Physical Therapist (PT)- Outpatient

Advocate Health and Hospitals Corporation • Gurnee, IL

1d

About The Position

The Physical Therapist works in an outpatient setting and provides individualized patient evaluation and treatment. The role interprets physician referrals, evaluates patients across relevant systems, establishes and implements plans of care, monitors outcomes, and adjusts treatment according to each patient's response and functional goals. The therapist communicates patient status to physicians and other teammates and collaborates with stakeholders to support optimal care.

The position plans and completes patient discharges, including home programs, patient and family education, community referrals, transition planning, and equipment orders as appropriate. It also involves thorough patient-care documentation, daily statistics, billing, scheduling, application of insurance authorization guidelines, and adherence to productivity standards and department policies.

The Physical Therapist maintains a safe, orderly treatment area; uses modalities, exercise equipment, and other devices appropriately; and follows safety and infection-control measures. The role may include caseload coverage, staff orientation and feedback, and supervision of physical therapy assistants, rehabilitation aides or technicians, and students, as permitted by applicable requirements. The therapist participates in quality-improvement activities and pursues professional growth through continuing education and other learning activities.

Requirements

• Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited school, or educational requirements commensurate with the date of graduation.
• Maintain continuing education requirements mandated by applicable state professional standards.
• Licensed Physical Therapist in the state where the employee works.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification from the American Heart Association, obtained within 90 days unless the department leader determines it is not required.
• No prior work experience required.
• Intermediate computer skills.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated organization, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Successfully complete competency assessments and requirements for patient care consistent with site standards.
• Maintain annual educational requirements for hospital-based certifications, such as DNV or CARF, as applicable.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the ages of patients served, including knowledge of lifespan growth and development and the ability to assess and interpret age-specific patient needs.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, lift, and squat throughout the workday.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds from floor to waist; lift up to 10 pounds from waist to overhead; and lift and carry up to 40 pounds at waist height a reasonable distance.
• Ability to push or pull with 30 pounds of force and perform a sliding transfer of 150 pounds with a second person present.
• Ability to perform repetitive hand use, including simple grasping of 5–15 pounds for 20% of the workday, pushing or pulling up to 75–100 pounds for 10% of the day, and fine hand manipulation during massage and joint mobilization.
• Functional use of senses sufficient for effective communication.
• Ability to wear protective clothing as needed due to exposure to electrical and chemical hazards and blood and body fluids.
• Ability to travel if required, with possible exposure to road and weather hazards.
• Ability to operate all equipment necessary to perform the job.

Responsibilities

• Interpret physician referrals and complete appropriate musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and/or integumentary evaluations.
• Establish plans of care and provide individualized treatment based on evaluation results, functional goals, and appropriate techniques.
• Monitor and evaluate outcomes, adjust treatment plans based on patient response, and provide status updates to physicians and teammates.
• Identify and address factors affecting patients' physical and psychosocial comfort.
• Plan and complete patient discharges, including written home programs, patient and family teaching, community-service referrals, transition planning, and equipment orders as appropriate.
• Communicate and collaborate with appropriate stakeholders to support optimal patient care.
• Complete required documentation, including evaluations, progress notes, team conference reports, and discharge summaries, in accordance with department policies and accreditation standards.
• Record patient care and progress; complete daily statistics, billing, and scheduling; apply insurance authorization and visit guidelines; and meet established productivity standards.
• Follow billing and documentation policies, procedures, and timelines.
• Clean up after treatments, put away equipment, and keep the treatment area neat and orderly.
• Perform manual techniques, patient positioning, transfers, and transport duties using proper technique.
• Demonstrate appropriate use of modalities, exercise equipment, and other devices, including knowledge of indications and contraindications.
• Promote patient safety and follow applicable safety and infection-control measures.
• Participate in performance-improvement activities to address issues affecting patient outcomes and care quality.
• Manage assigned caseload, communicate coverage needs to site leadership, and assist with coverage based on department and regional needs.
• Pursue professional growth through continuing education, department in-services, and professional literature.
• Orient new staff to clinical and department policies when requested and provide requested verbal or written feedback on co-workers.
• May supervise physical therapy assistants, including delegating patients to assistive personnel, providing direction and treatment recommendations, and maintaining responsibility for plans of care and goals.
• May supervise rehabilitation aides or technicians in administering treatments and teach them appropriate patient-specific techniques.
• May supervise physical therapy students after completing one year of clinical experience.

Benefits

• $5,000 sign-on bonus for a full-time hire.
• Paid Time Off programs.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
• Adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
• Educational Assistance Program.
• Competitive compensation and potential premium pay, incentive pay for select positions, and annual increases based on performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree