Physical therapists generally examine a patient and prescribe a plan of care. It's the job of the physical therapist assistant to carry out that plan. Their work can include manually maneuvering a patient's body for different massages or stretches prescribed to relieve damages incurred by disease or injury. Or they might explain different exercises and observe the patients while they do them. They might also use different equipment or machines to help with therapy. The Physical Therapy Assistant

• Promotes and maintains health by providing physical therapy services under the supervision of a physical therapist.
• Contributes to a physical therapist’s effectiveness by identifying patient care issues.
• Administers treatment programs for patients.
• Assesses patient health by interviewing patients, performing physical examinations, and obtaining updating, and studying therapy histories.
• Evaluates abnormal conditions by reviewing physical therapist’s interpretations of patient evaluations and test results.
• Documents patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
• Performs therapeutic procedures by administering manual exercises and instructing, encouraging, and assisting patients in performing physical activities, such as non-manual exercises, ambulatory functional activities, and daily-living activities.
• Helps patients in using supportive devices, such as crutches, canes, and prostheses.
• Instructs and counsels patients by describing therapeutic regimens, giving normal growth and development information, and promoting wellness and health maintenance.
• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations, and adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Maintains production objectives by noting current treatment trends and monitoring actual physical therapy services rendered to production objectives.
• Maintains legal and accreditation compliance by adhering to policy positions concerning federal, state, and local regulations and JACHO standards.
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, reading periodicals, maintaining personal networks, and participating in professional organizations.
• Enhances physical therapy reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests and exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.
  

Physical Therapy Assistant Qualifications / Skills:

• Physiological knowledge
• Health promotion and maintenance
• Creating a safe, effective environment
• Motivating others
• Organization skills
• Bedside manner
• Patient services
• Health care administration
• Documentation skills
• Listening and verbal communication

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Associate degree for physical therapy assistant
• All states require a license or certification
• Must pass a state-administered exam or the National Physical Therapy Exam administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy