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Physical Therapy Assistant

UCI Series Concepts

Class Specifications - H.80
Physical Therapy Assistant III - 8944
Physical Therapy Assistant II - 8945
Physical Therapy Assistant I - 8946

June, 1990

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SERIES CONCEPT

Physical Therapy Assistants serve in an adjunct capacity to Physical 
Therapists.  As licensed technicians, Physical Therapy Assistants perform 
patient treatments and patient care activities as directed by a Physical 
Therapist.  Incumbents read medical records of assigned patients and, 
without need for prior verbal instructions, independently initiate and 
follow the treatment plan provided by the Physical Therapist.  They write 
daily progress notes on patients treated, and independently sign these 
notes without need for a co-signature by a Physical Therapist.

Incumbents apply routine exercise programs; bed positioning; range of 
motion, passive, active, active assistive, manual, and assistive 
resistive exercises; and coordination exercises.  They provide and assist 
patients in transfer, balance, gait, and ambulation training with 
various ambulatory assistive devices; provide application of modalities 
and procedures such as hot packs, cold packs, paraffin baths, 
whirlpools, massage, and exercises; and provide training in daily living 
and routine home programs.  They monitor patients' vital signs and 
physiological well-being during treatment and report to Physical 
Therapist any danger signs; report and recommend to Physical Therapist 
any required change in patients' progress or treatment; remove and 
reapply dressings and bandages for patients; and provide transportation 
of patients to and from treatment area.  They also prepare schedules for 
patients' treatment; prepare accurate charges for patients' treatment; 
clean and disinfect equipment, apparatus, and work areas; and order 
linen and consumable and nonconsumable supplies.

Physical Therapy Assistants are distinguished from Physical Therapists 
in that they are not legally able to assess, evaluate, or discharge 
patients.  They are distinguished from unlicensed physical therapy aides 
in that they can treat patients without supervision and sign patients' 
charts without Therapist cosignature.

                    CLASS CONCEPTS

Physical Therapy Assistant III

Under general supervision, Physical Therapy Assistants III perform the 
full range of patient care duties outlined in the Series Concept, 
usually with the most difficult or complex cases.  Incumbents serve in a 
liaison capacity between the Physical Therapists and the Physical 
Therapy Assistants and unlicensed physical therapy aides, and have lead 
responsibilities over a group of Physical Therapy Assistants I and II, 
and/or unlicensed physical therapy aides.  This includes scheduling 
employees' work hours and days off; assigning patient treatment cases; 
monitoring work for adherence to professional and departmental 
standards; and orienting and training new employees.

Physical Therapy Assistant II

Under general supervision, Physical Therapy Assistants II perform the 
full range of patient care duties outlined in the Series Concept, and 
may be assigned to the most difficult or complex cases.  Incumbents may 
also help orient and train new employees.

Physical Therapy Assistant I

Under supervision, Physical Therapy Assistant I perform the full range 
of duties outlined in the Series Concept.  Incumbents are typically 
assigned less difficult patient treatment cases than those assigned to 
the Physical Therapy Assistant II.

                        MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Completion of a Physical Therapy Assistant training program approved by 
the American Physical Therapy Association; possession of current valid 
licensure as a Physical Therapy Assistant; and possession of the skills, 
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.

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