Full Time Physical Therapist

St. Luke’s University Health Network•Macungie, PA

About The Position

The Physical Therapist evaluates, diagnoses, and manages patients with physical impairments and functional limitations to maximize their functional abilities. The role involves designing and implementing individualized treatment plans based on each patient’s goals and needs, and educating patients and families on preventing or managing conditions to promote health and wellness. The Physical Therapist provides direct or indirect care, documents evaluations and treatment, monitors outcomes, and collaborates with patients, families, and other health care providers. The role also includes supervising Physical Therapy Assistants and students as assigned, contributing to department programs and quality improvement, sharing clinical knowledge, and performing operational duties such as billing for services and maintaining supplies.

Requirements

Doctoral, master’s, or bachelor’s degree from an accredited physical therapy program, or a physical therapy certificate.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association or equivalent, required upon hire or to be obtained within 30 days of hire.
Current Physical Therapist license in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, according to work location.
Work within the physical therapy practice guidelines defined by the applicable state law.
Successful completion of required affiliations.
At least one year of experience as a physical therapist in an outpatient setting.
CPR certification required.
Ability to sit for up to 90 minutes at a time and stand consecutively for 30 to 45 minutes.
Ability to use hands and fingers to manipulate machine dials; occasionally stoop, bend, squat, crouch, kneel, and reach above shoulder level.
Ability to lift and move patients weighing up to 50 pounds and push or pull patients weighing up to 50 pounds.
Tactile sensation sufficient to assess muscle spasms, texture, and skin temperature.
Hearing sufficient for normal conversation and vision sufficient for general vision, depth perception, and peripheral vision.

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive initial evaluations to identify functional deficits and develop treatment plans to improve mobility, manage pain, restore function, and prevent disability.
Provide skilled interventions tailored to patient needs and preferences using appropriate techniques, modalities, and equipment.
Collaborate with patients to establish short- and long-term goals.
Communicate effectively and respectfully with patients, families, and health care providers, ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity.
Manage patients through direct or indirect treatment or referral to another provider as appropriate.
Establish and update diagnoses, prognoses, and plans of care using available evidence and clinical reasoning.
Review and document patient medical history, evaluation findings, treatment plans, responses to treatment, and changes in status.
Educate patients and family members about prognosis and care options.
Assist in developing and implementing department programs.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives, continuing education, professional development, and quality-improvement data collection and planning.
Monitor and document patient progress, outcomes, and satisfaction with services.
Share clinical knowledge and new techniques to improve patient care.
Supervise Physical Therapy Assistants, PT and PTA students, and observers as assigned.
Maintain confidentiality and comply with information-release, safety, reporting, ethical, legal, regulatory, attendance, and dress-code requirements.
Demonstrate the Network’s Service Excellence Standards and contribute to performance improvement in clinical care, customer service, operations, and safety.
Use resources effectively and efficiently and demonstrate financial responsibility and accountability.
Demonstrate competency in assessment, treatment range, growth and development, and communication appropriate to the age of patients treated.
Attend designated or requested meetings, including multidisciplinary meetings as applicable.
Accurately bill patient accounts for services rendered.
Provide in-services to department staff and others.
Clean and order supplies as assigned by the facility director.
Perform other related duties as assigned, such as peer record review.