Home Health Physical Therapist Assistant

Major Responsibilities:

• Patient Relationship: Develops and maintains a restorative relationship throughout the healthcare continuum, following Advocate's MVP of Compassion.
  • Incorporates an individualized approach to the plan of care, within the parameters established by the supervising therapist. Identifies need for further patient assessment and alerts appropriate professional.
  • Demonstrates adaptive communication styles based on individual patient and family needs.
  • Incorporates AHHS Standards of Behavior into interactions with patients, other associates and physicians.
  • Assesses patient and family readiness and involves them in treatment and care. Seeks consultation from supervising therapist as needed.
  • Provides care that routinely exceeds patients and families expectations, as measured by survey instruments.
  • Promotes patient/family knowledge and confidence to safely manage self care, disease process and infection control prevention.
• Providing and Improving Quality Care: Facilitates the patient and family's right to receive quality cost effective care following Advocate's MVP of Stewardship.
  • Adapts practice to the latest standards according to evidence based literature. Utilizes approved treatment interventions to achieve established patient outcomes.
  • Participates in quality/process improvement initiatives.
  • Utilizes appropriate resources to respond to situations that have the potential to negatively impact outcomes.
  • Promotes efforts to reduce risk and improve patient safety.
  • Consistently demonstrates the ability to thoroughly and decisively document to support reimbursement and regulatory requirements.
• Professional Development: Demonstrates respect and understanding for peers and other clinical disciplines and participates as an effective member of the patient care team to provide an integrated approach to care following Advocate's MVP of Excellence.
  • Participates in staff meetings, agency in-services, and educational activities to enhance development and support organizational initiatives.
  • Utilizes available resources to maintain current knowledge base relevant to practice.
  • Demonstrates effective communication, feedback and conflict resolution skills, promoting collaboration among healthcare team members.
  • Seeks out opportunities to enhance knowledge, skill and competency of self.
• Care and Service Coordination: Practices as an effective member of the patient care team. Works with the team to formulate an integrated approach to care following Advocate's MVP of Partnership
  • Consistently makes sound clinical decisions, demonstrating the ability to care for all patients, including those with complex problems.
  • Recognizes changes in clinical situations and need for reassessment and alerts appropriate clinicians and supervisor. Participates in discussion with supervising therapist prior to implementing changes to the plan of care.
  • Prioritizes and organizes patient care, ensures clear communication with others to achieve optimal health outcomes for patients, utilizing excellent communication techniques like SBAR and 5P's. Actively works to establish supervisory visits and follow up communication.
  • Supports discharge plan for assigned patients and actively works with supervising therapist to coordinate post discharge care. Assists in communication to the interdisciplinary team therapy status. (As appropriate based on employment status).
  • Actively participates in interdisciplinary case conferences. (As appropriate based on employment status).
• Business Development and Growth: Demonstrates behaviors that enhance productivity and an understanding of financial and economic conditions in the health care environment.
  • Demonstrates adherence to personnel and operational policies.
  • Supports patient care plans and coordinates with others in the organization to maximize efficiencies and conserve resources.
  • Self monitors utilization of resources to achieve excellent health outcomes for patients.
• Patient Education: Demonstrates a commitment to meet the learning needs of patients and their families. Application of an organized approach to care involving optimal level of self care for patients and optimal quality of life for patient, family, and significant others following Advocate's MVP of Equality.
  • Assesses patient and family readiness to learn and modifies approach as necessary.
  • Utilizes appropriate resource material to achieve patient education outcomes, incorporating health literacy and adult learning principles.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• Physical Therapist Assistant. Licensed in State of Illinois (or eligible for licensure)

• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) needs to be obtained within 6 months unless department leader has determined it is not required.

• A valid driver’s license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles.

Education/Experience Required:

• Able to demonstrate compliance with state continuing education requirements 2 years of clinical experience or demonstration of strong spectrum of clinical affiliation experience

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Basic knowledge of computer use (i.e. Microsoft Word, email access and use) Ability to learn and use computer based scheduling and documentation system Ability to communicate professionally both verbally and through written reports with strong documentation skills Good interpersonal skills Good time management and self organization skills Proficient use of all home based therapy equipment and assistive devices (balls, bands, weights, Hoyer lifts, etc)
• Illinois State License. If incumbent is not certified, he/she will be required to become certified within 6 months of employment.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Extensive travel within geographical boundaries in all extremes of weather and on all types of roads including expressways. Must be able to provide/arrange own transportation to and from patients homes and branch office. Ability to work rotating weekends and holidays. Requires adherence to scheduled days and hours of work based on commitment to patient/client and work load assigned. Ability to attend mandatory informational/education/branch meetings. Work environment includes patient or family homes, or assisted living facilities Requires full range of body motion including: a. bending, sitting and standing b. climbing stairs while carrying objects c. pulling, pushing, reaching, carrying and lifting; (must be able to lift/carry at minimum 25 pounds) d. assisting and maintaining patient's safety with ambulation on flat surfaces and stairs; and transferring patients using standard pivot transfers or with use of transfer board or Hoyer lift e. providing treatment on standard beds in the home environment
• This requirement supersedes any previous lifting requirement effective 08/01/2014. Ability to lift up to 35 pounds without assistance. For patient lifts of over 35 pounds, or when patient is unable to assist with the lift, patient handling equipment is expected to be used, with at least one other associate, when available. Unique patient lifting/movement situations will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.