The Physical Therapist is responsible for assessing patients and designing rehabilitative programs to improve mobility, relieve pain, and restore physical function. They perform initial exams, document progress, and instruct patients and families on home treatment procedures.
Requirements summary
Candidates must hold a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and a current license to practice in the state of Michigan. A minimum of two years of experience is required, with a preference for orthopedic specialization.
The Physical Therapist will be responsible to assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.
Duties and Responsibilities
1.
Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
2.
Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
3.
Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
4.
Identify and document goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.
5.
Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
6.
Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
7.
Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, or respiratory or circulatory efficiency and record data.
8.
Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.
9.
Discharge patient from physical therapy when goals or projected outcomes have been attained and provide for appropriate follow-up care or referrals.
10.
Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
11.
Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
12.
Direct, supervise, assess, and communicate with supportive personnel.
13.
Inform patients and refer to appropriate practitioners when diagnosis reveals findings outside physical therapy.
14.
Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Minimum of two years of experience; orthopedic preferred.
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Must be able to listen attentively to what patients tell say and must be able to explain what responsibilities the patients have in treatment.
Must have a desire to help people and improve the daily lives of others.
Flexibility when treating patients. Therapist may need to be creative when determining the treatment plans and adaptive devices that best suit each patient’s needs.
Ability to spend time teaching and explaining therapies to patients, should be able to earn the trust and respect of their patients.
Must be patient in order to provide quality care to the people they serve.
Must have strong communication/writing ability to explain clearly the treatment plan for the patient and any progress made by the patient.
Strong organizational skills in time managements, multi-tasking and prioritization.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Education/Licensing/Certifications
Doctorate of Physical Therapy
Current license as a Physical Therapist in the state of Michigan
Working conditions
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Physical requirements
Must be able to walk, climb, bend and squat as well as be able to lift items weighing up to 25 pounds.
