Physical Therapist Acute NN

About the role

The Physical Therapist primary functions are to assess, reassess, develop, implement and evaluate a plan of care, which are safe, effective, and provide for patient input, and follow the Physical Therapist standard of care. Employee must follow State licensure Act and National Professional Organization Practice Guidelines. Leadership, delegation, interdisciplinary team work, information management, performance improvement, customer service and time management are essential basic competencies. Needs general supervision.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Evaluation
  • Performs initial therapy evaluations and re-evaluations utilizing evaluation techniques appropriate to patient’s age, culture, and admitting diagnosis to obtain a comprehensive view of patient’s functional skills, and impairments during the first 60 minutes of assessment time.
  • Makes an accurate assessment of patient’s strengths, weaknesses and pain.
  • Develops a well-defined plan of care and goals which include patient input and awareness of patient’s educational and cultural needs.
  • Selects, monitors, and modifies appropriate equipment, procedure, and diagnostic testing methods.
  • Makes accurate clinical impressions when one or more physical impairments or diagnosis exist simultaneously.
  • Has developed skills or is actively pursuing development of skills in specialty areas (aquatics, lymphedema, manual therapy, McKenzie, neurologic – NDT, orthopedic, sports, wound, vestibular, sensory integration, FCE’s, etc.) or in areas other than of primary responsibility assignment.
• Treatment
  • Demonstrates the skill, professional judgment and knowledge base to provide effective treatment to patients of different age groups and cultures.
  • Consistently incorporates knowledge of growth and development issues into assessment of patient’s needs.
  • Provides treatment services appropriate to patient’s age group, culture and disability.
  • Aware of resources available for different age groups and make appropriate referrals.
  • Demonstrates competency in all basic Clinical procedures and equipment for all common disorders.
  • Develops new skills or is actively pursuing development of new skills in specialty areas, or in areas beyond primary assignment.
  • Follows ethical practices utilizing guidelines established by the Florida Board of Examiners and the NCH HealthCare System.
  • Delegates patient care to team members within their scope of practice.
• Teaching
  • Verbal communication to pertinent members of a patient’s healthcare team to provide objective information about the patient’s deficits or impairments in a professional and timely manner.
  • Identifies educational needs in the NCH HealthCare System and attempts to meet those needs using formal and informal education strategies.
  • When covering for inpatients, post all precautions to educate nursing staff and other staff members to the limitations, needs and precautions.
• Documentation
  • Consistently maintains timely, complete, and accurate written documentation as defined in policies and procedures.
  • Locates information in the medical record.
  • Performs a complete chart audit.
  • Makes medical record entries legible.
  • Reports/completes all patient care information needed when a team member will be following up with a patient for treatment.
• Clinical Management
  • Takes ownership for the clinical environment.
  • Keeps a neat, organized, and clean therapeutic environment.
  • Keeps track of therapy and evaluation materials.
  • Keeps materials organized and in good condition.
  • Maintains supply and ensures items are re-supplied when necessary.
  • Orders new material to meet the needs of the patient population of primary responsibility.
  • Ensures appropriate and needed material and supplies are easily located and available to covering therapist.
  • Accurately schedules and re-schedules patients, if applicable.
• Facility Responsibilities
  • Takes ownership for all task related to scheduling and billing.
  • Follows policies and procedures for ensuring patient schedules are up to date, correct and patients are informed of scheduling practices.
  • Communicates patient requested schedule changes to appropriate staff/community.
  • Turns in accurate, timely billing information and ensures patients are re-authorized per insurance requirement with adequate documentation of same and completes timely follow up phone calls when patients are no show.
  • Completes FIM’s accurately and timely if applicable.
• Certification/Continuing Education
  • Maintains CEU requirements to maintain licensure and specialty certifications.
  • Attends courses or completes self-study to stay current with issues related to primary population served.
  • Stays current with AIDS education and Medical Errors education, state laws.
  • Recognizes knowledge deficits and independently researches to meet the needs of patients with uncommon presentations.

Education, Experience And Qualifications

• Minimum of Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy.
• No experience required.
• Licensed as a Physical Therapist in the State of Florida.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required from the American Red Cross or American Heart Association.
• Intermediate computer knowledge: Uses Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Windows.