Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) or Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

About the job

Benewah Community Hospital in St. Maries is hiring either a physical therapist assistant (PTA) or a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) to help physical and occupational therapists with patients' rehabilitation. The work is mainly outpatient, in a collaborative setting at this rural hospital.

Benewah Community Hospital is a rural hospital within 1 to 2 hours of Coeur d'Alene, Spokane and the Montana border; its gym is well equipped.

What you'll do

• Help physical and occupational therapists deliver individually designed physical treatment programs that maintain, improve or restore physical function, ease pain and prevent physical dysfunction
• Use manual exercises, massage or traction to relieve pain, build strength, or lessen or prevent deformity or crippling
• Treat with physical agents and equipment, including moist packs, laser, electrical stimulation, an underwater treadmill and an ultrasound machine
• Test and measure patients' strength, functional capacity, sensory perception, motor development and function, and respiratory and circulatory efficiency, recording the data
• Document each patient's prognosis, treatment, response and progress in the chart or computer
• Teach patients and families the treatment procedures to continue at home
• Report patient status to a physical therapist, and report to a manager
• Work cooperatively with case managers, medical staff, social work and adjustors
• Build, maintain and repair medical supportive devices, and lead group rehabilitation activities
• Rely on your education, experience and clinical judgment to meet goals, bringing some creativity and latitude to a variety of tasks

What you need

• For a PTA: graduation from an accredited Physical Therapy Assistant program and eligibility for an Idaho Physical Therapist Assistant license
• For a COTA: graduation from an accredited Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant program and eligibility for an Idaho Certified Occupational Therapy license
• Familiarity with the field's standard concepts, practices and procedures and with state regulations covering physical and occupational therapy
• Regular use of hands to finger, handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, and talking or hearing
• Frequent standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, and occasional sitting
• Lifting or moving up to 10 pounds frequently, up to 50 pounds occasionally and up to 100 pounds rarely

Schedule

• Full-time or part-time; hours vary
• Shift length varies: full-time hours are a choice of 5 days of 8 hours or 4 days of 10 hours, with occasional weekend duty
• Part-time hours can be discussed in person

Benefits

• Paid time off of up to 21 days in the first year, growing to 40 days after 20 years
• Low-cost medical insurance; vision and dental are free for the employee
• A 457 plan with an employer match
• Mentorship