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Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions 

• Assist the Physical Therapist in the planning, development, organization, evaluation, and directing of Physical therapy activities, in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the Facility.


• Facilitate Telehealth services as instructed to ensure that all required evaluations, recertifications, progress notes, and discharges are completed timely. 


• Communicate with staff from related departments when planning therapy services.


• Assist in maintaining physical therapy standards of practice.


• Maintain departmental policies and procedures, safety, environmental and infection control.


• Interpret physical therapy procedures and recommendations to staff, residents, family members, as necessary.


• Participate in care conferences, discharge planning, and resident assessments, as necessary.


• Assist in instructing resident and family members in home programs and use of adaptive equipment.


• Assist in maintaining documentation for residents receiving physical therapy.


• Ensure that billing for therapy services rendered are coded accurately and in accordance with current standards. All billing and daily notes must be completed on the date of service. 


• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, and charting, as necessary.


• Report any questions or concerns to your Director of Rehabilitation and/or supervising Physical Therapist.

Therapy Functions

• Assist in interviewing residents to evaluate daily living skills and capacities to determine extent of abilities and limitations.


• Address all goals in the Plan of Care a minimum of once per week. If a goal cannot be targeted, clearly document the rationale and communicate with the Physical Therapist for modifications needed.


• Assist in determining appropriate treatment, selecting activities and exercises based on medical and social history of residents.


• Assist in scheduling therapy services, as needed.


• Inform resident of procedures involved in physical therapy and prepare necessary equipment.


• Assist in transporting resident to and from physical therapy room or area.


• Demonstrate to residents and staff personnel the procedures involved in the treatment process, as necessary.


• Perform physical therapy in the resident’s room, if necessary.


• Reassure resident before and during therapy session.


• Prepare resident for treatment and administer physical therapy in accordance with established policies and procedures.


• Instruct and supervise resident during therapy.


• Assist in designing and adapting equipment in living environment.


• Promote participation in individual, group, and concurrent activities.


• Recommend modifications and changes in the resident’s therapy treatment, as indicated.


• Ensure that all notes are informative, follow guidelines, and are descriptive of the care provided and of the resident’s response to the care.


• Provide individualized physical therapy services to residents according to the Plan of Care.

Staff Development

• Participate in programs designed for in-service education and on-the-job training.


• Attend and participate in workshops, seminars, to keep informed of current changes in the field, as well as to build skills and enhance growth and development.


• Attend and participate in Facility in-service training programs as scheduled (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Safety, Infection Control, etc.).

Safety and Sanitation 

• Follow established safety standards for the physical therapy department.


• Follow established departmental policies and procedures at all times, including appropriate dress code.


• Comply with the Facility’s established safety precautions at all times.


• Wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies when lifting or moving residents.


• Assist in identifying departmental procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids.


• Follow established infection control procedures and universal precautions when performing duties.


• Ensure that the therapy area is maintained in a clean and safe manner for resident comfort and convenience by assuring that necessary equipment and supplies are maintained to perform such services.


• Follow reporting procedures when observing any hazardous conditions or equipment.


• Wear personal protective clothing when performing services that involve potential exposure to blood or body fluids.

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Provide necessary material and equipment for resident to perform required therapy.


• Report any inventory, equipment, or supply needs to your supervisor.


• Utilize all department equipment and supplies in an efficient manner that promotes desired therapy outcomes and minimizes waste.


• Operate physical therapy equipment in a safe manner.

Resident Rights

• Honor the resident’s refusal of treatment request.  Report such action to your supervisor.


• Abide by the resident’s participation in treatment decision.


• Inform the resident of consequences of not participating in prescribed therapy and document such action in the resident’s clinical record.


• Report any resident complaints or grievances to the department supervisor.


• Allow the residents to participate in the planning and scheduling of their treatment, as requested.


• Adhere to all HIPAA requirements.


• Report medical concerns and changes in condition to the resident’s nurse and the therapy supervisor. 

Working Conditions

• Works in office areas, therapy rooms, resident rooms, etc.


• Is involved with physicians, residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies or personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.


• Must be constantly alert for resident safety.


• Attends and participates in continuing educational programs as may be required by current regulations.


• Is subject to lifting, carrying, and supporting residents.


• Maintains communication with the residents, their families, other departments, etc., to adequately plan for the resident’s physical therapy needs.