Physical Therapist

Physical Therapist
The School District of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA

School Based Support

Job Number: 4600102825

Start Date:

Open Date: 11/17/2015

Closing Date:

Job Summary
Under the general direction of an administrative superior, the Physical Therapist serves school age children and young adults who require Physical Therapy programs in order to benefit from special education. Students who are served may have congenital impairments or may have been disabled by disease or injury. Therapy is provided in regular classes, special classes or centers, private facilities, or in the residences of homebound students.
The Therapist implements therapeutic prescriptions issued by a physician; evaluates and tests identified students; develops therapeutic goals and objectives which support individual educational programs; facilitates (directly or by consultation with teachers, parents, and support personnel) appropriate therapeutic intervention; collects data and compiles reports to assess student goal attainment; recommends adaptive equipment and trains staff in the classroom use of equipment; and generally acts as a resource person; and performs related duties as required.
Essential Functions

• Implements the therapeutic prescriptions issued by a physician.
• Directs and aides students in active and passive exercises, muscle re-education, and gait and functional training.
• Utilizes physical agents such as water, heat, light, and massage during the treatment process; employs mats, parallel bars, steps, Hubbard Tanks, infra-red heat lamp and various other therapeutic modalities and equipment to facilitate physical and functional abilities.
• Utilizes exercise which involves the application of neurophysiologic theories and techniques.
• Instructs and assists students, parents, and school staff in the care and use of equipment including wheelchairs, braces, canes, crutches, and prosthetic devises.
• Evaluates equipment, checking for proper fit and maintenance.
• Adapts, designs or suggests special equipment as necessary and as the result of medical consultations.
• Evaluates, tests, and treats students orthopedically and multiple handicapped who have been referred by various sources including clinics, orthopedic consultants, and private physicians.
• Plans appropriate treatment programs, coordinating therapeutic services with activities in the classroom and in the home.
• Trains and retrains students through standard therapeutic procedures observing and recording their mental and physical responses.
• Adjusts length, frequency, and intensity of treatments to needs of the individual pupil.
• Consults with teachers, parents, paraprofessional's community agencies, and others appropriately concerned.
• Alerts school staff to necessary procedures, special precautions, and safety measures applicable to individual pupils and the student population as a whole.
• Encourages parents to have pupils utilize skills acquired in therapy.
• Demonstrates exercises, positioning and other procedures to be used in the home; as an itinerant therapist, visits students who are home-bound or residing in licensed private facilities for the purposes of providing therapy.
• Complies and maintains reports indicating status of individual pupils undergoing treatment, kinds of therapy administered and results obtained.
• Completes and submits timely any and all required ACCESS billing reimbursement information.
• Performs related work as required.

Additional Job Information: Position Requirements
Examination Entrance Requirements
Each applicant must:

Bachelor?s degree program in physical therapy at an accredited college or university.

OR

Any combination of training which includes the completion of a bachelor?s degree program and which meet the requirements of the Pennsylvania state Boards of Physical Therapy.

Certificates/Licenses

Possession of a valid license to practice as a Physical Therapist as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Salary (10-month)
Minimum Maximum
Bachelor's degree
$51, 113 $67, 706
Master's degree
$53, 282 $76, 461
Master's degree +30
$57, 034 $83, 382
$83, 382
Doctorate
$60, 285 $86, 715