Outpatient Physical Therapist-Full-time Sign-on Bonus Available

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare • DeKalb, IL

19h

About The Position

The Physical Therapist reflects Northwestern Medicine’s mission, vision, and values; follows its Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program; and complies with applicable policies, procedures, regulatory requirements, and accreditation standards. The role provides outpatient physical therapy and maintains responsibility for patient care from initial contact through discharge, including functional progress, safety, and treatment outcomes. The therapist collaborates consistently with treating physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, other healthcare professionals, patients, and families.

The position includes evaluating patients, selecting appropriate treatments, modalities, equipment, and protocols, conducting re-evaluations, and adjusting plans of care. The therapist documents evaluations, progress notes, daily treatment responses, and discharge summaries in the electronic medical record in accordance with department requirements. The role also provides patient education, contributes to service improvement and department initiatives, supports professional development and student programs, and maintains productivity and scheduling expectations. The therapist may need to flex their schedule or assignment to meet patient-care needs and attend meetings outside normal work hours.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy.
• Licensed Physical Therapist in the State of Illinois.
• BLS certification from the American Heart Association within 90 days of hire.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s or doctoral degree in Physical Therapy.
• Lymphedema certification.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate Northwestern Medicine’s values of teamwork, patients first, integrity, and excellence in daily work and interactions.
• Provide friendly, professional service; give patients and customers accurate information and timely updates; address concerns or connect them with appropriate resources; provide directions; and use service recovery skills when needed.
• Maintain responsibility for patient plans of care and collaborate consistently with treating PTs and PTAs.
• Demonstrate teamwork across departments and communicate respectfully and effectively with colleagues.
• Use organizational and department resources efficiently, manage work schedules, and complete tasks and assignments on time.
• Contribute to continuous improvement, cost reduction, streamlined processes, and the development of services.
• Adapt treatment to special circumstances using creative problem-solving and sound clinical judgment.
• Select appropriate evaluations, treatment modalities, equipment, and protocols; perform re-evaluations and adjust treatment plans according to department guidelines.
• Manage patients from initial contact through discharge, including functional progress, safety, and treatment outcomes.
• Follow department policies for evaluations, progress notes, and discharge summaries; document all notes in the electronic medical record.
• Complete daily documentation that reflects patient response, performance, status, treatment plans, and discharge needs, and meets documentation and reimbursement requirements.
• Provide educational materials and methods suited to each patient’s understanding and motivation.
• Participate in committees, department processes, special projects, and internal and external marketing as expected.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with healthcare team members, including physicians, nurses, and case managers.
• Promote respectful communication, listen to team members, invite input, communicate openly, and acknowledge contributions.
• Accept constructive feedback and make timely changes.
• Complete non-patient-care responsibilities within established timelines, including coverage notes, schedule-change requests, and bonus-pay forms and follow-up calls.
• Contribute to department and clinic education, such as in-services, journal clubs, new-hire orientation, and performance-improvement efforts.
• Participate in student clinical or observation programs as a clinical instructor, mentor, or observation host, as expected.
• Maintain department productivity standards.
• Flex schedule or assignment to meet patient-care needs and attend staff or department meetings outside normal work hours.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits, including tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness.
• 401(k) matching.
• A range of benefits intended to support physical, emotional, and financial well-being and provide protection for unexpected life events.
• Sign-on bonus available; internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within one year are not eligible, subject to the stated new-graduate exception.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time