STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
HUMAN RESOURCES


CLASSIFICATION:  PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANT

 

Class Code:  6914-14                                        Date Established:  01-13-77           

 

Occupational Code:  7-4-7                                Date of Last Revision:  12-28-01

 

BASIC PURPOSE:  To assist in providing physical therapy services under the direction of a professional Physical Therapist.

 

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

·        Performs or assists in performing specific physical therapy treatments such as massage, ultrasound and a variety of exercise programs as part of a prescribed treatment program. 

 

·        Assists in the physical therapy evaluation of patients, residents or clients and explains information in regard to patient programs in team meetings.

 

·        Observes, records and reports conditions, reactions, and responses; records data on residents' or clients' charts in order to report and monitor progress. 

 

·        Explains the use of physical therapy equipment to patients, residents or clients and provides instruction on equipment operation.

 

·        Provides in-service training for Physical Therapy Aides who are performing related physical therapy work. 

 

·        Assists in maintaining physical therapy equipment and orders supplies under the direction of the Physical Therapy Supervisor.

 

·        Transports patients to and from physical therapy programs.

 

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DISTINGUISHING FACTORS:

 

Skill:  Requires skill in recommending routine changes in standardized operating procedures OR in retrieving, compiling and reporting data according to established procedures OR in operating complex machines.

 

Knowledge:  Requires knowledge of business practices and procedures or technical training in a craft or trade, including working from detailed instructions, to apply knowledge in a variety of practical situations.

 

Impact:  Requires responsibility for contributing to agency objectives by ensuring the accuracy of support activities within one or more organizational units.  Errors at this level affect the work of others or have measurable monetary consequences, and require verification and correction in order to complete succeeding work operations.

 

Supervision:  Requires partial supervision of other employees doing work which is related or similar to the supervisor, including assigning job duties, providing training, giving instructions and checking work.

 

Working Conditions:  Requires performing regular job functions in an environment which includes exposure to continuous physical elements or a number of disagreeable working conditions with frequent exposure to minor injuries or health hazards.

 

 

 

Physical Demands:  Requires light work, including continuous walking or operating simple equipment for extended periods of time as well as occasional strenuous activities such as reaching or bending.

 

Communication:  Requires explaining facts, interpreting situations, or advising individuals of alternative or appropriate courses of action.  This level also requires interviewing or eliciting information from state employees or members of the general public.

 

Complexity:  Requires a combination of job functions to establish facts, to draw daily operational conclusions, or to solve practical problems.  This level also requires providing a variety of alternative solutions where only limited standardization exists.

 

Independent Action:  Requires a range of choice in applying a number of technical or administrative policies under general direction and in making routine decisions or in recommending modifications in work procedures for approval by supervisor.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

 

Education:  Associate's degree from a recognized college or technical institute in a physical therapy assistant program. 

 

Experience:  No experience required.

 

License/Certification:  Eligibility for registration and licensure as a Physical Therapy Assistant issued by the N.H. Board of Registration and Medicine. 

 

RECOMMENDED WORK TRAITS:  Knowledge of medical terminology and how it applies to physical therapy.  Knowledge of spacial and form perception in order to visualize anatomical structure or disabled part of the body and the relation of therapeutic device in remedial actions.  Ability to maintain empathic attitude toward and the ability to work with psychiatric patients.  Ability to exercise mature and sound judgment in unusual situations.  Ability to work as part of a treatment team.  Ability to effectively carry out oral and written instructions.  Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, as well as patients and residents assigned to the institution in which position is located.  Must be willing to maintain appearance appropriate to assigned duties and responsibilities as determined by the agency appointing authority.

 

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT:  This class specification is descriptive of general duties and is not intended to list every specific function of this class title.

 


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Last Updated 01/04/02
URL: /hr/classspec_p/6914.htm