Physical Therapy Assistant - Outpatient

Atrium Health; Huntersville (NC); On-site; USD 39,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Atrium Health, in North Carolina, seeks a licensed Physical Therapy Assistant to serve as a regional float for the northern Greater Charlotte outpatient market, covering Huntersville and surrounding facilities. You will assist therapists in delivering patient care across musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and cardiopulmonary functions.

You will document progress, support discharge planning with home programs, and travel between sites.

Qualifications

• Associate degree from an accredited Physical Therapist Assistant program.
• Active Physical Therapist Assistant license in the state(s) of employment.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for Healthcare Providers.
• Continued education to maintain licensure.

Responsibilities

• Assist supervising therapist in delivering patient care across musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions.
• Support patient care across multiple outpatient sites within the northern Greater Charlotte market.
• Document progress notes and communicate changes in patient status per policy.
• Support discharge planning with home exercise programs and caregiver education.
• Maintain a safe, clean treatment environment and ensure equipment readiness.
• Monitor patient responses and report adverse events to supervisor.
• Participate in enterprise float program requirements and coverage planning.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Problem solving

HIPAA compliance

Basic office tasks

Education

Associate degree from an accredited Physical Therapist Assistant program

Tools

EMR system

Microsoft Office

Job description

This position is for NC Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant. The role will be a regional float serving the northern Greater Charlotte Outpatient Physical Therapy market including CNSA Huntersville, CNSA Concord, AH PT Huntersville, MSKI PT Huntersville, AH PT Lincolnton/Denver, and AH PT Cabarrus.

Major Responsibilities

• Age‑Appropriate Patient Care
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of patients served across the lifespan. Applies principles of growth and development and collaborates with the supervising Physical Therapist to identify patient needs and deliver care in accordance with departmental policies, procedures, and job standards.
• Patient Care Implementation and Support
• Supports Physical Therapists in providing comprehensive patient care across musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and integumentary systems. Reviews medical records and collaborates with the supervising therapist to implement treatment plans. Provides and progresses therapy based on established evaluations and patient goals, ensuring treatments are functional, safe, and within standards of practice. Identifies, documents, and communicates changes in patient condition or adverse responses.
• Therapeutic Interventions
• Implements therapeutic interventions that may include patient/caregiver education, therapeutic exercise, gait training, functional mobility, balance and coordination activities, sensory motor development, modalities, and transfer training. Demonstrates knowledge of indications and contraindications for therapeutic interventions utilized.
• Clinical Skills and Patient Support
• Monitors patient response to treatment and communicates outcomes to the supervising Physical Therapist. Identifies patient and caregiver preferences and learning barriers. Supports patient discharge planning, which may include providing written home programs, patient and caregiver education, and administering equipment under the direction of the supervising therapist.
• Professional Communication
• Communicates professionally and in a timely manner with patients, caregivers, providers, staff, and external customers. Responds to staff inquiries, promotes open communication, informs supervisors of issues and resolutions, and may attend patient care conferences and multidisciplinary meetings to support coordinated care.
• Documentation and Compliance
• Completes all required documentation accurately and timely with appropriate co‑signatures, including progress notes, team conference documentation, discharge summaries, and patient education records. Complies with insurance authorization requirements, departmental productivity standards, and all billing and documentation policies, procedures, and timelines. Understands departmental productivity and budget expectations.
• Environment and Safety
• Maintains a clean, safe, and orderly treatment environment. Ensures equipment is cleaned, stored, and maintained in good working condition.
• Professional Development
• Pursues professional growth through continuing education, departmental in‑services, and review of professional literature. Integrates evidence‑based practices into daily clinical operations.
• Operational Improvement
• Participates in performance improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient outcomes and service quality. Identifies opportunities for clinical and operational improvement, contributes to process development, manages assigned caseloads, and communicates coverage needs while assisting with coverage based on departmental and regional needs.
• Float Responsibilities
• Meets all requirements for Level 1 participation in the Enterprise Float Program and applicable Human Resources policies. Demonstrates the ability to practice competently across assigned departments and/or locations and adapt to varying clinical and operational environments based on organizational needs.

Education

• Associate degree from an accredited Physical Therapist Assistant program.

Certification / Licensure

• Active Physical Therapist Assistant license in the state(s) of employment
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for Healthcare Providers
• Maintains continuing education requirements in accordance with applicable state professional standards

Work Experience

• Not specified

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Intermediate computer proficiency
• Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, decision‑making, and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to perform basic office functions
• Compliance with HIPAA requirements and appropriate handling of protected health information
• Completion of all required competency assessments related to patient care and site standards

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, lift, and squat throughout the workday
• Ability to lift:
• Up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist
• Up to 10 lbs. from waist to overhead
• Carry up to 40 lbs. at waist height for reasonable distances
• Ability to push/pull up to 30 lbs. of force
• Ability to assist with patient transfers with a second person present or appropriate equipment
• Repetitive hand use for grasping, pushing/pulling, and fine manipulation
• Functional sensory abilities for effective communication and demonstration of activities
• Exposure to blood, body fluids, electrical, and chemical hazards; ability to wear PPE as required
• May require travel
• Primarily indoor work environment with occasional outdoor exposure
• Operates equipment necessary to perform job duties

Disclaimer

All responsibilities and requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. This job description does not imply that these are the only duties to be performed. Employees are required to follow any other job‑related instructions and perform any other job‑related duties requested by leadership.