MightyRecruiterYou may lose an employee through a termination of employment or from the individual leaving for a different job. Either way, you will find yourself in a position of needing someone to fill the role. While it can be easy to think that there are plenty of people out there chomping at the bit to work for you, it can be a little more complicated than that. You should actively be trying to attract the best talent around, and the best talent is going to have numerous job offers. To draw those individuals toward your company, you need to convince them that you have something to offer no one else has. Take a look at our physical therapy assistant job description sample to see what can be done for yours.
Physical Therapy Assistant Job Summary
You will be working under the supervision of our primary physical therapist. You will assist with performing examinations and helping patients with their treatments. You may need to interview patients to get a better sense of their medical histories and prescribe treatments when needed.
Physical Therapy Assistant Job Responsibilities and Duties
- Work with the physical therapist to determine the best care a patient needs and recommend the best courses of action to take
- Review test results and patient interviews in order to help the physical therapist diagnose medical conditions or physical abnormalities
- Document the services and medications a patient receives
- Describe therapeutic regimens to patients and a patient’s family so that everyone knows how it needs to be conducted
- Clean the offices so that they remain within state and federal standards
- Help patients with manual exercise and teach patients how to use support devices such as prostheses and crutches
- Check in with patients after they have been discharged to see how well they are doing, schedule appointments if asked
- Take on new responsibilities as needed and be willing to take new classes in order to gain knowledge and expertise in new areas
Physical Therapy Assistant Skills and Qualifications
- Background in healthcare or physiology
- Excellent bedside manner
- Superior documentation skills
- Able to take instruction and prioritize duties
- Able to create a safe, clean environment
Company Profile
The Rabo County Health Clinic is looking for individuals who are passionate about making a difference in patients’ lives. We have been serving the county since 2004, and we are looking forward to many more years helping the community. We are often the first place people call when they have questions or concerns about their health, and we would love to have you join us.
Writing a Job Description Best Practices
- Even though this physical therapy assistant job description sample is great, it will only get you so far. You need to personalize your own description so that it is relevant to the position you are looking to fill. Additionally, you need to make sure these subsequent rules are followed.
- Do not write something that lacks personality. You want to use a tone that matches the organization’s ethos. If your company has a real family vibe, then convey that. Even if you are pretty much strictly business, you should avoid using overly corporate jargon.
- Do not write any “fuzzy” descriptors. This includes words such as “often” or “usually.” You need to be direct and plainly state what the position will entail.
- Do not discuss responsibilities and skillset using paragraphs. Instead, you should be using bulleted lists such as the ones used above. The reason for this is that it makes it easier to read through everything.
- Do include a very clear call to action. You want to encourage everyone who has made it to the end of your job description to apply, so in very straightforward language, you should say what the application process involves. This can include sending a resume, list of references or anything else you really need.
- Do include information related to salary and other benefits if your company allows it. There may be rules in place that limit what you can talk about publicly, but saying how much the position pays can really attract individuals to the job.
- Do practice useful SEO practices. That includes using relevant keywords and creating a customized URL.
With all these rules in your back pocket, you will be ready to post your job description to a number of job forums.
Physical Therapy Assistant Job Responsibilities
Getting started on writing a physical therapy assistant job description can be a daunting task, especially considering the job responsibilities section. It’s what will initially gain the attention of jobseekers and is their first impression of what the job’s day-to-day duties will be like. Writing it doesn’t have to be intimidating, though. Following these easy steps can ensure success and result in many qualified applicants.
Continuing some of the tips mentioned on this page, the best format for this section is bullet points. A bulleted format is great for streamlining the large chunks of information in the job responsibilities section. While it is the meatiest section of a physical therapy assistant job description, it need not be comprehensive. Simply focus on the major daily functions of the job and leave secondary, less-important tasks out. Be sure to start each bullet with an expressive verb, and keep the number of bullets between four and eight.
Here are a few examples of physical therapy assistant job responsibilities:
- Transport patients to and from treatment areas in compliance with safety regulations and training
- Secure patients into therapy equipment
- Perform clerical assignments, such as ordering supplies, answering phone calls, taking inventory or filling out forms
- Conduct patient evaluations by measuring patients’ range of motion, vital signs or other physical aspects
Physical Therapy Assistant Job Specifications
It’s easy to look at the job qualifications and skills section of your physical therapy assistant job description and think it will be quick and simple to write. It is the shortest section, after all, and contains a basic benchmark of requirements to apply, such as prior work experience and education.
However, to underestimate this section is a mistake. The job qualifications and skills section is your email inbox’s first line of defense. If this information is poorly written, jobseekers will often become confused, and you may find your inbox filled to the brim with applications from unfit candidates.
You can easily avoid this problem by having a conversation with members of your upper management. Gain an understanding of what their minimum expectations are from applicants, and your physical therapy assistant job description will become that much easier to write. You should separate the skills that are non-negotiable from those that are simply preferences to give candidates a clear picture of their eligibility for the role.
Here are some examples of well-written physical therapy assistant job specifications:
- Associate degree, preferably with emphasis in physical therapy or sports medicine
- Strong grasp of customer-service concepts
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills
- 2 years’ experience in physical therapy
