This occupation is part of the Healthcare Practitioner and Technical cluster
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About the Job
Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.
It is also Called
- Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapist
- Geriatric Physical Therapist
- Home Care Physical Therapist
- Kinesiotherapist
- Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant (LPTA)
- Orthopedic Physical Therapist
- Outpatient Physical Therapist
- Pediatric Physical Therapist
- Physical Therapist (PT)
- Physiotherapist
What They Do
- Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
- Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
- Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
- Identify and document goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.
- Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
- Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
- Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, or respiratory or circulatory efficiency and record data.
- Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
- Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
- Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.
Interests
People who work in this occupation generally have the interest code: SIR.
This means people who work in this occupation generally have Social interests, but also prefer Investigative and Realistic environments.
Work Values
People who work in this occupation generally prize Relationships, but also value Achievement and Recognition in their jobs.
Things They Need to Know
- Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
- Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Things They Need to Be Able to Do
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Additional Resources
- California Occupational Guide - A detailed guide to this occupation provided by the California Employment Development Department (EDD)
Education Required
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Wages
In 2012, the average annual wage in California was $89,370.00 with most people making between $65,890.00 and $115,530.00
Outlook
During 2010, this occupation employed approximately 16,500 people in California. It is projected that there will be 20,400 employed in 2020.
This occupation will have about 390 openings due to growth and about 190 replacement openings for approximately 580 total annual openings.
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