Physical Therapist - Home Health - Full Time/Days - Req#211983352 - #309378

Brief Description

Job Objective: The Physical Therapist is responsible for assisting in the care and rehabilitation of designated home care patients. The therapist treats disabilities, injuries, and diseases through the use of massage, exercise, and equipment, employing properties of heat, light rays, water, electricity, and all other accepted physical therapy procedures. The therapist plans, administers, and evaluates individual treatments of assigned patients to maximize the patients’ level of independence and safety by addressing strength, range of motion, pain, balance, and neuromotor deficits, and determines appropriate activities, as indicated by patient’s needs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Patient Care
• Acts as the patient’s advocate and protects patient’s confidentiality.
• Distributes and explains patient’s rights and responsibilities.
• Demonstrates understanding of the theory and practices of accepted physical therapy treatment.
• Demonstrates knowledge regarding special needs and behaviors of age-specific groups and demonstrates proficiency in required age-specific competencies.
• Performs complete assessment of patient’s endurance, sensory processes, range of motion, neuromuscular status, functional abilities, and gait.
• Based on the evaluation, develops a plan of treatment with defined goals which are mutually agreed upon by the patient and physician.
• Reviews patient medical history, including medications, and initiates a plan of treatment and makes necessary revisions based on assessments and patient progress.
• Administers physical therapy treatments as prescribed.
• Periodically evaluates the patient’s response to treatment and alters the program, as appropriate, with the physician’s approval.
• Communicates with Intake area and/or physician for Durable Medical Equipment needs, patient problems or other issues, as appropriate.
• Maintains own schedule for patient visits and communicates visit plans with Director of Patient Care Services and Intake.
• Utilizes Disease Management programs once established.
• Communication
• Able to communicate effectively while maintaining good working relationships with co-workers, managers, and office staff.
• Acts as a resource for patients to ensure understanding and compliance of the assessment plan.
• Participate in interdisciplinary case conferences, in-service programs, and committee meetings.
• Communicates to Case Manager, physicians and/or Director of Patient Care Services changes in the patient condition and needs.
• Documentation
• Prepares complete, concise and clear documentation of planned interventions, goals, patient’s response to treatment, changes in patient condition and coordination with other services.
• All documentation is completed timely within agency policies.
• Effective oral and written communication skills for reporting and recording clinical findings.
• Education
• Participates in age specific educational and training programs.
• Case Management
• Responsible for the overall planning, ongoing care, and discharge planning of the patient’s care.
• Responsible that the patient’s plan of care meets all regulations, and that payment is authorized when necessary.
• Responsible for notifying physicians of changes to the plan of care and/or barriers to plan of care.
• Responsible for communication with other disciplines as appropriate.
• Responsible for maintaining an accurate schedule per agency process, including appropriate clinical needs and completing or assigning recertification within CMS requirements, and scheduling supervision of CHHA.
• Responsible for reporting patient’s care, progress and barriers to plan of care in Case Conferences and as needed to DPCS.
• Supervision
• Responsible for Supervision of CHHA by establishing CHHA plan of care, performing and documenting CHHA supervisory visits every 14 days, and updating the CHHA plan of care as needed.
  
  

Non-Essential Duties:

• Participates in Quality Improvement (QAPI) process as requested in utilization review (UR), chart audits and Performance Improvement committees.
• Participates in orientation of other Physical Therapist personnel.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of Physical Therapy Practice includes assessment, and planning of patient’s care, overseeing appropriate patient’s care within scope of practice.
• Thorough knowledge of the Agency’s policies, procedures, and practices.
  
  

Skills

• Effective oral and written communication skills with case managers/Director of Patient Care Services (DPCS) and patient/caregivers, as appropriate.
• Excellent assessment skills.
• Strong critical thinking skills.
• Basic computer skills required.
  
  

Abilities

• Organization – must demonstrate basic ability to maintain schedule of home visits and complete paperwork according to agency procedures.
• Caring bedside manners demonstrate the ability to provide services with compassion and caring.
• Ability to connect with patients and families in their homes in a kind and compassionate way.
• Ability to project and maintain professionalism in all aspects of patient’s care.
• Ability to function independently seeking assistance when appropriate.
• Ability to take ownership of patient’s plan of care including establishing an appropriate plan of care, overseeing that care is done according to plan of care, communicating with physician and revising plan of care as needed.
• Ability to understand basic Home Health regulations and the financial impact of care being provided.
• Ability to oversee that all aspects of the patient’s care meet all regulations, and that payment is authorized as required.
  
  

AVMC Values: All AVMC employees will effectively demonstrate these values:

• Patients Come First – We listen actively and communicate with our patients and families, placing safety as a top priority.
• Accountability & Ownership – We fully complete tasks, are transparent, effectively communicate, and recognize that what we do reflects on us.
• Teamwork – We build trusting relationships, promote a sense of community, and are respectful of everyone. Success is about the whole team.
• Integrity & Honesty – We tell the truth at all times, speak up when something is wrong, and do the right thing when no one is looking.
• Excellence – We take pride in our work, are goal-oriented, and on a never-ending quest for top tier quality.
• Initiative & Innovation – Our can-do attitudes, creativity, and resourcefulness empower us to improve the patient’s experience, solve our own problems, make timely decisions, and look for opportunities to add value.
• Tenderness & Compassion – We have genuine empathy, show kindness, and encourage and advocate for each other.
  
  

Education and Experience:

Education

• The Physical Therapist must be a graduate of a School of Physical Therapy approved by either the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association (AMA), or the Council on Medical Education of the AMA and the American Physical Therapy Association.
  
  

Experience

• At least 1-year recent relevant clinical experience as a Physical Therapist.
• Home Health experience preferred.
• Must have strong clinical skills in order to function independently in the field.
  
  

Required Licensure and/or Certifications:

• Current CPR certification
• Maintains a valid California driver’s license and evidence of current auto insurance.
• Current licensure as a Physical Therapist in California.
• Began Practicing After January 1, 1966, but On or Prior to December 31, 1977:
• Must (1) be licensed or qualified as a physical therapist, (2) have 2 years of “appropriate experience as a physical therapist,” and (3) “achieved a satisfactory grade on a proficiency examination conducted, approved, or sponsored by the U.S. Public Health Service.”
• Began Practicing After December 31, 1977, but Prior to January 1, 2008:
• Must have graduated from a physical therapy program that utilized a curriculum approved by one of the following entities: (1) The American Physical Therapy Association, (2) the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association, (3) the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association and the American Physical Therapy Association.
• Began Practicing Prior to December 31, 2009:
• Must have graduated from a physical therapy education program approved by CAPTE. In lieu of this, the physical therapist must have completed a program that is judged to be substantially equivalent to an American entry-level program by a designated credential evaluating organization and passed an examination approved by the state in which the Physical therapy services are provided. A key distinction here is that only physical therapists who attended foreign physical therapy schools must pass a test.
• Began Practicing on or after January 1, 2010:
• Must have graduated from a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) or a foreign program that is judged to be substantially equivalent to an entry-level program by a designated credential evaluating organization. In addition to the education component, the physical therapist must pass an examination approved by the state in which the physical therapist practices.
• Were Trained Outside the United States Prior to January 1, 2008:
• Must meet the following requirements: (1) graduated after 1928 from a program that utilized a physical therapy curriculum approved in the country where the school was located and there is a member of the organization of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy in that country and (2) the physical therapist is eligible for membership in that member organization of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy.
  
  

AVMC Conduct/Compliance Expectations:

• Ability to adhere with AVMC Attendance and Punctuality Policy.
• Ability to adhere with AVMC Leaves of Absence Policy.
• Ability to adhere with AVMC Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy.
• Ability to adhere to the department dress code.
• Ability to organize work and establish priorities.
• Ability to expand on own initiative in performance of duties.
• Skill and ability to follow the telephone etiquette/standards.
• Ability to function effectively under pressure and meet time parameters.
• Ability to communicate effectively while maintaining good working relationships with co-workers, managers and other hospital staff.
• Ability to adhere to the normal standards of courtesy and conduct as defined under the rules of hospitality at AVMC.
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of patients, hospital and department information.
• Ability to adhere to safety rules and regulations.
• Safely and effectively use all the equipment necessary to carry out duties.
• Ability to interpret and function under hospital and department policies and procedures.
• Conforms with required and appropriate accreditation and regulatory requirements.
• Conforms with and supports hospital quality assurance and improvement guidelines.
• Ability to participate effectively in department and hospital staff education.
• Display a willingness to work as a team player.
• Ability to give and support the highest level of patient/customer satisfaction at all times.
• Supports and adheres to the values and mission statement established by the AVMC Board of Directors.
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Compliance & Integrity Program and its established policies.
• Ability to follow the Code of Conduct.
  
  

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Must meet job physical standards: vision, hearing, and manual dexterity, ability to walk and meet lifting requirements.
• Must be able to tolerate repetitive hand and arm movements.
• Able to walk to and from patient home and employee vehicle.
• Able to lift and/or carry up to 10 pounds.
• Home Care: Exposure to a variety of home environments; may involve exposure to variable weather conditions.
• Medical Center: If doing direct patient care, a description of the physical requirements of the job is maintained in the Employee Health Department.
  
  

A detailed description of the physical requirements of this job is maintained in the Employee Health Department.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

Education

• The Physical Therapist must be a graduate of a School of Physical Therapy approved by either the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association (AMA), or the Council on Medical Education of the AMA and the American Physical Therapy Association.
  
  

Experience

• At least 1-year recent relevant clinical experience as a Physical Therapist.
• Home Health experience preferred.
• Must have strong clinical skills in order to function independently in the field.
  
  

Required Licensure and/or Certifications:

• Current CPR certification
• Maintains a valid California driver’s license and evidence of current auto insurance.
• Current licensure as a Physical Therapist in California.
• Began Practicing After January 1, 1966, but On or Prior to December 31, 1977:
• Must (1) be licensed or qualified as a physical therapist, (2) have 2 years of “appropriate experience as a physical therapist,” and (3) “achieved a satisfactory grade on a proficiency examination conducted, approved, or sponsored by the U.S. Public Health Service.”
• Began Practicing After December 31, 1977, but Prior to January 1, 2008:
• Must have graduated from a physical therapy program that utilized a curriculum approved by one of the following entities: (1) The American Physical Therapy Association, (2) the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association, (3) the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association and the American Physical Therapy Association.
• Began Practicing Prior to December 31, 2009:
• Must have graduated from a physical therapy education program approved by CAPTE. In lieu of this, the physical therapist must have completed a program that is judged to be substantially equivalent to an American entry-level program by a designated credential evaluating organization and passed an examination approved by the state in which the Physical therapy services are provided. A key distinction here is that only physical therapists who attended foreign physical therapy schools must pass a test.
• Began Practicing on or after January 1, 2010:
• Must have graduated from a program approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) or a foreign program that is judged to be substantially equivalent to an entry-level program by a designated credential evaluating organization. In addition to the education component, the physical therapist must pass an examination approved by the state in which the physical therapist practices.
• Were Trained Outside the United States Prior to January 1, 2008:
• Must meet the following requirements: (1) graduated after 1928 from a program that utilized a physical therapy curriculum approved in the country where the school was located and there is a member of the organization of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy in that country and (2) the physical therapist is eligible for membership in that member organization of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy.