PRN Physical Therapist - Saturday Coverage
About The Position
Shepherd Center is hiring a PRN Physical Therapist to provide Saturday coverage. The therapist treats adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients, establishes short- and long-term goals with patients, families or caregivers, and the care team, and develops and implements comprehensive plans of care. This active, hands-on role provides rehabilitation services and collaborates with others to support patient recovery. The position may involve floating to inpatient or post-acute programs for evaluations or treatment sessions as needed. The therapist is expected to follow Shepherd Center standards, clinical policies, safety procedures, regulatory requirements, and documentation practices. The work takes place in a normal patient care environment, with some potential exposure to blood, body fluids, and infectious viruses.
Requirements
- Degree from an accredited physical therapy program.
- BLS certification.
- Licensed to practice in Georgia.
- Basic computer skills.
- Working knowledge of treatment and therapeutic patient care devices used by physical therapy staff.
- Knowledge of growth and development and ability to obtain, interpret, and communicate information in relation to adolescent, adult, and geriatric patient needs.
- Competency in time management, organization, prioritization, and critical thinking.
- Effective verbal, non-verbal, and written communication.
- Ability to adapt to changing work demands and environments and to make sound judgments in response to patient needs or changes in condition.
- Must successfully complete orientation and initial competency assessment by the specified due date, as well as mandatory education and annual competency assessments by their due dates.
- Ability to move, guide, and position patients safely, including transferring and positioning patients while lifting up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to perform repetitive lifting, moving, squatting, kneeling, and crawling.
Nice To Haves
- Two years of recent clinical experience is preferred.
- Previous experience with patients with spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, concussion, and vestibular disorders.
Responsibilities
- Evaluate patients’ physical and functional status, including strength, motor function, reflexes, ambulation, and activities of daily living.
- Review medical history, interview and observe patients, and conduct sensory, muscle, range-of-motion, and other assessments.
- Develop, implement, reassess, and adapt treatment programs to advance patients’ functional skills.
- Plan and deliver patient and family training, including instruction on exercise programs and equipment use.
- Utilize and order in-house trial equipment as needed and ensure it is properly fitted to the patient.
- Schedule patients for specialty clinics and programs when appropriate.
- Determine and order or recommend durable medical equipment in consultation with patients, caregivers, payer sources, and team members.
- Discuss evaluations, goals, treatment, and discharge planning with patients and families.
- Participate in staff meetings and departmental discipline or program committees, and contribute to center-wide efforts affecting physical therapy practice.
- Maintain timely, clear, and complete records of observations and care using required forms and systems.
- Follow clinical, safety, and organizational policies and procedures; report injuries, accidents, and safety issues through the appropriate channels.
- Monitor compliance with regulatory requirements, organizational standards, and policies; identify potential risks and support their resolution.
- Establish relationships with other physical therapists and, as applicable, supervise and educate therapy support personnel.
- May teach and supervise students, participate in research projects, and perform other assigned duties.
- May float to inpatient or post-acute programs to provide patient evaluations or treatment sessions.
