Physical Therapist Assistant Job Description

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162 votes for Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical therapist assistant provides advanced rehabilitation services including spine rehabilitation, manipulation, massage, myofascial techniques, overuse injury rehabilitation, and post-surgical rehabilitation.

Physical Therapist Assistant Duties & Responsibilities

To write an effective physical therapist assistant job description, begin by listing detailed duties, responsibilities and expectations. We have included physical therapist assistant job description templates that you can modify and use.

Sample responsibilities for this position include:

Provides effective communication to patient/family, team members, physician, and other health care professionals to ensure coordination of services

Activities of daily living (ADL) training (Bed mobility and transfer training

Demonstrates clinical ability to implement the treatment program within the plan of care outlined by the physical therapist in accordance with patient response to treatment and/or change in patient medical status to maximize outcomes

Implementing treatment programs on the basis of clinical findings

Participating in clinical conferences to share and coordinate the plan of care for patients

Working collaboratively with other rehab therapists and nursing staff in a supportive team-working environment

Provide skilled physical therapy services / interventions using clinical reasoning

Assess patient needs

Plan for, evaluate, and modify care to meet goals of physical therapy interventions

Review daily clinical schedule and be able to anticipate treatment appropriately

Physical Therapist Assistant Qualifications

Qualifications for a job description may include education, certification, and experience.

Licensing or Certifications for Physical Therapist Assistant

List any licenses or certifications required by the position: CPR, BLS, BCLS, AHA, AED

Education for Physical Therapist Assistant

Typically a job would require a certain level of education.

Employers hiring for the physical therapist assistant job most commonly would prefer for their future employee to have a relevant degree such as Associate and Master's Degree in Physical Therapy, Physical Therapist Assistant, Graduate, Education, Associates, Science, Applied Science, Administration, Education Program, Interdisciplinary

Skills for Physical Therapist Assistant

Desired skills for physical therapist assistant include:

Rehabilitation techniques related to complex neurological injury

Medical terminology

Growth and development appropriate to the age of the patient treated

Principles and practices of physical therapy

Older adult rehabilitation

Governmental and regulatory guidelines in designated healthcare settings

Regulations

Guidelines governing functions in the post acute care facility

Practices and procedures the laws

State and federal regulations governing therapy services

Desired experience for physical therapist assistant includes:

APTA member

Prefer acute care experience, but new graduates will be considered

PTA Program per state guidelines

2 years as a PTA

Prefer one year of prior hospice, home care or LTC experience

Ability to demonstrate competency in the provision of individual care of patients based on the patients’ assessed age and developmental needs

Physical Therapist Assistant Examples