Physical Therapy Assistant

0.9 FTE, 72 hours bi-weekly

Hours between 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

No weekends or holidays

Position Overview:

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) assists in providing therapy programs for referred clients with developmental deficits and physical injury, illness, or disability under the supervision of a registered Physical Therapist. The PTA is responsible for performing physical therapy treatments, documenting services, and educating patients of all ages. She/he directs patient participation according to the established plan of care and in accordance with clinical best practice guidelines to restore, reinforce, and enhance patient performance. The PTA is accountable to productivity and personal and professional growth. He/she should possess the skills to be adaptable to a dynamic team environment and open to the idea of developing, promoting, and performing new programs to facilitate rehabilitation. In the home care environment, the PTA may be required to perform some administrative duties to support the therapies in that setting. The role may include other duties as assigned.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Performs direct patient care and evidence-based practice in a safe, ethical, and legal manner.

• Performs all duties within the scope of the physical therapy practice guidelines.

• Follows the physician approved plan of care under the direction of a registered Physical Therapist.

• Assists the Physical Therapist with enhancing treatment plans, approaches, and techniques based on each individual patient's needs and goals.

• Consistently follows physical therapy protocols, procedures, and treatment interventions according to the developed plan of care.

• Performs selected tasks or activity experiences appropriate to the defined patient needs and goals, evaluates patient response, assesses and measures change and development, shares findings and makes appropriate recommendations and revisions.

• Individualizes care and education according to patient age and specific condition.

• Documents all skilled and medically necessary care thoroughly, timely, and accurately in accordance with departmental policy.

• Documentation, charges, and care must comply with Medicare, State, Federal, insurance and payer requirements as well as departmental policy.

• Maintains patient and organizational confidentiality at all times.

• Performs duties in accordance with departmental productivity standards.

• Independent in using time wisely.

• Promotes service excellence with patient scheduling and accommodation with appointments.

• Responds positively to changes in the schedule and site of physical therapy services.

• Uses unscheduled time to develop programs, complete projects, or assist the department as needed.

• Promotes the appropriate utilization of resources.

• Performs administrative assistance, as appropriate, to promote the effective and efficient flow of home care therapy services.

• Collaborates and consults with other health care professionals and shares gained knowledge.

• Supervises rehabilitation aides appropriately.

• Serves in a mentorship capacity to students.

• Provides consultation to individuals, businesses, schools, government agencies, or other organizations by providing professional advice or opinion, recommending solutions, or producing a specific outcome.

• Serves on departmental or organizational committees as appropriate.

• Delivers a high level of customer service to all internal and external customers.

• Fosters and promotes the physical therapy profession; attends professional continuing education courses and hospital in-services.

• Strives to master the skills necessary to exceed the expectations of the people we serve.

• Works effectively as a member of the rehab team and Winona Health team through collaborative partnerships to promote physical therapy and foster effective communication and departmental planning.

• Participates in performance improvement and completes all required in-service programs to ensure standards are met and skills are kept current.

• Attends mandatory staff meetings and completes mandatory educational requirements of Winona Health staff

• Understands, supports, and integrates into one's position the organization's vision/mission/values (see last section)

• Performs other duties as assigned

Essential Skills and Experience:

Skill and Abilities

• Computer skills including:

• Word

• Outlook

• Electronic Charting System

Education and Experience

• Associate's Degree in Applied Science from an accredited Physical Therapist Assistant program.

• Must be able to demonstrate appropriate clinical skills and abilities.

• Valid Driver's License.

• CPR Certification.

• Licensed or pending licensure with the State of Minnesota.

• Minimum of one-year clinical experience is desired.

Physical Demands:

Medium Work:

Work activities that require lifting frequently with 25#, occasionally 25-40# and rarely 50#. Work activities that require push/pull forces of with 50# frequently and 100# rarely Medium work activities generally exceed those for light work. Work activities may assume work in a variety of work positions including frequent bending and stooping, frequently squatting, frequent standing and walking. Medium work includes most roles within Winona Health that requires patient handling activities of transfers, rolling, and positioning.

Physical Requirements:

• May lift objects up to 50# rarely, 30-45# occasionally and frequently 10-30#

• May push/pull carts or equipment up to 50# of force frequently and rarely up to 100#

• May push/pull wheelchairs with 30-50# of force with handle height = 36"

• May require moderate to firm gripping or pinching

• May use hand tools

• May reach frequently 7-36", occasionally 6-80"

Patient Handling Work Tasks:

• Transfers patients/residents from bed, shower chairs, commodes, chair scale, recliners, lateral cart transfers, car transfers and wheelchairs up to 30 times/shift

• Transfers patients/residents with the appropriate safe patient handling equipment including EZ stand, EZ lift, Golvo lift, ceiling lift, slider boards, and scoop and transfer belts.

• Positions patients/residents in bed by rolling, boosting and turning.

• Assistance of additional staff is often required or the use of appropriate safe patient handling equipment including SLIPP, Ergo slide, orange sheets or the Golvo lift.

• Assumes Positions to complete the patient/resident treatments which may require holding a position or a patient in a position for period of time(5 minutes duration)

• Reaching horizontally for patient care, treatment or assessment at 6-10" frequently and occasionally up to 22-24" to reach across the bed.

• May over-reach to retrieve blood pressure cuff while pulling patient curtain

• May assume squatting or stooping position for emptying a Foley catheter or donning shoes and socks or adjusting the wheelchair foot rests.

• Bending duration of 7-56 seconds, depending on the cares.

• Frequent bending throughout the shift.

• Transport patients/resident in beds, carts, wheelchairs.

• Vertical handle height at 36".

• Firm grasping required.

• Push/pull force for beds=35-45#, for Wheelchairs: 15-50#.

Tipping or pushing down on the patient scale to move it = 35# force

Internal Applicant Policy:

It is the policy of Winona Health to work with employees in an equitable fashion regarding promotions, transfers, and position reclassifications.

Any employee wishing to apply for another available position at Winona Health must submit an application for consideration through the internal application portal. Employees requesting to change positions should have successfully completed at least six (6) months in their current position. Employees currently in the formal disciplinary process may be required to meet with the Director of Human Resources to determine eligibility to request transfer. The employee's past performance, experience, training and qualifications will be considered in transfer/hiring decisions. Consideration for transfer or promotion is not a guarantee of transfer or promotion. Employees may be given a chance to interview for a position when they meet the minimum position qualifications.

Disclaimer

Winona Health is an equal opportunity employer. Winona Health does not refuse to hire, discharge, or discriminate against a person with respect to tenure, compensation, terms, upgrading, conditions, facilities, or privileges of employment because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, membership in a local discrimination commission, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other prohibited basis of discrimination under applicable local, state, or federal law. Winona Health does not tolerate retaliation against any employee, patient/resident, physician, or other individuals pursuing concerns regarding Civil Rights issues. Winona Health adheres to ALL pertinent governmental policies and legislation including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII, as amended, and the Minnesota Human Rights Act.