PURPOSE OF POSITION
Community Care is a division of New York City Health and Hospitals which provides community-based health care services including: Health Home and Care Coordination, Certified Home Health Care (CHHA)/ Care Management, and Outreach/Engagement. We have over 400 clinical and non-clinical staff embedded throughout the NYC H+H enterprise who service over 9,000 patients located in group/private homes, as well as those without housing in the four boroughs of New York City. Our qualified licensed occupational therapists help get patients on the road to recovery in the comfort of the patients’ home environment. Through the rehabilitation process, patients can recapture the skills necessary to live safely at home, or in the community.
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provides physical therapy services in accordance with the physician’s plan of care.
- Assists the physician in assessing the patient’s functional level by applying appropriate tests and measurements, and advises the physician in the development and revision of the plan of care.
- Evaluates patient and establishes/upgrades the plan of treatment by applying diagnostic and prognostic muscle, nerve, joint, and functional ability tests.
- Treats patients through the use of therapeutic activities to relieve pain, develop and restore function, attain and maintain maximum performance, and utilize adaptive equipment with the functional limitations of the patient and in accordance with the plan of care.
- Observes, documents and reports the patient’s responses to treatment and any change in the patient’s condition to the physician, and/or the coordinator of care.
- Evaluates the home environment and makes appropriate recommendations with regard to safety issues.
- Orders assistive devices and equipment and trains the patient in the safe and effective use of the equipment.
- Instructs and advises patients, family members and other home health personnel in the phases of physical therapy in which they may assist the patient; and in the safe use of assistive devices, and the completion of the home exercise program.
- Demonstrates and teaches alternate techniques to perform the activities of daily living, transfers, and mobility and positioning.
- Regularly reviews the rehabilitation needs with patients; initiates/notifies the coordinator of care and/or the physician regarding the need for revisions of the patient’s plan of care. Ensures that the plan of care addresses all problems identified during the evaluation or demonstrates rationale for not doing so.
- Makes referrals to other disciplines as indicated by the needs of the patients or documents rationale for not doing so. Observes signs and symptoms and reports to the physician and/or other appropriate health professionals as often as needed or as directed by the changes in the patient’s condition.
- Assists with the coordination of the plan of care and maintains continuity of patient care through interdisciplinary coordination with the other health professional by attending patient care conferences.
- Teaches, supervises and counsels the patient and designated caregiver regarding home care procedures as appropriate to the patient’s condition.
- Develops, prepares and maintains individualized patient care documentation with accuracy, timeliness and in accordance with the Corporation’s policies.
- Performs SOC Assessments for Joint Replacement cases, following specified Joint Replacement Protocol.
- Participates in interdisciplinary case conferences and case load reviews to ensure optimal clinical outcomes for assigned patients.
- Escalates patient care concerns in a timely manner to Assistant Director of Nursing or Assistant Director of Rehab Services to prevent patient decline and potential rehospitalization.
- Collaborates with the patient and/or patient identified representative in developing appropriate treatment goals in alignment with the physician ordered plan of care.
- Participates in the agency’s Quality Assurance Performance Improvement/(QAPI) program.
SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The qualified licensed physical therapist will provide a comprehensive evaluation using evidence-based individualized treatment goals with patient input to reach their optimal functional level. They will provide home safety assessments, functional techniques to enhance critical skills such as strengthening, range of motion, balance, endurance, transferring from/to various surfaces, ADL/IADL’s, as well as education in the proper and safe use of assistive devices such as canes, walkers, transfer devices, wheelchairs, etc.
Following are the working conditions:
- Daily home visits require walking, driving or public transportation between visits.
- May be required to climb stairs to make home visits and communicate with the office regularly before and at the end of the day and possibly between patient visits.
- Travel between/to other boroughs may be required as needed.
- Will be required to carry an agency issued laptop, clinical bag and cell phone.
Minimum Qualifications
New York State license and current registration to practice as a Physical Therapist; and, One year of post-license experience as an Physical Therapist.
Department Preferences
EDUCATIONAL LEVEL:
Bachelors Degree or higher in the field of Physical Therapy.
KNOWLEDGEABLE IN:
All aspects of a Qualified Physical Therapist skill set.
Knowledge of computers.
Some knowledge of Home Care regulations preferable but not mandatory.
EQUIPMENT/MACHINES OPERATED:
DME appropriate for patient care, i.e., wheelchairs, canes, walkers, transfer devices, therabands, gait belts, etc.
COMPUTER PROGRAMS/SOFTWARE OPERATED
Knowledge of EPIC preferable but not mandatory.
