Physical Therapy Aide - Santa Monica

Company: Interstate Rehab
Location: Santa Monica
Posted on: May 3, 2021

Job Description:

PHYSICAL THERAPY AIDE - Part Time Per Diem

We are looking for a Physical Therapy Aide with experience to join our team! We are offering a Part-Time Per Diem position
placement at our outpatient facility in Santa Monica.

Setting: Outpatient Rehab

Location: Santa Monica

Status: Part-time/Per Diem

As a practice committed to helping patients improve functional mobility, we are always accepting resumes from
those therapy and administrative staff who pride themselves on accepting new challenges and who have a strong
desire to help others. We only accept staff into our practice who have the drive, passion, and enthusiasm for
helping the patients we serve.

Our focus is on delivering exceptional results and services, learning new techniques, advancing our capabilities,
and of course, having an exceptional team environment! Our expanding practice provides ample opportunities
for further education and career advancement.

The job description is as follows:

Administers and directs application of physical agents utilized in physical therapy as prescribed by a referring
physician under the supervision of a Registered Physical Therapist or a Physical Therapy Assistant. The
Physical Therapy Aide is responsible to the Director of Physical Therapy, Staff Physical Therapists and the
Physical Therapy Assistant. The Physical Therapy Aide has no supervisory responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB

1. After completion of the orientation checklist for Physical Therapy Aide and under the supervision of the
Registered Physical Therapist or a Physical Therapy Assistant, the Physical Therapy Aide:
a. Administers physical therapy agents, assists with therapeutic exercise programs and assists with ambulatory
procedures as indicated.
b. Explains what patients should feel and precautions to be alerted to. It is imperative to have both receptive and
expressive command of the English language.
c. Checks frequently on patient during treatment period to satisfy patient needs.
d. Returns equipment and supplies to proper storage area. Makes treatment table ready for next patient if OutPatient.
2. Discusses condition and treatment course of patient with either a Registered Physical Therapist of a Physical
Therapy Assistant.
3. Documents per S-O-A-P method in Out-Patient Charts which are co-signed by either a Registered Physical
Therapist or a Physical Therapy Assistant.
4. Ensures compliance with policies and procedures regarding department operations, hospital, fire, safety and
infection control.
5. Maintaining standards as set down by the American Physical Therapy Association regarding treatment
procedure and professional ethics.
6. Must be familiar with review, and practice Universal Precautions and Hazardous Material Protocol.
7. Is knowledgeable of the five age categories, i.e., infant, child, adolescent, adult and geriatric.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

1. One year experience in an acute hospital Physical Therapy Department is desirable.
2. On the job training by a Registered Physical Therapist is on-going, even after completion of the orientation
checklist for Physical Therapy Aide.
3. Must have a good knowledge of human anatomy, physiology and the effect of treatment procedure on the
body function and structure.
4. Must have basic knowledge of disease process in the human body, causative factors and values of physical
therapy agents in its relief.
5. Must have knowledge of machine or equipment operation and the maintenance of the same.
6. Must be able to apply the modalities used in physical therapy with knowledge of their effect.
7. Must have full knowledge of sterile techniques and its modification on physical therapy as detailed in the
Infection Control Manual.
8. Must be familiar with the hospital policies, functions and procedures relative to physical therapy and related
fields.
9. Must have current CPR Card.

SKILLS REQUIREMENTS

1. Verbal ability is necessary (both receptive and expressive) to understand oral and written instructions stated
in the physical therapy and medical terminology and to exchange such information with patients and physical
therapy staff.
a. English language is imperative - the hospital does have a list of interpreters to assist with patient needs.
2. Written communication is necessary for daily documentation in the patient's chart and for patient education
as needs dictate.
3. Ability to interact well with other physical therapy department personnel, hospital staff and patients;
a. Sensitive to patients' psychological and physiological needs to facilitate the rehabilitation process.
4. Ability to work with people and maintain control during critical situations:
N.B. Hospital Codes varies from facility to facility.
a. Code Blue
b. Code Strong
c. Code Red
5. Proper telephone etiquette and demeanor is to be maintained at all times.
6. Ability to properly schedule Out-Patient appointments so as to maximize physical therapy staff efficiency.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS

1. The nature of Physical Therapy may make heavy physical demands upon personnel. It is imperative that staff
members be in good physical condition and have an excellent grasp of proper body mechanics.
2. Types of activities required in rendering physical therapy may include, but are not limited to the following:
a. Sitting e. Squatting i. Pushing m. Carrying
b. Walking f. Climbing j. Pulling
c. Standing g. Kneeling k. Reaching
d. Bending h. Thrusting l. Lifting

All of these may be compounded when a patient or piece of equipment needs specific activity done to facilitate
proper rendering of physical therapy.

3. Near visual acuity and depth perception are required to properly render physical therapy.
4. Hand manipulation is required:
a. Sample grasping - holding onto linen supplies, carrying light objects (up to 10 lb.), or holding a bottle of
lotion for either a massage or ultrasound therapy
treatment.
b. Power grasping - holding, carrying and setting up traction equipment; lifting patients needed (up to 450 lb.)
using team lift effort when necessary.
c. Pushing and Pulling - most of our heavier equipment is on rolling charts, we do assist nursing staff with
moving beds (with or without patients) up to about 1200 lb. (a patient in either Clinitron or Flexicare Bed).
d. Fine manipulation is required for proper massage technique; joint mobilization; application of TENS
electrodes, application of specific braces and other orthopedic devices.
5. The nature of physical therapy does require staff to reach for items (linen and supplies) that are located above
the shoulder and below the shoulder.
6. The nature of physical therapy does require much lifting and positioning of patient in order to properly render
physical therapy.
a. The patient's diagnosis will help determine the needed requirements of each patient; i.e., CVA; fractured hip;
marked obesity; Alzheimer disease.
b. The patient's ability to follow commands also enters into the amount of lifting and positioning required.
7. Patient weight ranges up to 450 lb.; equipment weight ranges up to 150 lb.
8. The nature of physical therapy does expose the staff to infectious diseases; cleaning agents and possibility of
toxic spill.

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