Northeastern Co-Op Physical Therapy Aide – Inpatient Rehab

Assists with patient care activities and provides treatment to assigned patients as appropriate under the direct supervision of licensed clinical staff.

Compensation Pay Range: $17.30 – $24.25

Within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, based on State Regulation, the services performed by the Allied Health cooperative education student (rehab aide) and the Physical Therapy cooperative education student during the work experience must be performed under the direct supervision of a licensed therapist or Physical Therapist.

Direct supervision is defined as a process by which a supervisor is on the premises and available to provide supervision in the form of aid, direction, and instruction when procedures or activities are performed.

• Assists with patient care activities as appropriate under the direct supervision of clinical staff including but not limited to: screening for early mobility, measuring patients for an assistive ambulation device and demonstrating skill in ambulation instruction, providing durable medical equipment and paperwork, patient room/treatment area set ups for treatment, setting up patients on exercise equipment, activities related to video fluoroscopic swallow studies, providing second person assist, taking vital signs and responding appropriately to findings, demonstrating proficiency in the instruction of therapeutic exercise under the direction and supervision of a licensed therapist, performing safe transfers and demonstrating correct body mechanics with all activities, describing safety procedures needed when working with patients with cognitive, sensory, perceptual deficits and medical precautions, maintaining departmental flow, and, if applicable, safely using modalities and manual techniques commensurate with the level of education within the PT program at the time of the coop experience.

• Assists in the maintenance of the department’s overall physical environment
• Maintains practices according to infection control guidelines for the department
• Monitors pool chemistry per departmental guidelines as applicable to area
• Cleans equipment per departmental guidelines
• Performs and documents quality control of identified equipment
• Documents temperature checks of identified equipment
• Performs daily, weekly, and monthly departmental checklists
• Maintains organization and cleanliness of the DME and supply closets

• Performs clerical duties to assist with daily operations of the department including scheduling appointments as applicable to area, answering phones, calling patients as directed, inventory management, photocopying and filing, faxing, data collection, and daily departmental checklists.

• Communicates effectively with staff, peers, colleagues, patients, and family members
• Alerts manager/clinician to any immediate departmental/patient issues
• Appropriately uses all forms of South Shore Health communication in accordance with standard practices
• Responds in a timely manner when feedback is requested
• Recognizes ethical issues and situations that require the student to problem‑solve and respond appropriately by informing the direct supervisor at the site; if this report does not result in appropriate action, the student must report the situation to the NU Co‑Op Coordinator.

• Serves as mentor to new rehabilitation aide staff
• Actively participates in department projects/events/activities
• Actively promotes rehabilitation services to frontline colleagues, patients, and families
• Serves as ambassador for department to visitors (tours/observation of patient care)
• Assists with continuous Quality Improvement activities, as directed
• Takes responsibility for continuing professional development education

• Possesses a willingness and ability to learn and utilize new technology and procedures that continue to develop in their role and throughout the organization
• Embraces technological advances that allow us to communicate information effectively and efficiently
• Accurately uses all software applications as needed for job performance