Outpatient Physical Therapist

The Physical Therapist evaluates, diagnoses, and manages patients with physical impairments and functional limitations to maximize the patient’s functional abilities. The Physical Therapist will design and implement individualized treatment plans that address the specific goal and needs of each patient, as well as educating patients and their families on how to prevent or manage their conditions to promote optimal health and wellness.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Performs comprehensive initial evaluations to identify functional deficits and develops a treatment plan to improve their ability to move, reduce or manage pain, restore function, and prevent disability

Provide skilled interventions that are tailored to the patient’s needs and preferences, using appropriate techniques, modalities, and equipment

Collaborates with patients to create short and long-term goals

Communicate effectively and respectfully with patients, families, and other health care providers, ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity

Manages patients to improve their ability to move, reduce or manage pain, restore function, and prevent disability through means of direct or indirect treatments or referral to another provider as appropriate

Establish and update diagnosis, prognosis, and plan of care based on the best available evidence and clinical reasoning

Reviews and records information in the patient’s medical record and history, including evaluative findings, treatment plan, responses to treatment and any changes to the patient’s status

Educates patients and family members about prognosis and care options.

Assists in developing and implementing department programs

Participate in quality improvement initiatives, continuing education activities, and professional development opportunities

Monitor and document patient’s progress, outcomes, and satisfaction with services provided

Shares clinical knowledge and new techniques to improve patient care

Supervises Physical Therapy Assistants as assigned

Supervises PT and PTA students and observers as assigned

Maintains confidentiality of all materials handled within the Network/Entity as well as the proper release of information. 

Complies with Network and departmental policies regarding issues of employee, patient and environmental safety and follows appropriate reporting requirements

Adhere to the ethical, legal, and regulatory standards of the physical therapy profession and the health care organization

Demonstrates/models the Network’s Service Excellence Standards of Performance in interactions with all customers (internal and external).  

Demonstrates Performance Improvement in the following areas as appropriate: Clinical Care/Outcomes, Customer/Service Improvement, Operational System/Process, and Safety.

Demonstrates financial responsibility and accountability through the effective and efficient use of resources in daily procedures, processes and practices.

Complies with Network, departmental policies regarding attendance and dress code. 

Demonstrates competency in the assessment, range of treatment, knowledge of growth and development and communication appropriate to the age of the patient treated.

Attend meetings as designated or requested.

Accurately bills patient’s accounts for services rendered.

Provides in-services to PT department staff and others.

Participates in QI data collection/planning.

Attends multi-disciplinary meetings as applicable.

Cleans and orders supplies, as assigned by facility director, for daily operations.

Other related duties as assigned, e.g. peer record review

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to sit for up to ninety minutes at a time. Able to stand for thirty to forty-five minutes consecutively. Must be able to use hands/fingers to manipulate dials on machines. Must have the ability to occasionally stoop/bend, squat, crouch, kneel and reach above shoulder level. Must have the ability to lift/move patients up to 50 lbs., push/pull patients weighing up to 50 lbs. Must be capable of tactile sensation as it relates to feeling for muscle spasms, texture and skin temperature. Must have the ability to hear as it relates to normal conversation. Must be capable of seeing as it relates to general vision, depth perception, and peripheral vision.

EDUCATION:

Doctoral Degree, Masters or Bachelor’s degree from an accredited physical therapy program or physical therapy certificate.

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association (AHA) or equivalent, required upon hire or to be obtained within 30 days of hire.

Current Physical Therapist license in the State of Pennsylvania or New Jersey, based on work location, is required. The Physical Therapist shall work within the practice guidelines as defined by Pennsylvania or New Jersey state law (based on work location).

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Successful completion of required affiliations. A minimum of one year of experience as a physical therapist in an outpatient setting. CPR certification required.