Home Health PTA

Aurora Health Care; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 58,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin is seeking a Physical Therapist Assistant to support patient treatment plans derived from therapists' evaluations. You will manage your caseload, educate patients and caregivers, and help arrange adaptive devices as needed.

The role requires licensure as a Physical Therapist Assistant in Wisconsin, BLS for Healthcare Providers, and an ability to assess and respond to patients across the lifespan.

Qualifications

• Must have demonstrated proficiency in clinical skills and be able to work independently.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of growth and development across the life span.
• Good human relations, organization, problem solving, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrates initiative, versatility, and positive interpersonal skills.
• Intermediate computer skills.

Responsibilities

• Provides and progresses patient treatment based on therapist's evaluation and plan of care.
• Manages own caseload, including scheduling and informing supervisor of coverage needs.
• Teaches treatment procedures to patients and caregivers and develops plans for adaptive devices.
• Provides on-going assessment of patient responses to treatments and communicates issues for action plans.
• Plans for patient discharge including written home programs and patient education.
• Maintains and updates accurate clinical and patient records per guidelines.
• Interprets information concerning agency services to patients and families.
• Cleans up after treatment and maintains a neat, orderly area.
• Follows policies and monitors changes to them.
• Performs patient positioning and transferring duties with proper technique.
• Provide care appropriate to the age of patients served per department standards.

Skills

Clinical skills

Independence

Communication

Problem solving

Initiative

Interpersonal skills

Computer skills

Education

Associate's Degree in Physical Therapy

Job description

• Provides and progresses patient treatment based on therapist's evaluation and plan of care. Treatments include patient education, exercise, gait training, mobility and transfer skills, balance and coordination activities, use of modalities, soft-tissue/joint mobilization, and orthotic/prosthetic training.
• Manages own caseload, including scheduling and informing supervisor of coverage needs.
• Teaches appropriate treatment procedures and supportive activities to patients and caregivers and develops plan for obtaining adaptive devices as needed.
• Provides on-going assessment of patient's response to treatments and teaching. Discusses caseload issues and changes in case census to the supervisor. Communicates problems so a plan of action can be developed.
• Plans for patient discharge including providing written home programs, educating patient and family, and ordering equipment with direction of supervising therapist.
• Maintains and updates accurate clinical and patient records according to agency, state and federal guidelines.
• Interprets information concerning agency services and programs to patients and families.
• Cleans up after patient treatment, putting away equipment and keeping area neat and orderly.
• Follows published policies and procedures and regularly monitors changes or additions to them.
• Performs various patient positioning and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.

Major Responsibilities

• Provides and progresses patient treatment based on therapist's evaluation and plan of care. Treatments include patient education, exercise, gait training, mobility and transfer skills, balance and coordination activities, use of modalities, soft-tissue/joint mobilization, and orthotic/prosthetic training.
• Manages own caseload, including scheduling and informing supervisor of coverage needs.
• Teaches appropriate treatment procedures and supportive activities to patients and caregivers and develops plan for obtaining adaptive devices as needed.
• Provides on-going assessment of patient's response to treatments and teaching. Discusses caseload issues and changes in case census to the supervisor. Communicates problems so a plan of action can be developed.
• Plans for patient discharge including providing written home programs, educating patient and family, and ordering equipment with direction of supervising therapist.
• Maintains and updates accurate clinical and patient records according to agency, state and federal guidelines.
• Interprets information concerning agency services and programs to patients and families.
• Cleans up after patient treatment, putting away equipment and keeping area neat and orderly.
• Follows published policies and procedures and regularly monitors changes or additions to them.
• Performs various patient positioning and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.

Licensure, Registration, And/or Certification Required

• A valid drivers license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles, and
• Physical Therapist Assistant license issued by the state of Wisconsin, and
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) needs to be obtained within 6 months unless department leader has determined it is not required.

Education Required

• Associate's Degree in Physical Therapy.

Experience Required

• Typically requires 2 years of experience in physical therapy assisting within home health care, hospital acute care or other relevant environment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Demonstrated proficiency in clinical skills with the ability to work independently and make sound judgments.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served in his/her assignment.
• Good human relations, organization, problem solving, and decision-making skills.
• Displays initiative, versatility, and positive interpersonal skills.
• Intermediate computer skills.

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Must possess and provide proof of a valid Driver License and a registered, functional car with adequate insurance coverage.
• Must be capable of the manual dexterity required to use and operate a variety of medical equipment and supplies, writing implements and office equipment.
• Must have the physical ability to move about in confined spaces, including bending, twisting, kneeling, squatting and occasionally reaching one or both arm overhead.
• Must be able to work safely with people of various sizes and weight with diverse and complex medical conditions and physical limitations.
• Must be able to:
• Lift up to 50 lbs from floor to waist.
• Lift up to 20 lbs from waist to overhead.
• Lift and carry up to 40 lbs. at waist height reasonable distance.
• Must be able to:
• Push/pull with 30 lbs. of force.
• Perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present.
• Must have the physical stamina to attend to patient care requirements over a period of three or more hours without complete rest.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.