and self-care.
• Monitor vital signs, pain, and response to treatment.
• Record outcomes, goals, and discharge plans.
• Communicate with the PT and other team members.

Skills

Communication skills

Compassionate

Follow instructions

Team collaboration

Education

Associate's degree in PTA program

PA/NJ PTA license (based on work location)

BLS certification

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.

As a Physical Therapist Assistant, Outpatient, you will work with patients who need to improve their mobility and function. You will direct patients in executing a plan of care established and supervised by a Physical Therapist. You will also document their progress and report any issues or concerns.

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.

St. Luke's University Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Founded in 1872, St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 23,000 employees providing services at 16 campuses and 350+ outpatient sites. With annual net revenue in excess of $4 billion, the Network’s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. St. Luke’s hospitals operate the largest network of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with the Bethlehem Campus being home to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital. SLUHN is the only Lehigh Valley-based health care system to earn Medicare’s five-star ratings (the highest) for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction. It is both a Leapfrog Group and Healthgrades Top Hospital and a Newsweek World’s Best Hospital. The Network’s flagship University Hospital has earned the 100 Top Major Teaching Hospital designation from Premier 13 times total and eleven years in a row, including in 2023 when it was identified as THE #4 TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY. In 2021, St. Luke’s was identified as one of the 15 Top Health Systems nationally. St. Luke’s is the ONLY health care institution in the Lehigh Valley to be named a Top Workplace regionally repeating the exclusive honor for the third year in a row. Also, for the third straight year, St. Luke’s has been a Top Workplaces in the Philadelphia Region by the Philadelphia Inquirer, ranking 9th in the large employer category for 2025 and the only health care system in PA to receive this award. In 2025, St. Luke’s was recognized as a national Top Workplaces by USA Today, three years in a row, including the 3rd best health care system in the nation in 2023 and 2024. Lastly, in 2025, St. Luke’s was named a Top Workplace in New Jersey for the third year in a row.