Home Health Physical Therapist

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Implements PT plan of treatment.

Contacts all other disciplines involved in home health patient’s care with update within 48 hours of admission (or sooner if patient’s condition warrants it) as well as ongoing.

Ensures there is appropriate follow-up with MD if there are discrepancies with medications or treatment protocols.

Updates the MD with changes in home health patient’s condition, including such things as patient blood level results; vital signs or weights that are outside established parameters; compliance issues; etc.

Demonstrates effort is put forth in ensuring patient hospitalizations are avoided by exhibiting exemplary professional judgment and by doing such things as: making extra therapy visit(s) as warranted; contacting MD of any significant changes and ensures there is follow-up with the MD when there is no response; following up with the patient and/or caregiver timely by phone or visit when there is initiation of a treatment or medication change, etc.

Exhibits sound professional judgment which positively affects individual patient outcomes, as evidenced by quality improvement reports.

Implements new physician orders timely and accurately.

Assesses for and provides patient and family teaching related to patient’s health situation on an ongoing basis (i.e., medications, disease processes, treatments, etc.) and provides written teaching information as appropriate.

Ensures supervisor or clinician covering the office is notified if call is placed to physician with update in case there are call-backs and office staff follow-up is necessary.

Updates supervisor regarding status of patients on regular basis, including a consultation prior to any discharges, as appropriate.

Completes comprehensive assessment for home health admits, and it requires minimal corrections by supervisor when reviewed.

Documents towards patient goals based on home health physical therapy POC at each visit.

Completes required home health recertification paperwork within allotted 5-day window.

Supervises home health aide at least every two weeks and documents supervision.

Documents coordination of care of assigned case load with all other disciplines involved in patient’s care weekly.

Develops accurate and individualized 485 POC within 48 hours of admission.

Develops accurate, individualized PT treatment plan within 48 hours of eval.

Ensures medication profile is complete (i.e., “new” vs. “changed”, start and stop dates, all coumadin doses, IV meds, reason for prn meds, etc.) and consistent with physician’s orders.

Documents evidence of updates to physician for home health patients whenever there is a change in status.

Ensures all home health documentation to be included in the medical record (except 485 as noted) is completed in Cerner system within 72 hours of visit.

Ensures all documentation included in the home health medical record is thorough, complete and accurate, requiring minimal corrections from supervisor when reviewed.

Ensures all hospice visit notes are completed in computerized system within 24 hours of visit.

Ensures all documentation included in the hospice medical record is thorough, complete and accurate, requiring minimal corrections from supervisor when reviewed.

Turns MD verbal orders into office within 24 hours of receipt for processing and mailing.

Completes medical supply worksheets timely and accurately.

Completes payroll paperwork timely and accurately.

Turns in visit schedule to office by 3:30PM each Thursday for the following week and updates schedule as it changes.

Determines frequency of visits for patients and receives minimal recommendations for changes from supervisor when reviewed.

Develops and updates patient goals which require minimal corrections from supervisor when reviewed.

Makes initial assessment visit to patient to determine appropriateness for home health services.

Questions when an admission may not be appropriate by contacting PT Coordinator for direction.

Determines need for other disciplines (aide, SN, OT, SpT, SW) or services, including telehealth, and obtains order and notifies office staff.

Meets productivity standards as annually established.

Participates in case conferences/care conferences as requested.

Supervises PTA in delegated therapy functions per procedure.

Maintains knowledge of current trends in home health and hospice care.

Independently seeks educational opportunities to maintain and upgrade individual knowledge base.

Always gives thorough verbal and/or written report to other staff members’ who will be providing planned care patients in this case manager’s absence Other duties as assigned.