PHYSICAL THERAPIST- CASUAL

Independence Health System•Butler Township, PA

About The Position

A Physical Therapist provides services to patients with impairments, functional limitations, or changes in physical function resulting from injury, disease, or other causes. The therapist evaluates patients and establishes plans of care that consider age-specific needs and patient and family goals in a range of treatment settings. The therapist continually assesses treatment and discharge-planning needs and recommends changes as appropriate. The role also includes coaching and mentoring colleagues, participating in work-process and program development, and carrying out other assigned duties. The therapist is expected to use time effectively, follow scheduling and productivity guidelines, and maintain flexibility to meet patient-care needs, including evening and weekend hours when needed. Community outreach may also be required. The Physical Therapist delivers effective, age-specific care; completes timely evaluations; sets measurable goals; selects appropriate treatment modalities; and recommends treatment changes or discontinuation when appropriate. The therapist documents evaluations, interventions, patient responses and progress, education, family conferences, and discharge planning in the electronic medical record, and communicates post-discharge needs to appropriate resources. The role includes educating patients and families, collaborating with medical and interdisciplinary teams, and participating in meetings as required. The therapist follows ethical, legal, licensure, documentation, billing, authorization, and payer requirements. Responsibilities include accurate and timely records and charges, supporting appropriate insurance authorization, maintaining efficiency, and contributing to performance improvement and therapy-program development. The therapist pursues ongoing professional development and continuing education, uses supplies and equipment responsibly, reports hours accurately, communicates census or productivity concerns, and may travel between System sites to meet patient-care needs. This is a casual position scheduled according to operational need. Scheduling may involve rotating shifts, standby or on-call arrangements, and local travel between System locations. The position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but serves as a coach and mentor for other department positions. For lifting requirements above 50 pounds, two-person assistance and/or a transfer device is required.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited program approved by the American Physical Therapy Association.
Strong leadership ability, organizational skills, independent and critical-thinking skills, and sound judgment.
Ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.
Strong time-management skills and ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Creativity in treatment across various settings, ability to transition between treatment settings, and flexibility in scheduling.
Understanding of current billing requirements and adherence to payer guidelines.
Current Basic Life Support certification from an American Heart Association-approved CPR and AED curriculum.
Act 33 clearance with renewal.
Act 34 clearance with renewal.
Act 73 FBI clearance.
Current Pennsylvania Physical Therapist license or eligibility for Pennsylvania licensure.
Graduate therapists are expected to sit for the licensure exam at the soonest availability, no later than six months after hire.

Nice To Haves

Previous clinical experience, knowledge, or certification in specialty treatment programs such as Lymphedema, Hand Therapy, Aquatics, Occupational Medicine, Concussive/Vestibular, Sports Medicine, Women’s Health, or Neuro.
One to three years of experience in a healthcare setting.
Master’s degree or Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT).

Responsibilities

Evaluate patients and develop plans of care based on age-specific needs and patient and family goals.
Assess treatment progress and discharge-planning needs, and recommend changes or discontinuation of treatment when appropriate.
Set measurable goals and use appropriate treatment modalities.
Complete evaluations within required time frames and maintain accurate, timely, concise, and legible documentation in the electronic medical record.
Document treatment, patient response and progress, education, family conferences, discharge planning, and discharge summaries as appropriate.
Communicate with physicians and other medical team members about changes to therapeutic programs and collaborate with patients, families, and health team members.
Educate patients and families according to their understanding and therapeutic needs, and document education and training outcomes.
Communicate post-discharge needs to appropriate resources.
Follow ethical and legal practice standards, including state and federal licensure laws, and report concerns through appropriate channels.
Use appropriate documentation and CPT and CDM codes, verify charges, follow payer guidelines, and obtain insurance authorization before treatment when indicated.
Maintain productivity and efficiency standards, use non-direct patient-care time effectively, and report hours accurately.
Contribute to performance improvement and identify and communicate opportunities for departmental and system-wide improvement.
Participate in development of new therapy programs and enhancement of established programs; research relevant innovations and share findings.
Pursue professional development and continuing education, maintain an annual education record, and conduct in-services as appropriate.
Use supplies and equipment responsibly and uphold fiscal and operational responsibilities.
Travel to other System locations as patient census and care needs require.
Communicate changes in patient census or volume that may affect daily clinic productivity.
Attend required staff and interdisciplinary meetings, or review and acknowledge meeting minutes when unable to attend.
Coach and mentor other department positions and participate in student supervision as appropriate.
Promote and attend community outreach events as necessary.
Perform other duties as assigned.