p>Principal Duties and Responsibilities: Patient care Treatment: • Provides objective information for the physical therapist in the accordance with the physical therapy plan of care and goals • Implements treatment in accordance with the plan of care & goals established by the PT Evaluation and documents treatment program and goal progress, consults with the Physical Therapist when changes to plan of care or goals are required • Implements appropriate therapeutic interventions, progressing treatment plan and teaching patients/caregivers activities to reinforce therapeutic interventions, providing/fitting appropriate assistive devices and recognizing patient distress signals, which need follow-up • Documents treatment plans and progress; records data required for statistics, productivity, billing, performance improvement program, etc.
Clinical Collaboration: • Informs Physical Therapist, MD, RN and Discharge Planner of patients status and progress towards goals through documentation or direct communication, documents communications with Physical Therapist regarding changes in patient status, treatment plan or discharge plan, communicates equipment needs and any changes/updates to original D/C plan to the discharge planner and RN • Communicates with patient/caregiver to allay anxieties, seek input and elicit cooperation, trains and educates caregivers to assist patients with exercise program, maintain precautions and demonstrate safe functional mobility • Participates in discharge planning with the interdisciplinary team, recommending appropriate assistance and continuation of the rehabilitation process as needed.