Acute Care Physical Therapist

Employment Type: Full time
Shift: Day/Afternoon with weekend and holiday rotation
Location: Ypsilanti, MI

About the Role

The Physical Therapist implements the evaluation and treatment of medically disabled patients using established procedures. Provides education to patients and family to deal with present disabilities or prevent further disabilities. Provides consultation to health care personnel and the public in matters related to physical therapy.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates patients' physical and functional status including muscular strength, motor function, reflex, and ambulation skills.
• Observes and interviews patients, reviews medical histories, and administers detailed sensory tests, manual muscle tests, range of motion exams, and other evaluation techniques.
• Establishes short and long-term therapy goals and formulates treatment plans consistent with these goals.
• Treats patients using recognized physical therapy procedures such as therapeutic exercise, gait training, functional training, application of modalities, and assistive devices.
• Provides treatment and delegates treatment procedures to appropriate personnel.
• Observes patients' actions and reactions to treatment and evaluates progress; consults with physicians and other health-care team members to adjust treatment programs as necessary.
• Determines appropriate devices such as wheelchairs, canes, crutches, and prosthetic/orthotic devices necessary to assist patients in performing physical activities; instructs patients in care and use of same.
• Regularly documents patient's progress toward goals and prepares reports for physicians, other treatment members, and supervisor's review.
• Participates in general physical therapy operations such as patient education, quality review, clinical education, program planning, and clinics, and supervision of physical therapy student interns.
• Maintains records and logs of treatments performed and prepares charge slips for billing purposes.
• Discusses evaluations, goals, and treatments with patients and families to allay anxieties and elicit cooperation.
• Instructs patients and patients' families in appropriate continued exercise or therapy programs and in the use of therapy techniques and assistive devices and aids.
• Participates in discharge planning with physicians and health-care team members to ensure patients have appropriate assistance and continuation of rehabilitation at home or other settings.
• Performs other duties as assigned by Physical Therapy Supervisor or Manager.
• Maintains knowledge of current trends and developments in the field by reading appropriate books, journals, and other literature and attending related conferences and seminars.
• Maintains good rapport and cooperative relationships; approaches conflict constructively.
• Maintains the confidentiality of information acquired pertaining to patients, physicians, employees, and visitors.
• Assumes responsibility for performance of job duties in the safest possible manner and reports all preventable hazards and unsafe practices immediately to management.
• Provides quality patient care considering age-specific, developmental, and cultural needs through competent practice and application of the physical rehabilitation process.
• Behaves in accordance with the Mission, Vision, and Values of St. Joseph Mercy Health System.

Requirements

• Graduate from an accredited school of Physical Therapy and licensure as a Physical Therapist in the State of Michigan.
• Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and physical therapy treatment and modalities.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate effectively with patients, patients' families, and other treatment team members.
• Analytical skills necessary to evaluate patients' physical and functional status, establish therapy goals, and formulate treatment plans.
• Ability to concentrate and pay close attention to detail for up to 80% of work time when administering treatments, observing patients, and maintaining records.
• Able to react quickly in sudden unplanned situations to prevent or minimize injuries to patients and/or staff.
• Able to walk and stand for up to 50% of work time while administering treatments.
• Able to lift, push, and pull weights with an effective force of approximately 40-60 pounds (with or without mechanical devices or other personnel) for up to 20% of work time when positioning and moving patients.