Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Carries out a program of exercise and treatment for assigned patients, as determined by evaluation performed by the Physical Therapist.
• Assists the Physical Therapist during patient testing, evaluations and complex procedures according to the rules and regulations of the APTA and PPTA.
• Coordinates physical therapy activities in collaboration with the other members of the interdisciplinary team to facilitate achievement of established goals.
• Ensures compliance with regulations set forth by the regulatory agencies and state governing bodies.
• Conducts or participates in training medical and nursing personnel in physical therapy techniques and objectives.
• Utilizes safe patient handling techniques for all patient transfers, lifts and positioning.
• Complies with PA practice act related to communication with supervising Physical Therapist.
• Answers telephones, routes callers, takes messages and provides routine information to callers.
• Greets and registers patients in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Schedules patient appointments within established parameters.
• Performs a variety of billing functions including recording patient information, preparing and submitting patient charge vouchers and processing insurance information.
• Bills insurance carriers for appropriate payments.
• Contacts carriers to follow up on balances due.
• Maintains up-to-date patient accounts.
• Prepares and maintains records of patient charges.
• Creates medical records for new patients.
• Establishes and maintains files and records on an ongoing basis.
• Schedules meetings, training and other requirements for staff.
• Enters and/or retrieves data from established computer files using knowledge of various computer software applications.
• Compiles data for and prepares regularly scheduled or special reports, analyses and statements.
• Prepares the treatment areas for patient care including: sets up, removes, cleans, appropriately stores, and organizes equipment and supplies including linens. Assists with monitoring of supply stock, informing front office when supplies are low.
• Monitor temperatures of applicable equipment per policy.
• Clean hydroculators, ice pack machines, and paraffin baths and document on cleaning logs
• Assists department in preparation for regulatory surveys, utilizing checklists to ensure compliance.

Common Expectations:

• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span of the assigned patient population. Assesses and interprets patient age specific data and provides appropriate, age specific treatment. Provides direct patient care to assigned patient age group(s).
• Maintains patient record, as required by profession, with accurate documentation to support medical necessity and functional ability.
• Ensures the process design of established policies/procedures, objectives, quality management, safety, environment and infection control standards are utilized consistently.
• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings, and workshops.
• Collaborates with other team members to create a culture of patient centeredness and clinical excellence.
• Acts as a role model in Red Rules compliance with a focus on hand hygiene and patient identifiers.
• Utilizes SBAR as a standard method of communication in all aspects of patient care.
• Provides outstanding service to all customers; fosters teamwork; and practices fiscal responsibility through improvement and innovation.