Home Health Physical Therapist - PRN

Wooster Community Hospital-Home Health Services Job Description

Home Health Physical Therapist

POSITION: PT Case Manager

MAIN FUNCTION (Job Summary): A qualified Physical Therapist who plans, organizes, and directs home care services. They develop, implement, and evaluate individualized patient care plans. They assess the conditions and needs of patients and families in order to develop a personalized care plan and regularly evaluate the plan of care and update them on an as-needed basis. They provide education to patients and families. They serve as a liaison between patients, their families and the health care system. Responsible for ensuring that the PTAs follow the plan of care and document visit information in a timely manner. They provide routine visits as needed. Must promote the mission, vision and values of Wooster Community Hospital Home Health Services.

REPORTS TO (Reporting Responsibilities):

• Clinical Manager

Workers Supervised:

• Physical Therapy Assistants (PTA)

MUST HAVE REQUIREMENTS (Job Qualifications, Experience, Education/Training, Professional License):

• Current State of Ohio driver’s license
• Current automobile insurance
• Professional licensure: State of Ohio PT license
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) current card
• Acceptance of philosophy and goals of WCH and HHS department
• Ability to exercise initiative and independent judgement
• Demonstrated autonomy, accountability, and organizational skills in performing/completing job responsibilities
• Excellent communication skills
• Knowledge and ability to apply PT processes
• Knowledge and ability to direct professional personnel
• Ability to work as a team member

PREFERRED ATTRIBUTES (Experience, Education/Training):

• Home care experience
• Computer skills (keyboard, computer applications)
• Minimum of 2 years PT experience

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• Works in patient homes, travels to and from homes in all weather conditions
• Works in the office as needed for meetings, educational programs, completion of tasks as directed by the Clinical Manager/Director

OTHER REQUIREMENTS (including Risk Exposure and Lifting Requirements): Employees in this position may be:

• Exposed to blood, body fluids and/or airborne pathogens
• Required to don personal protective equipment, per Standard Precautions, and as applicable to the patient’s disease process
• Able to participate in physical activity
• Able to work for extended periods of time while standing and being involved in physical activity
• Able to push, pull, lift, carry, turn, crouch, stand, and bend on a regular basis, as necessary to perform patient care and job duties
• Required to take “On-Call” work shifts
• Subject to STHR (short term hour reduction) according to scheduling policies

POSITION EXPECTATIONS (Responsibilities & Job Duties):

Leadership

• Accepts and responds to change productively, while maintaining a positive attitude
• Demonstrates conflict resolution skills
• Reports actual and near-miss adverse events to Clinical Manager and/or Director in a timely manner
• Speaks positively of the department to customers, referral sources, and community healthcare partners

Communication

• Maintains awareness of verbal and non-verbal communication during interactions with coworkers, patients, caregivers, health care providers, and health care vendors
• Maintains patient confidentiality in all communication interactions: written, verbal, electronic, and digital
• Collaborates and communicates effectively with all interdisciplinary team members (handoff communication, interdisciplinary care coordination)
• Daily reports information about case load to Clinical Manager
• Reports critical information to physician and other team members in a timely manner
• Utilizes the chain of command to handle issues
• Participates in weekly TEAM meetings and uses crucial conversations
• Utilizes AIDET ( Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Expectations, Thank You) strategies to foster positive communication among all interdisciplinary team members, coworkers, health care providers, health care vendors, and students

OPERATIONS

• Follows all infection prevention strategies, including hand hygiene
• Completes initial assessment of patient and family to determine home care needs and makes necessary revisions as patient status and needs change
• Provides a completes PT evaluation and patient’s medication list
• Completes and submits OASIS assessments, reassessments, recertification, follow-up, transfers, resumptions of care, discharges, and significant change of condition as defined by department documentation guidelines
• Uses health assessment data to develop a care plan that establishes patient/care giver goals incorporating therapeutic, preventive, and rehabilitative actions
• Regularly re-evaluates patient needs and counsels the patient in meeting those needs
• Provides supervision of the PTAs
• Reassesses the patient per regulatory policies
• Identifies discharge planning needs as part of the care plan and implements prior to discharge of the patient
• Maintains knowledge of state, federal, local and accreditation regulations (COPs)
• Assumes responsibility for the ongoing interdisciplinary assessment and development of the individualized plan of care in partnership with the patient, patient representative, with oversight from the Clinical Manager
• Provides continuous review of all aspects of every patient their caseload to include: appropriate utilization of services; ensuring continued skilled needs; monitoring of homebound status; review of documentation in the medical record; maintenance of interdisciplinary communication and discharge planning
• Processes and documents physician orders, notifies the physician of patient condition of changes,
• Completes orders for certification/recertification, transfer/discharge summaries and meets documentation requirements
• Holds PTA staff to documentation standards
• Maintains equipment and supplies in proper working order
• Coordinates work to achieve maximum productivity, able to multitask and prioritize workload

COMMUNICATION

• Prepares clinical notes and updates the PCP when necessary at least every 60 days
• Communicates on a regular basis with the PTAs and reports that information daily to the Clinical Manager
• Received report from PTAs about the patients they see
• Communicates with all disciplines related to coordinating the care plan
• Attends weekly TEAM and actively participates in care discussion
• Recognizes and utilizes opportunities for health counseling with patients and families/caregivers

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Participates in on-call duties as defined by the on-call policy
• Participates in QAPI (Quality Assessment Performance Improvement)
• Orients and mentors new staff as requested
• Ensures and arranges for equipment and other necessary items and services for the patient
• Assumes responsibility for personal growth and development
• Maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and practice skills through attendance and participation in continuing education and in-services

CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Displays a positive attitude, treats others with honesty and respect, speaks positively in all customer interactions internal and external
• Uses AIDET
• Optimize the patient’s experience by reducing the patient and caregiver’s anxiety
• Increase patient compliance
• Develop and maintains positive relationships with other employees, health care providers, and health care vendors
• Assess customer satisfaction during interactions
• Uses appropriate chair of command for unresolved issues or problems
• Uses face-to-face (critical conversations) to intervene with patients, caregivers, health care providers, vendors, students, and/coworkers in situations where customer needs have not been met to determine a positive, mutually agreeable resolution

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

• Attends department meetings, educational activities and in-services and TEAM meetings
• Supervises and teaches PTA staff
• Demonstrates initiative and responsibility to develop personal and professional goals
• Demonstrates professional growth by maintaining awareness of changes in home care industry
• Demonstrates professional growth by maintaining awareness of applicable professional best practices
• Accepts feedback as opportunity for growth
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of new policies and procedures, practices/standard work and initiatives
• Obtains knowledge via attending staff meetings, reading communications completing hospital and home health education
• Maintains BLS, professional licensure

PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT (QAPI)

• Maintains awareness of CMS COPs
• Reviews home care patient satisfaction survey, value based purchasing and Star rating data
• Identifies processes to be improved, communicates ideas to home health leadership
• Participates in data collection and chart audits as assigned
• Embraces change in the home care environment to optimize patient outcomes and assists in maintaining financial department stability

AGE SPECIFIC COMPETENCY: Adults and Geriatrics (18 years and older)

• Identifies physical, social, cultural and emotional barriers plus physical limitations throughout episode of care
• Integrates patient’s barriers and limitations in individualized plan of care
• Utilizes the TEACH BACK method to ensure understanding and demonstration of care
• Speaks slowly and distinctly when talking to the patient/caregiver/representative

I have read the above job description and fully understand the conditions specified in this document.

I will perform these duties to the best of my knowledge and ability

I will adhere to WCH policies and procedures, HHS policies and procedures, scheduling guidelines, productivity standards and WCH Employee Handbook.

Employee :______________________________ Date:_____________

Created: 1/28/2025

Approved: TMMYERS