Physical Therapy Assistant

Job Summary:

This position is responsible for assisting in providing physical therapy treatment to Oyáte Health Center (OHC) patients as directed; apply appropriate disease classification and procedure codes to episodes of care and performing quantitative analysis and filing in the medical record; and provide administrative support and ancillary duties as directed.

Essential Functions and Professional Behavior Expectations:

• Perform clinical duties in accordance with all regulations and rules set out in the South Dakota State Practice Act for Physical Therapy; administer the full range of physical therapy agents to include but not limited to heat, cold, e-stim, US, transfer procedures, manual therapy (excluding joint mobilizations), therapeutic exercises, therapeutic activities, neuromuscular re-education and patient instruction; and, administer treatment procedures to patients based on physical therapist's treatment.
• Use, maintain, clean, and operate physical therapy equipment, including hydrocollator, freezer, weights, and any US and electrical stimulation units.
• Use electronic health record system to register patients; document chief complaint and purpose of visit (POV); record treatment information in SOAP note format; document patient education; document length of treatment and services provided, including billing information with appropriate codes.
• Perform patient transfers safely and independently.
• Perform daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning duties, as well as maintaining cleaning logs and daily temperature check logs to ensure regulatory compliance.
• In collaboration with Physical Therapist, maintain a well-functioning and flowing schedule and send letters as appropriate in accordance with established policy.
• Assist with scheduling of patients using the computerized scheduling program; schedule patient appointments at the time they present to clinic or call to schedule an appointment; enter cancellations and no-shows as appropriate; and make scheduling changes as needed.
• Interview patients to obtain patient registration information prior to patient being seen; obtaining demographics; obtain insurance information and authorization to enable billing for health care services provided from all alternate resources. Identify patients whose health benefits are subject to prior approval.
• Obtain and verify the health records and RPMS Patient Registration information for Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance eligibility for all patients seen prior to clinic visits.
• Call third party insurance provided to obtain prior approval and pre-certification for Physical Therapy visits as directed prior to patient's first clinic visit.
• Call patients to make appointments for Physical Therapy evaluation and ensure that the schedule maximizes treatment time slots.
• Answer telephone calls, take and deliver messages as appropriate, perform scheduling duties as applicable, and route phone calls as necessary.
• Assist patients in completing intake forms and questionnaires; answering questions; provide directions to various departments and provide instructions as needed to maintain patient flow.
• Review the medical record to ensure accuracy and completeness; verify record includes correct identification, validation of each part by name, register number, dates, signatures where required and the presence of all reports which are indicated by nature of the case for each of his/her patients.
• File printed patient notes from the Electronic Health Record GUI and all physical therapy related forms in correct order; prior to returning charts to medical records, ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Must comply with federal laws and regulations as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Performs related duties.

Professional Behavior

• Effectively plan, organize workload, and schedule time to meet the demands of the position.
• Work in a cooperative and professional manner with OHC and GPTCHB staff.
• Treat Great Plains tribes and collaborators with dignity and respect.
• Utilize effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Advance personal educational development by attending training sessions and seminars as appropriate.
• Exemplify excellent customer service with tribal stakeholders, health board colleagues, program partners, service recipients, visitors, and guests.
• Foster a work environment of wellness, courtesy, friendliness, helpfulness, and respect.
• Relate well and work collaboratively with coworkers and all levels of staff in a professional manner.
• Consistently demonstrate respect for and acceptance of differing capabilities, cultures, gender, age, sexual orientation and/or personalities.
• Maintain and ensure organizational privacy and confidentiality.
• Handle crisis and tolerate stress professionally.
• Be self-directed and take proactive initiative to assist others.
• Resolve issues with other departments and coworkers without direct supervision if needed.
• Exercise flexibility to alter plans/routines when situations require and continue to perform without projecting stress/frustration that would adversely affect the work environment.
• Promote an alcohol, tobacco, and drug-free lifestyle.
• Embrace modes of appearance and attire that reflect a professional presence.
• Treat patient information with confidentiality.
• Adhere to GPTCHB policies and procedures.

Knowledge Required

• Knowledge of federal, state, local, and accrediting agency regulations affecting areas of responsibility.
• Knowledge of physical therapy principles, concepts, and methodology appropriate to position.
• Knowledge of Physical Therapy terminology and abbreviations
• Knowledge of treatment equipment, techniques, and procedures used in physical therapy treatment of assigned patients.
• Knowledge of equipment and techniques such as gait training, manual therapy (excluding joint mobilizations), therapeutic exercise etc. and all physical therapy agents such as heat, cold, e-stim, US, etc.
• Knowledge of ICD-10-CM and CPT coding systems and their use in medical records related to Physical Therapy.
• Knowledge and ability necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of patients served.
• Knowledge of infection control standards and protocols.
• Ability to identify, categorize, and perform clinical services to address each patient’s age-specific needs, i.e., infant, adolescent, or geriatric patients.
• Knowledge of customer service principles.
• Ability to manage multiple demands of the job.
• Skill in oral communication.
• Skill in the provision of customer service.
• Skill in use of job-related equipment and tools.
• Skill in use of personal computer and a variety of job-related software applications.

Supervisory Controls

The supervisor assigns work in terms of somewhat general instructions. The supervisor spot-checks completed work for compliance with instructions and established procedures, accuracy, and through observation of interactions with OHC patients, and patient outcomes.

Guidelines

Guidelines include the South Dakota State Practice Act for Physical Therapy; and GPTCHB, OHC, department policies and procedures. These guidelines are clear and specific and require some judgment.

Complexity/Scope of Work

This position consists of patient care and administrative support duties. The purpose of this position is to assist with and/or provide physical therapy care to OHC patients. Successful performance helps ensure the overall effective and efficient operation of the Physical Therapy Department and OHC, resulting in improved patient outcomes.

Contacts

Contacts are typically with clinical providers, patients, and other employees. Contacts are typically to provide patient care, give and exchange information, and provide assistance.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

The work is typically performed standing or sitting. The work is typically performed in a clinic setting which requires normal safety precaution for infection control and environmental safety measures.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and sit, talk, and hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and/or move light objects, and occasional lift heavier objects.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervisory and Management Responsibility

None.

Minimum Qualifications

• Completion of a Physical Therapist Assistant program at an accredited institution.
• Completion of a formal training program or an associate’s degree and one (1) year of relevant experience; or a high school diploma or GED and three (3) years of relevant experience.
• Current Physical Therapy Assistant license.
• Current BLS certification.
• Must successfully pass a criminal and background check and a pre-employment drug screen.

The GPTLHB is a tribal organization that follows tribal preference laws. Our policy is to give preference to qualified Indian/Tribal candidates over qualified non-native candidates in hiring decisions if all other qualifications are equal.