Physical Therapist – Acute Care Orthopedics

Position Overview

A leading orthopedic specialty healthcare organization is seeking an Acute Care Orthopedic Physical Therapist to join its growing multidisciplinary rehabilitation team in Naples, Florida.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluate patients referred for physical therapy and develop individualized treatment plans.
• Establish functional goals and implement evidence-based rehabilitation programs.
• Treat post-operative orthopedic patients in acute care and ambulatory surgery settings.
• Assist patients with mobility, gait training, transfers, balance, and functional recovery following surgery.
• Provide pre-operative patient education and discharge planning.
• Conduct virtual rehabilitation follow-up appointments for patients recovering at home.
• Educate patients and families on rehabilitation protocols, precautions, home safety, and recovery expectations.
• Collaborate with physicians and interdisciplinary healthcare professionals to coordinate patient care.
• Maintain accurate documentation in accordance with organizational and regulatory standards.
• Participate in occasional Saturday rotation as needed (typically limited hours).

Required Qualifications

• Master's or Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited program.
• Current Florida Physical Therapist license or eligibility for licensure.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross.
• Strong knowledge of orthopedic rehabilitation and post-operative patient care.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and critical-thinking skills.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced clinical environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Three or more years of acute care and post-operative orthopedic rehabilitation experience.
• Experience treating adult orthopedic surgical patients, including total joint replacements and musculoskeletal conditions.
• Experience in acute care hospitals, orthopedic specialty hospitals, or ambulatory surgery settings.
• Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) certification preferred.
• Sports medicine rehabilitation experience is a plus.

What Makes This Position Unique

Unlike a traditional hospital acute care role, this position offers a diverse mix of responsibilities, including:

• Treating same-day orthopedic surgery patients in the Pre-Op and PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit).
• Providing rehabilitation for orthopedic patients admitted overnight following surgery.
• Conducting 45-minute one-on-one pre-operative education sessions to prepare patients for surgery, recovery, and discharge planning.
• Delivering virtual post-operative rehabilitation visits through an innovative home-based telehealth program before patients transition to outpatient therapy.
• Working closely with orthopedic surgeons, nurses, anesthesia providers, and the multidisciplinary care team to optimize patient outcomes.
• PRACTICING IN A DYNAMIC ORTHOPEDIC ENVIRONMENT RATHER THAN A TRADITIONAL GENERAL MEDICINE ACUTE CARE SETTING.

Compensation and Schedule

Full-Time
Occasional Saturday rotation (typically less than four hours when scheduled).

Combination of inpatient treatment, perioperative rehabilitation, patient education, discharge planning, and telehealth follow-up responsibilities.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

Work exclusively with orthopedic and musculoskeletal patients.
Collaborate directly with orthopedic surgeons and specialty providers.
Diverse responsibilities that extend beyond traditional inpatient physical therapy.
Opportunity to participate in innovative perioperative and virtual rehabilitation programs.
Strong interdisciplinary culture built on teamwork, communication, and evidence-based care.
Competitive compensation and excellent long-term career growth opportunities.