SAINT JOHN’S COMMUNITIES: TITLE: Physical Therapist Assistant

ESSENTIONAL DUTIES:

1. Consistently achieves established productivity goals.

2. Professional Standards: Demonstrates the ability to respond with tact and proper conduct when dealing

with residents, the public, families, physicians, and fellow employees.

3. Provide/give support to residents and significant others, including establishing a rapport, in order to

counsel residents and significant others concerning the condition and treatment of the resident.

4. Suggests referrals to other disciplines as needed and communicate referrals from other discipline to

treatment team and physical therapist.

5. Strives to achieve and maintain productivity goals and works with director to achieve these goals.

6. Completes all treatment calendars and reports in a timely manner.

7. Completes all assigned/required resident care activities before leaving for the day.

8. Maintain/develop a high level of skills and competency in the field of physical therapy in order to

incorporate new skills and technology into the duties of this position including maintaining licensure and

certifications and participating in required departmental and organizational meetings or training.

9. Maintains the appropriate clinic records in accordance with department procedures and follows

department quality assurance standards.

10. Ability to conduct and interpret appropriate physical therapy standardized test in accordance with

current best practice standards for the physical therapy assistant profession.

11. Fits residents with crutches, canes, and/or walkers under the supervision of a physical therapist and

instructs residents in appropriate gait patterns approved by a physical therapist.

12. Develop, collaborate with, and lead therapeutic classes consistent with appropriate jobholder

profession and/or experience that meet various resident and employee interests as needed or

requested in the wellness department.

13. Be able to effectively communicate with and motivate residents and employees around meeting their

personalized therapy, fitness, and wellness goals. Monitor individual’s progress on goals with

appropriate documentation.

14. Accurately complete prior authorization documentation for all residents within designated time frame to

assure continuity of care.

15. Monitors and follows procedures to maintain Saint John’s facilities safety, cleanliness, and excellent

appearance.

16. Monitor and clean or arrange for the cleaning of all exercise equipment as needed in the department.

17. Assures that resident/employee rights are maintained at all times. Reports any violations or suspected

deviations immediately, according to Saint John’s policy.

18. Maintains confidentiality of all department and organization information.

19. Knows and follows existing lines of communication, supervision, and authority.

20. Ability to maintain a person-first focus, treating others with respect and integrity.

All Employees Must Foster Person Centered Care/Professional Integrity and Responsibility

1. Act with honesty and openness in all resident/family/ responsible party and employee contacts. Function

as Saint John’s Communities Ambassadors to maintain a working environment that values respect,

fairness, inclusiveness, and integrity. Promote a responsible workplace in recognition and support of the

boundaries of people with whom we work and serve.

2. Demonstrate commitment to the person-first philosophy that gives residents the power of choice.

Function as a community member within the principles and practices that guide care and services through

knowing and honoring the person before the task. In this vein, we will:

 Foster relationships between residents, family and staff.

 Know each person as an individual who can and does make a difference.

 Nurture the spirit as well as the mind and body.

 Promote growth and development for all.

 Create an environment that meets the physical, social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual

and occupational needs of individuals and the community.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Graduate of an approved Physical Therapist Assistant training program (two-year Associate Degree).

Completion of a clinical affiliation in an accredited facility and one month of on-the-job exposure.

2. Must have CPR/First Aid certifications or become certified in the first 6 months of employment.

3. Must have effective verbal and written communications skills, and strong interpersonal calls.

4. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office programs including at minimum Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Working knowledge of EHR systems is preferred.

5. Must have the ability to adapt to changing organization needs and work flexible client/resident

scheduling capability to meet needs. Takes appropriate risks (actions) in responding to “customer’s

needs”. Responds to changing needs without excessive need for set rules or procedures.

6. Must have excellent organization skills, be dependable, resident, and flexible. Ability to work effectively

both independently and as part of a team with enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity.

WORK SETTING/ENVIRONMENT:

(The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the

essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential

functions.)

Work is performed indoors in a well-lit and clean office with some exposure to dust. Heat, air conditioning and

humidity are controlled by the building's central system with a temperature variance of not more than 7 degrees

on either side of the norm of 72 degrees. Will have exposure to swimming pool environment where room

temperature is 90 degrees and pool temperature is 87 degrees.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles.

The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, toxic or caustic chemicals, and

vibration. The employee is potentially exposed to some infectious diseases (TB, Herpes, Hepatitis B). There is

also potential for exposure to blood and body fluid secretion. The noise level in the work environment is

usually minimal to moderate.

EQUIPMENT USED:

Exercise equipment, computer terminals, printers, copy machine, telephones, and fax. While performing the

duties of this job, the employee frequently uses treatment tools including hydrocollator, paraffin, TNS,

ultrasound, and E-Stim. Other equipment the jobholder may operate include elevator, stove, microwave, and

Fire extinguisher.

Protective Clothing/equipment required: The employee is required to wear nonslip/closed footwear. The

employee is required to wear gloves and masks when appropriate.

PHYSICAL/SENSORY/COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: The

physical demands described here are representatives of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential

functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential

functions. The phrases “occasionally,” “regularly,” and “frequently” correspond to the following definitions: “occasionally” means up to

1/3 of working time, “regularly” means between 1/3 and 2/3 of working time, and “frequently” means 2/3 and more of working time.)

Physical Strength: Must be able to continuously push/pull objects weighing over 10 pounds and occasionally

over 50 pounds. Must be able to safely demonstrate fitness/therapy equipment which may involve resistance

equipment as well as treadmill, elliptical, pullies, and stationary bike. Frequent resident transfers, assist with

ambulation, standing, and squatting to remove wheelchair leg rests and repositioning is required in essential job

functions.

Manual Dexterity: Must be able to continuously use hands and arms for moderate manipulations demonstrating

fitness/therapy equipment.

Coordination: Must be able to continuously perform tasks which require action of muscles and groups of

muscles, hand-eye coordination, and steadiness of motion.

Mobility: Must be able to continuously stand and walk; frequently sit, occasionally squat, bend to floor, reach

over shoulder, kneel, twist, sit, stand, and remain in uncomfortable positions for prolonged periods.

Speech: Must be able to continuously speak clearly and make self understood in person and on the phone.

Emotional Stability: Must be able to frequently deal with stress created by multiple tasks, deadlines, and

interruptions.

Vision: Must be able to continuously see objects and distinguish colors for reading computer monitor and safely

handle equipment and safety of others.

Hearing: Must be able to continuously hear normal sounds and voices with some background noise in order to

respond to emergencies.

Concentration: Must be able to continuously concentrate on fine detail with frequent interruptions.

Attention Span: Must be able to continuously attend to tasks for more than an hour at a time.

Conceptualization: Must be able to continuously understand and relate to theories behind several related

concepts.

Memory: Must be able to continuously remember verbal and written assignments given at the beginning of a

period extending over long periods of time.

EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITY IN AN EMERGENCY: Must know, understand, and comply with all emergency

procedures and be able to assist with resident evacuation if necessary, and all safety, security, infection control

and hazardous materials policies and procedures.

1. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee will also perform other reasonably

related business duties as assigned by the supervisor or other management.

2. Management reserves the right to change job responsibilities, duties, and hours as needs prevail. This

document is for management communication only and is not intended to imply a written or implied contract

of employment.

3. I have read and understand this job description. I agree to accept the responsibilities and duties as

outlined with or without reasonable accommodation.