Physical Therapy Assistant

Physical Therapy Assistant Responsibilities:

• Promotes and maintains health by providing physical therapy services under the supervision of a physical therapist.
• Contributes to a physical therapist's effectiveness by identifying patient care issues.
• Administers treatment programs for patients.
• Assesses patient health by interviewing patients, performing physical examinations, and obtaining, updating, and studying therapy histories.
• Evaluates abnormal conditions by reviewing physical therapists' interpretations of patient evaluations and test results.
• Documents patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
• Performs therapeutic procedures by administering manual exercises and instructing, encouraging, and assisting patients in performing physical activities, such as non-manual exercises, ambulatory functional activities, and daily-living activities.
• Helps patients in using supportive devices, such as crutches, canes, and prostheses.
• Instructs and counsels patients by describing therapeutic regimens, giving normal growth and development information, and promoting wellness and health maintenance.
• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations, and adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Maintains production objectives by noting current treatment trends and monitoring actual physical therapy services rendered to production objectives.
• Maintains legal and accreditation compliance by adhering to policy positions concerning federal, state, and local regulations and JACHO standards.
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, reading periodicals, maintaining personal networks, and participating in professional organizations.
• Enhances physical therapy reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests and exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.

Physical Therapy Assistant Qualifications / Skills:

• Physiological knowledge
• Health promotion and maintenance
• Creating a safe, effective environment
• Motivating others
• Organization skills
• Bedside manner
• Patient services
• Health care administration
• Documentation skills
• Listening and verbal communication

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Associate degree for physical therapy assistant
• Current Washington State PTA license or certification