Physical Therapist-Acute Care and Emergency

Advocate Health

13d • $41 - $62

About The Position

The Physical Therapist provides acute care rehabilitation services, including emergency department coverage as needed. The role interprets physician referrals and evaluates patients across musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and integumentary areas. The therapist develops and implements individualized plans of care, monitors patient outcomes, adjusts treatment as appropriate, and communicates patient status to physicians and other teammates. Care includes addressing physical and psychosocial comfort, discharge planning, patient and family education, and coordination with relevant stakeholders.

The position is part time, 20 hours per week, generally scheduled three days per week. One shift each week extends into the early evening to accommodate late total joint surgical cases and/or ED coverage. The schedule also includes two weekend day shifts per month and one summer and one winter holiday or holiday-weekend shift, with a minimum of one of six major holidays worked annually. Acute care experience is required in the schedule details, with at least one year highly preferred; ED experience is desired. EPIC EMR experience is highly preferred but not required.

The therapist completes required clinical, billing, scheduling, and productivity documentation; maintains a clean and orderly treatment area; uses modalities, exercise equipment, and other available devices; and follows patient safety and infection-control practices. The role participates in quality improvement, manages caseload and coverage needs, pursues professional development, and may orient staff or supervise assistants, extenders, and students as permitted by applicable requirements.

The role requires a doctorate in physical therapy or educational requirements commensurate with graduation date, a state physical therapist license, and BLS for Healthcare Providers certification within 90 days unless the department leader determines it is not required. The position involves frequent sitting, standing, walking, lifting, squatting, patient transfers, pushing and pulling, and fine hand manipulation. It may involve exposure to electrical and chemical hazards, blood and body fluids, and travel-related road and weather hazards.

Requirements

• Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited school, or educational requirements commensurate with the date of graduation.
• 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.
• Intermediate computer skills.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated organization, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Successful completion of competency assessments and requirements pertaining to patient care and site standards.
• Maintain annual educational requirements for hospital-based certifications, such as DNV or CARF, as applicable.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills needed to provide age-appropriate care, including knowledge of growth and development across the lifespan and the ability to assess and interpret patient data in relation to age-specific needs.
• Able to sit, stand, walk, lift, and squat throughout the workday.
• Able to lift up to 50 pounds from floor to waist, lift up to 10 pounds from waist to overhead, and carry up to 40 pounds at waist height a reasonable distance.
• Able to push or pull with 30 pounds of force and perform a sliding transfer of 150 pounds with a second person present.
• Able to perform the stated repetitive hand tasks, including simple grasping, pushing and pulling, and fine hand manipulation during massage and joint mobilization.
• Functional use of senses to allow effective communication.
• Able to wear protective clothing as needed due to exposure to electrical and chemical hazards and blood and body fluids.
• Able to operate all equipment necessary to perform the job.
• Flexible, reliable, collaborative, and self-directed, with the ability to deliver high-quality, compassionate, and empathetic patient care.

Nice To Haves

• At least one year of experience practicing in an acute care setting is highly preferred.
• Prior experience in an emergency department setting is desired.
• Prior EPIC EMR experience is highly preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Interpret physician referrals and complete appropriate patient evaluations in musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and/or integumentary areas.
• Establish and implement individualized plans of care based on evaluation results and functional goals; monitor outcomes, adjust treatment, 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 stakeholders to support optimum patient care.
• Complete required evaluations, progress notes, team conference reports, discharge summaries, and other documentation according to department policy and accreditation standards.
• Record patient care and progress; complete daily statistics, billing, and scheduling; follow insurance authorization and visit guidelines, productivity standards, and documentation policies and timelines.
• Clean the treatment area, put away equipment, and maintain an orderly environment.
• Perform manual techniques, patient positioning, transfers, and transportation duties using proper techniques.
• Use modalities, exercise equipment, and other devices according to department orientation and demonstrate knowledge of their indications and contraindications.
• Promote patient safety and follow applicable safety and infection-control measures.
• Participate in performance improvement activities to resolve problems affecting care outcomes and improve care quality.
• Manage the assigned caseload, inform site leadership of coverage needs and availability, 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 as requested and provide feedback on co-workers as requested.
• May supervise physical therapy assistants, delegate patients to assistive personnel, and provide direction and ongoing supervision while retaining responsibility for the patient’s plan of care and goals.
• May supervise physical therapy extenders and teach appropriate techniques for specific patients.
• May supervise physical therapy students after completing one year of clinical experience.

Benefits

• Sign-on bonus of $2,500 available.
• 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.
• Premium pay may be available for shifts, on-call work, and other circumstances; incentive pay is offered for select positions.
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree