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Physical Therapist
UCI Series Concepts
Class Specifications - H.80
Physical Therapist V - 9480
Physical Therapist IV - 9481
Physical Therapist III - 9482
Physical Therapist II - 9483
Physical Therapist I - 9484
August, 1983
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SERIES CONCEPT
Physical Therapists plan and administer physical therapy services upon
receipt of medical referrals and perform other related duties as
required.
Physical Therapists typically work under the California Physical Therapy
Practice Act within guidelines prescribed by a licensed physician,
podiatrist or dentist. They perform physical therapy evaluations;
establish short and long-term treatment goals and individual and/or
group treatment programs of varying degrees of complexity; use a variety
of physical therapy modalities such as ultrasound, electrical
stimulation, massage, traction, and hydrotherapy; use a variety of
exercise techniques; assist patients in balance and gait training; train
and assist patients in the use and application of a wide variety of
assistive devices; perform or supplement activities of daily living
programs; instruct families in home programs for patients; ensure
patients' safety in designated treatment areas; maintain patients'
records and charts according to required procedures; supervise technical
support personnel who work with patients; explain and/or demonstrate
physical therapy procedures to hospital, student and/or community
personnel; and may teach specific physical therapy procedures in
in-service educational programs to residents, medical students, and
other medical personnel.
The Physical Therapist series consists of five levels of responsibility
ranging from Physical Therapist I (journey/operational) through Physical
Therapist V (management).
The factors used as a basis for classification determination reflect
administrative responsibility through managerial/supervisory
assignments; clinical expertise through complexity of assignments; and
accountability and responsibility for patient care and physical therapy
practice.
CLASS CONCEPTS
Physical Therapist V
Under general medical and administrative direction, incumbents plan,
organize, and direct a large and complex physical therapy service or
department which typically has multi-discipline units and at least 15
physical therapists, physical therapy aides and related support
personnel. Incumbents work with the department medical or staff
managerial head while exercising full administrative and managerial
responsibility for the service. Physical Therapist V's typically
formulate department objectives, policies and procedures; develop
department revenue and expense budget; organize, administer and control
department expense budget, staff, space and equipment; make final
decisions regarding employee recruitment, selection, work assignment,
evaluation and disciplining; develop quality assurance standards,
including mechanism for meeting the standards and tools for measuring
adherence to them; interpret, implement and assure compliance with
related governmental and hospital regulations and guidelines as they
affect the physical therapy department; and in addition may provide
consultation and training regarding department standards for patient
care.
Physical Therapist IV
Under general direction incumbents plan, organize and direct a physical
therapy service which typically has multi-function programs and has
fewer than 15 physical therapists, physical therapy aides and related
support personnel or act as the assistant to a Physical Therapist V,
with major delegated responsibilities related to the overall function of
the physical therapy program.
As a program manager at this level, incumbents typically exercise full
administrative and supervisory responsibility for the total physical
therapy program. Duties are similar to those described above for
Physical Therapist V, but are performed in a smaller, less complex
service. As an assistant to a Physical Therapist V, incumbents typically
assume major delegated responsibilities, e.g., program development;
productivity analysis; collection of statistical information; budget
impact analysis; coordination of educational or research programs; and
monitoring compliance of physical therapy staff with patient care and
service delivery standards. Incumbents may provide consultation and
training on difficult and complex physical therapy techniques and
procedures.
Physical Therapist III
Under direction, incumbents are assigned responsibility for the
supervision of all staff assigned to a specific unit or section and for
the quality of physical therapy services provided in the unit or
section. Incumbents as education coordinators may be assigned primary
responsibility for the organization and supervision of training programs
for students and staff within the physical therapy department.
Typically, at this level, incumbents supervise one or more major units
or programs; develop unit protocols, programs and policies; interpret
and analyze all records, statistics and charges of their units; identify
equipment, space and personnel needs and the resultant impact on the
budget; help to coordinate and integrate physical therapy programs with
other units, hospital services and other institutional programs and
services; directly supervise Physical Therapists II and I and support
personnel, and determine staff assignments within the unit; provide
major input into employee selection, orientation, work assignment,
evaluation and disciplining in consultation with higher level physical
therapists; and monitor staff compliance with patient care and service
delivery standards.
Typically, as education coordinators, incumbents develop, coordinate,
organize, supervise and implement clinical education and staff
development programs in the physical therapy department; serve as the
department's liaison to hospital and community groups and other
institutions for educational matters and implement appropriate action
after consultation with higher level physical therapists; and provide
input to supervisors regarding staff therapists clinical teaching
skills.
Physical Therapist II
Under general supervision, incumbents are assigned advanced operational
duties as clinical specialists.
Typically, as clinical specialists, incumbents are the designated
clinical experts and sources of knowledge in the physical therapy
treatment of specific patient problems (e.g., neuro adult and
pediatrics, orthopedic/manual therapy, cardiopulmonary rehab);
independently perform difficult and specialized physical therapy patient
care evaluations and treatments; serve as consultants to staff in
patient evaluations, program planning or treatment requiring specialized
physical therapy skills; make recommendations in patient care
procedures, protocols or programs related to their specialty skill;
give inservice training to therapists and related medical personnel in
the theory, application and performance of these specialty skills; and
provide input to supervisors regarding staff therapists' level of
performance of specialized skills.
Incumbents may in addition organize and direct training programs for
student. physical therapists assigned to the department for clinical
practice.
Physical Therapist I
Under supervision, incumbents perform the duties of an operational level
physical therapist.
Incumbents typically perform the full range of physical therapy duties
as outlined in the Series Concept.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Licensure as a Physical Therapist with the California State Board of
Medical Quality Assurance, and knowledge and abilities essential to the
successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Note: Specific qualification requirements are approved for positions by
the Personnel Manager in accordance with the provisions of Staff
Personnel Policies 210.8 and 210.9.
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