Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) - Outpatient

Advocate Aurora Health; Marinette (WI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health in Wisconsin is seeking a Physical Therapist Assistant to support licensed therapists in delivering patient-centered care across musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and cardiopulmonary modalities.

You'll assist with treatment plans, monitor patient responses, and help plan safe discharge with home programs and equipment. Strong communication, organization, and accuracy in documentation are essential for this role.

Qualifications

• Associate's Degree in Physical Therapy.
• Current BLS certification.
• Wisconsin PTA license.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Physical Therapist in musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and/or integumentary treatment.
• Monitor patient response and notify supervising therapist.
• Plan discharge including home programs and equipment orders.
• Complete documentation with co-signatures—notes, reports, daily stats.
• Maintain clean, organized treatment area and assist with patient handling.
• Demonstrate modalities and exercise equipment; know indications/contraindications.
• Participate in performance improvement and coverage planning.
• Pursue professional growth and orient new staff.
• Care for patients across age groups per department policies.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Organization

Problem solving

Computer skills

Education

Associate's Degree in Physical Therapy

Job description

Major Responsibilities:

• Assists the Physical Therapist in treatment of patient's musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and/or integumentary systems. Provides and progresses patient treatment based on therapist's evaluation and plan of care. Treatments may include patient education, exercise (including equipment), gait training, mobility and transfer skills, balance and coordination activities, and modalities. Identifies factors affecting patient's physical and psychosocial comfort and attends to these needs.
• Monitors and notifies/updates supervisory therapist of patient's response to treatment given.
• Plans for patient discharge including providing written home programs, patient/family teaching, and ordering equipment with direction of evaluating/supervising therapist.
• Completes all required documentation with appropriate co-signatures, including patient progress notes, team conference reports, discharge summaries, and records patient care and progress of each patient assigned as well as daily statistics, billing, and scheduling. Applies insurance guidelines regarding authorization and number of visits.
• Responsible for cleaning up after patient treatment, putting away equipment, and keeping area neat and orderly. Performs various manual techniques, patient positioning, transferring and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique.
• Demonstrates skill in use of modalities, exercise equipment and other devices that are available in area worked per department orientation checklist. Demonstrates knowledge of indications and contraindications of modalities and exercise.
• Participates in performance improvement activities designed to identify and resolve problems affecting patient care outcomes and to improve quality of care. Manages assigned caseload, informing site leadership of coverage needs and ability to cover; assists with coverage, based on department needs and regional needs.
• Pursues professional growth through participation in continuing education courses, department inservices, and reading professional literature. Orients new staff to clinical and department policies as requested. Participates in the evaluation process of co-workers by providing verbal or written feedback as requested.
• 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:

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

Education Required:

• Associate's Degree in Physical Therapy.

Experience Required:

• No experience required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Intermediate computer skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good organization, decision‑making, and problem solving skills.
• Certification Addendum
• Team members will maintain annual educational requirements for hospital based certifications (e.g.DNV, CARF or others).

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, and squat throughout the workday.
• Must be able to:
• lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist.
• lift up to 10 lbs. from waist to overhead.
• lift and carry up to 40 lbs. at waist height a 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.
• Position requires repetitive use of hands:
• Simple grasping - 5-15 lbs. - 20% of the workday.
• Pushing/pulling - up to 75-100 lbs. - 10% of the day.
• Fine manipulation of hands during massage and joint mobilization.
• Must have functional use of senses to allow for effective communication.
• Exposed to electrical and chemical hazards as well as blood and body fluids; therefore must have ability to wear protective clothing as needed.
• Position may require travel; therefore may be exposed to road and weather hazards.
• 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.