Managing PT Staff

1. Managing PT Staff PO- 006.03

2. Learning Objectives • The physical therapy technician will assist with the management of PT staffing by: • Assisting with developing and implementing a PT staffing plan • Supervising new PTTs during clinical rotations • Promoting PT through an interdisciplinary approach

3. PT Staff • Under World Confederation of PT (WCPT): • The physical therapy personnel affiliated with the physical therapy service will demonstrate competency, and be sufficient in number to achieve the mission, purposes and goals of the service • Staff members will be aware of their responsibilities as employees and will attend training sessions as necessary

4. Staffing Requirements • WCPT requires that PT staff: • Meet all legal requirements regarding licensure, registration and certification • Currently no PT licensing body in Afghanistan • Certification will be granted upon completion of the PTT course • Ensure that the level of expertise within the service is appropriate to the needs of the patients/clients served

5. Staff Development • Staff development plans should: • Include self-assessment, individual goal setting and organizational needs in directing continuing education and learning activities • Include strategies for lifelong learning, and professional and career development • Include mechanisms to foster mentorship activities

6. New PT Staff • As a PTT, it will likely not be your responsibility to develop or implement staffing procedures • However, you may be required to: • Assist with the orientation of new physical therapy staff • Encourage the participation of all physical therapy staff in representing the physical therapy department

7. Staff Orientation • When new staff are introduced to a clinic, PTT techs may: • Provide tours of the clinic or hospital to familiarize with clinical space and equipment • Review any department policies, standards, paperwork, SOPs, etc • Introduce new staff to all members of the PT and interdisciplinary team • Provide any mentorship or guidance as required

8. New PPTs • As part of the PTT course, students will be required to have clinical rotations at either NMH or the Polyclinic • As a graduated PTT, you may be required to help facilitate clinical placements of students

9. PTT Clinical Rotations • When new PTTs arrive for clinical placements ensure: • They are expected and planned for accordingly • They are given an orientation to the PT clinic • Any administrative requirements for their course are taken care of properly and on time • They are assigned to a senior PTT for mentorship and clinical guidance • They are regularly evaluated and provided with feedback on clinical matters and practices

10. PTT Evaluations • New PTT students will arrive for clinical placements with a packet of paperwork outlining the requirements they must meet • As the mentoring PTT, you will be provided with checklists to evaluate student’s application of knowledge • It is important to provide the student with feedback in their clinical skills that addresses their strengths and areas for improvement

11. PTT Mentorship • PTTs on their clinical placements will be assigned to a senior PTT who will be their direct mentor • Mentors are qualified practitioners who directly support a student’s learning during clinical education/practice-based learning • The mentor is responsible for ensuring that the student successfully completes their package before the end of the placement

12. Interdisciplinary Care • The physical therapy service collaborates with other professionals as appropriate • The physical therapist shall be aware of the qualifications and roles of other professionals involved in comprehensive patient/client care/management, and practices in collaboration with them to provide quality services

13. Multi-Professional Team • When physical therapists are members of a multi-professional team they will ensure that: • relevant information is sought and communicated promptly and clearly within the team • policies exist for referral to other professionals, discharge, and transfer of patients/clients

14. Continued . . . • a system is in place for written communication with other members of the team • PT participates in case conferences, rounds, individual patient/client program meetings, discharge planning, and collaborative patient/client records • the physical therapy goals comply with the team goals

15. Communication • Essential for all staff to be in communication with each other and work collaboratively to represent the PT department as a whole • Communication links exist between staff, the chain of command, and the organization to optimize the quality of the patient/client services provided

16. Summary • PTTs may be required to orient new staff to the PT clinic, personnel and policies/SOPs • PTTs may be assigned to mentor PTT students, bearing responsibility for clinical guidance, and evaluation of these students • PTTs work as members of an interdisciplinary team, and must be able to communicate clearly and appropriately with other members of the team to ensure patients needs are met

17. Questions?

18. Comprehension Check • What roles are PTTs likely to play in staff management? • What should be done during orientation of new PT staff? • What must be done when PTT students are assigned to a department for a clinical rotations? • What are important roles for PT staff within a multidisciplinary team

19. Answers • They may be required to: • Assist with the orientation of new physical therapy staff • Encourage the participation of all physical therapy staff in representing the physical therapy department • The following should be done: • Provide tours of the clinic or hospital to familiarize with clinical space and equipment • Review any department policies, standards, paperwork, SOPs, etc • Introduce new staff to all members of the PT and interdisciplinary team • Provide any mentorship or guidance as required

20. Answers • It must be ensured that: • They are expected and planned for accordingly • They are given an orientation to the PT clinic • Any administrative requirements for their course are taken care of properly and on time • They are assigned to a senior PTT for mentorship and clinical guidance • They are regularly evaluated and provided with feedback on clinical matters and practices

21. Answers • PT staff will ensure: • relevant information is sought and communicated promptly and clearly within the team • policies exist for referral to other professionals, discharge, and transfer of patients/clients • a system is in place for written communication with other members of the team • PT participates in case conferences, rounds, individual patient/client program meetings, discharge planning, and collaborative patient/client records • the physical therapy goals comply with the team goals