Physical Therapist Aides

Also called: Outpatient Aide, Outpatient Therapy Aide, Physical Therapist Aide (PTA), Physical Therapy Aide (PTA), Physical Therapy Attendant

Varies

estimated salary

Physical therapists aides under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.

  • Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
  • Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
  • Record treatment given and equipment used.
  • Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, or heat, light, sound, water, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
  • Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support.
  • Change linens, such as bed sheets and pillow cases.
  • Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
  • Schedule patient appointments with physical therapists and coordinate therapists' schedules.
  • Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
  • Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
  • Arrange treatment supplies to keep them in order.
  • Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms.
  • Maintain equipment or furniture to keep it in good working condition, including performing the assembly or disassembly of equipment or accessories.
  • Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
  • Measure patient's range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
  • Administer traction to relieve neck or back pain, using intermittent or static traction equipment.
  • Train patients to use orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices.
  • Fit patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices, adjusting fit as needed.
  • Participate in patient care tasks, such as assisting with passing food trays, feeding residents, or bathing residents on bed rest.
Work Context
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 98% responded "Every day".
  • Contact With Others — 92% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Physical Proximity — 85% responded "Very close (near touching)".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 68% responded "Extremely important".
  • Exposed to Disease or Infections — 65% responded "Every day".
  • Telephone — 58% responded "Every day".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 85% responded "Every day".
  • Read More
Work Activities
  • Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Read More
Detailed Work Activities
  • Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
  • Clean patient rooms or patient treatment rooms.
  • Clean medical equipment.
  • Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.
  • Engage patients in exercises or activities.
  • Encourage patients during therapeutic activities.
  • Read More

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Therapy and Counseling
  • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Education and Training
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Read More

Skills

Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness
  • Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination
  • Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Service Orientation
  • Actively looking for ways to help people.
Read More

Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Speech Recognition
  • The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Read More

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
Read More

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Medical software
  • Epic Systems Hot Technology
  • MEDITECH software Hot Technology
  • Medical procedure coding software
  • Patient record maintenance software
Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
  • Word processing software
Electronic mail software
  • Microsoft Outlook Hot Technology
Read More