Physical Therapist (PT) Acute Care

Vanderbilt University Medical Center•Clarksville, TN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Under medical supervision, the Physical Therapist is responsible for the delivery of services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital is seeking a Physical Therapist to join our collaborative rehabilitation team. This role is approximately 90% Acute Care and 10% Inpatient Rehabilitation, serving adult patients across a variety of hospital settings. As a Physical Therapist, you will help patients restore mobility, improve functional independence, and safely transition to the next level of care. You'll work closely with physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and case managers to support exceptional patient outcomes. Physical Therapists provide care throughout the hospital, including: Medical-Surgical Units, Progressive Care/Step-Down Units, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Orthopedic and General Surgery Patients, Medically Complex Adult Populations, and Inpatient Rehabilitation. Vanderbilt Health combines exceptional clinical care, research, and education to improve the lives of patients and communities. Through Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital, patients receive high-quality, evidence-based care close to home while benefiting from the expertise and innovation of one of the nation's leading health systems.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy program.
Current Tennessee Physical Therapist license or eligibility for licensure.
Current BLS certification or ability to obtain within required timeframe.
Demonstrates proficiency in documentation practices. Documents in the appropriate templates and utilizes only approved abbreviations within patient documentation. Meets institutional standards for quality and timeliness of documentation.
Demonstrates sufficient proficiency in developing a plan of care that incorporates treatment interventions focused on meeting objective goals. Develops and documents patient focused short and long term goals that are functional and measurable. Identifies the need for and referral to other services, as needed.
Demonstrates proficiency in evaluating patients with physical deficits including impairments, developmental disabilities, functional limitations, disabilities, or changes in physical function by obtaining information pertinent to the assessment and administering and scoring standardized tests and objective measures of deficit areas. Selects appropriate measures and performs a functional assessment to document patient's status requiring skilled therapy. Interprets the results of the assessment and their significance to the patient, family, referring physician and other members of the health care team.
Demonstrates proficiency in providing treatment consistent with physician prescription and established plan of care. Able to modify treatment plan as needed to demonstrate provision of skilled therapy services including progression of treatment throughout course of care, and revision of treatment interventions of goals not met. Selects and follows correct protocol for care and utilize evidence based treatments.
Demonstrates proficiency in communicating functional impact of assessment findings, treatment interventions, treatment planning diagnosis, and disease process. Considers the communication needs/level of understanding of audience and may share appropriate information/literature.
Has completed at least one year of clinical experience in treatment implementation.
Bachelor's degree.
Less than 1 year of relevant work experience.

Nice To Haves

Acute care or hospital-based Physical Therapy experience.
Strong clinical reasoning, communication, and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

Evaluate patients and develop individualized treatment plans.
Provide interventions focused on mobility, balance, strength, gait training, endurance, and fall prevention.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to support recovery and discharge planning.
Educate patients and caregivers on mobility strategies, safety, and equipment recommendations.
Maintain timely and accurate documentation in accordance with hospital standards.
Provides and documents assessment of strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, and motor function.
Provides and documents various treatments including exercise, electrical stimulation, hot packs or cold compresses, ultrasound to relieve pain or reduce swelling.
Provides and documents patient education regarding treatment plan, activity, exercises, assistive and/or adaptive devices such as crutches, walkers, prostheses, and wheelchairs.
Assess wounds, implementing the appropriate skin care protocol.
Performs duties and responsibilities with indirect supervision and must frequently make independent decisions.
Participates in discharge plan rounds as needed.