Lead Physical Therapist Assistant

The Lead PTA services as subject matter expert in a rehabilitation program such as, but not limited to, geriatrics, amputee, brain injury, cardiac rehabilitation, orthopedics, neurological, safe patient handling, or any other functional debilitative conditions. Assigned responsibilities fall primarily in the following areas: patriciate with the Physical Therapist (PT) in planning and implementing of complex treatment programs, apply PT procedures to patients and provide patient and family/caregiver training and education, and provide treatment that promotes the preventive and remediation of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunctions. The Lead PTA must adhere to the facility's rules, policies, and procedures and to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics to ensure quality patient care.
Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Complete a review of patient data, including medical history and review of physical therapy evaluation.
• Provide physical therapy procedures within a broad diagnostic spectrum of diseases and disorders.
• Independently provide a varied and multifaceted physical therapy interventions based on established care plan.
• Interpret and apply clinical practice guidelines to both simple and complex patient cases.
• Mentors other staff in advanced clinical guidelines and best practices.
• Works with PT and other interdisciplinary healthcare team members to evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, and coordinating treatment programs and discharge planning (as applicable).
• Participates in family and multidisciplinary team meeting to identify patients' needs, report on patients' goals and to assist in planning patients' overall treatment plan.
• Provide patient and their families/caregivers with education, information, and training regarding the nature of their disease or disability.
• Consults with referring providers as needed.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the PTA workgroup across PM&RS at VA Boston.
• Provide professional oversight and consultation for other PTAs.
• Collaborate with PT and nursing staff for coordination of patient care.
• Participate in the PTA peer review process.
• Assists in maintenance of the clinic/environment and exhibits good safety practices following proper safety & infections policies and procedures.
• Participate in performance improvement programs.
• Assists with maintaining all clinic/unit supplies at safe levels to prevent shortages.
• Participates in team conferences, rounds, discharge planning meeting, specialty clinical, and other assigned medical meeting, physical therapy in-services, and other meeting as directed.
• Information, reports, and workload data are completed and submitted on request and as needed.
• Provide orientation and training of new staff members in the PM&RS department.
• Contribute to the development of performance evaluations for the PTA staff.