Physical Therapist-Home Health (Contract)

Job Summary

The Physical Therapist shall provide rehabilitative services in accordance with a physician directed plan of care to promote positive therapeutic outcomes which include an increase in the patient's function and independence.

Job Relationships

Supervised by: Therapy Case Manager, Director of Nursing
Workers Supervised: Physical Therapy Assistants and Nursing Assistants
Interrelationships: All members of the agency's care team and management staff.

Job Responsibilities

Assists the physician in evaluating the level of function by applying diagnostic and prognostic muscle nerve, joint, and functional ability test.
Submit a written evaluation and participates in developing a plan of treatment revising, as necessary.
Treats patient to relieve pain, develop or restore function and maintain maximum performance, using physical means, such as exercise, massage, heat, water, light, and electricity, for example:

Directs and aids patient in active and passive exercise, muscle re-education, gait, and functional training and activities of daily living, including transfer activities and prosthetic training.
Makes use of equipment such as ultraviolet and infrared lamps, low voltage generators, diathermy, and ultrasonic machines.
Gives whirlpool and contrast baths and applies moist packs.

Arrange for the provision on an outpatient basis of services B and C above which cannot be given in the patient's condition.
Observes, records, and reports to the physician the patient's reaction to treatment and any changes in the patient's condition.
Instructs patients in care and use of wheelchairs, braces, crutches, canes, and prosthetic and orthopedic devices.
Advises and consults other health team personnel, including, when appropriate, home health aides and family members in certain phases of physical therapy with which they may work with the patient.
Instructs family on patient's total physical therapy program.
Participates in staff meetings and conferences, as necessary.
Prepares written discharge summary with a copy forwarded to attending physician.

Qualifications

A Physical Therapist providing physical therapy services in the home health setting must be currently licensed by the Louisiana Board of Physical Therapy Examiners and have graduated from a program in physical therapy with a curriculum approved by:

The American Physical Therapy Association; or
The Council on Medical Education and Hospitals of the American Medical Association, or
The Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association and the American Physical Therapy Association.

Service is given in accordance with the patient's physician's orders and within compliance to the laws governing the practice of physical therapy as set forth by the Louisiana Board of Physical Therapy Examiners.

Services shall be controlled, coordinated, and evaluated by the primary department in the following manner:

The Physical Therapist shall be responsible for:

Making visits as assigned by the agency, and
Writing a progress note for each visit in the permanent record of the patient and submitting this to the agency weekly.
Provide at least one in-service to agency staff annually.

A recertification report for each patient shall be sent to the attending physician every sixty (60) days.
The quality of care given shall be evaluated by the Utilization Review Committee, of which the Physical Therapist is a member.
The overall work performance and staff patient relationships shall be evaluated by the Director of Nursing. Case conferences will be done between the Therapist Case Manager the Physical Therapist on each patient no less than every two (2) weeks.
A personnel folder for the Physical Therapist shall include the annual PPD (mantoux) skin test and documentation of participation in outside in-service education appropriate to physical therapy, at least two (2) per year. It shall also contain verification of a current license.
Physical therapist hired as an individual agency or employee of a contracted entity will also have a personnel file with the afore mentioned articles as well as a signed and dated contract and evidence of orientation to agency policy and procedures.
The Physical Therapist shall be directly responsible for the Supervision of the Physical Therapy Assistant. The following guidelines will be followed:

Physical therapist must be readily accessible by telecommunications
Physical Therapist must evaluate and establish written plan of treatment prior to implementation of the program.
Physical Therapist must re-evaluate at least every six (6) visits or not less than once monthly,
Physical Therapist must document a face to face patient care conference with each PTA once weekly.
At least once a month the Physical Therapist will conduct a supervisory visit in the patient’s place of residence either with or without the PTA present. This may be coordinated with the requirement set forth in alpha character C of this section.
Physical Therapist must assess final treatment at discharge and write summary.

Physical Therapist may supervise home health aides if physical therapy is the only skilled service provided in lieu of the registered nurse.
Physical Therapist assumes responsibility for the documentation and timely submission of all case conferences with PTA's and aide supervisory visits to the agency.

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