advanced-physiotherapist/references/tasks.md

Tasks & work activities — advanced physiotherapist

Source: O*NET 30.3, occupation 29-1229.04 (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians).

Task statements

• [Core] Instruct interns and residents in the diagnosis and treatment of temporary or permanent physically disabling conditions.
• [Core] Conduct physical tests, such as functional capacity evaluations, to determine injured workers' capabilities to perform the physical demands of their jobs.
• [Core] Assess characteristics of patients' pain, such as intensity, location, or duration, using standardized clinical measures.
• [Core] Monitor effectiveness of pain management interventions, such as medication or spinal injections.
• [Core] Examine patients to assess mobility, strength, communication, or cognition.
• [Core] Document examination results, treatment plans, and patients' outcomes.
• [Core] Diagnose or treat performance-related conditions, such as sports injuries or repetitive-motion injuries.
• [Core] Develop comprehensive plans for immediate and long-term rehabilitation, including therapeutic exercise, speech and occupational therapy, counseling, cognitive retraining, patient, family or caregiver education, or community reintegration.
• [Core] Prescribe physical therapy to relax the muscles and improve strength.
• [Core] Coordinate physical medicine and rehabilitation services with other medical activities.
• [Core] Consult or coordinate with other rehabilitative professionals, including physical and occupational therapists, rehabilitation nurses, speech pathologists, neuropsychologists, behavioral psychologists, social workers, or medical technicians.
• [Core] Perform electrodiagnosis, including electromyography, nerve conduction studies, or somatosensory evoked potentials of neuromuscular disorders or damage.
• [Core] Prescribe therapy services, such as electrotherapy, ultrasonography, heat or cold therapy, hydrotherapy, debridement, short-wave or microwave diathermy, and infrared or ultraviolet radiation, to enhance rehabilitation.
• [Core] Prescribe orthotic and prosthetic applications and adaptive equipment, such as wheelchairs, bracing, or communication devices, to maximize patient function and self-sufficiency.
• [Core] Provide inpatient or outpatient medical management of neuromuscular disorders, musculoskeletal trauma, acute and chronic pain, deformity or amputation, cardiac or pulmonary disease, or other disabling conditions.

Detailed work activities

• Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
• Develop treatment plans that use non-medical therapies.
• Diagnose medical conditions.
• Examine patients to assess general physical condition.
• Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
• Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.
• Prescribe assistive medical devices or related treatments.
• Prescribe treatments or therapies.
• Record patient medical histories.
• Test patient nervous system functioning.
• Train medical providers.
• Treat acute illnesses, infections, or injuries.
• Treat chronic diseases or disorders.