Physical Therapist - Inpatient - Per Diem
About The Position
The Physical Therapist provides inpatient physical therapy at Cayuga Medical Center. The role involves evaluating patients, determining appropriateness for PT, developing person- and goal-centered plans of care, delivering and adjusting interventions, and documenting clinical decisions. The therapist communicates with patients, families, caregivers, and interdisciplinary team members to support safe, coordinated care and patient throughput. The therapist also contributes to discharge planning by assessing functional status and life context, identifying destination and support needs, recommending equipment and follow-up services, and providing caregiver training as appropriate. This is a per diem, onsite position at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, New York. Weekday coverage is needed, with rotating weekend coverage approximately once per month. The therapist may be scheduled during various shifts to support department coverage needs. Local travel of 0% to 5% may be expected. The standard pay range is $41.00 to $57.00 per hour, plus a per diem incentive.
Requirements
- Successful completion of an accredited physical therapy program; the program may be at the bachelor's, master's, or doctorate level.
- Current New York State Physical Therapy license.
- Current CPR certification.
- Completion of yearly mandatory safety trainings and e-learning courses.
- Ability to move or lift patients with assistance.
- Ability to use hands and fingers repetitively, such as when using a computer keyboard.
- Ability to sit, walk, or stand for long periods of time.
- Ability to physically operate equipment used for the job.
Nice To Haves
- Problem-solving skills.
- Attention to detail.
- Time-management skills.
- Flexibility in prioritizing and adjusting workload.
- Good written and oral communication skills.
Responsibilities
- Review patient charts comprehensively to determine whether physical therapy is appropriate.
- Choose appropriate examinations and integrate findings into a comprehensive, person- and goal-centered plan of care.
- Use evidence-based practice to guide clinical decisions and therapy intensity.
- Assess patient response to intervention and adjust interventions and plans of care as appropriate.
- Communicate with patients and families or caregivers using an approach appropriate to age, learning style, cognition, and culture.
- Educate patients and families or caregivers using compassionate communication.
- Communicate patients’ physical therapy needs and barriers to the interdisciplinary team to facilitate throughput.
- Maintain professional communication with all team members, including during adverse, challenging, and crucial conversations.
- Identify relative and absolute contraindications to physical therapy using the medical record and patient presentation.
- Survey patients and the environment for barriers to safe movement and maintain expertise in safe patient handling equipment.
- Progress interventions toward patient goals, reassess progress, and adjust the plan of care.
- Produce clear, defensible documentation supporting clinical decision-making.
- Determine when immediate communication beyond documentation is needed for safe, coordinated patient care.
- Synthesize patients’ life context and functional status to determine discharge destination, support level, additional services, and follow-up needs.
- Determine appropriate equipment needs and provide caregiver training as appropriate.
Benefits
- Competitive wages.
- Comprehensive benefits.
- Professional development opportunities.
