Therapy Education Specialist - Upper Extremity (Millard)

OrthoNebraska creates the inspired healthcare experience all people deserve by giving people a direct path to personalized care and life-enhancing outcomes. With a focus on safety and people, we set the bar high in providing high-quality care with an unmatched experience. Our team members are critical to our success and growth and are rewarded for their dedication and hard work.

About the Role

The Therapy Education Specialist acts as a change agent in promoting ongoing professional development of therapy staff. This position requires extensive knowledge of therapeutic interventions targeting orthopedic diagnoses of the lower extremity, upper extremity, and spine. They serve as a role model, consultant, and mentor in skill development, utilizing various educational delivery methods to advance treatments that achieve unparalleled outcomes across orthopedic patient populations.

Status: Full-Time
Shift: Days
FTE / Hours: 1.0 / 40
Schedule: Mon - Fri: Five 8-Hour Shifts

Responsibilities

• Provide and supervise quality patient care by following established guidelines.
• Dedicate approximately 30 hours a week to patient care (for 1.0 FTE), which may include individual caseload, co-treating, or mentoring other therapy staff, including oversight of care plans.
• Monitor performance of all levels of therapy staff through data collection, coaching, education, and role modeling to ensure ongoing performance improvement.
• Problem-solve and make decisions within the area of accountability to ensure effective and efficient patient care.
• Monitor and facilitate the progression of staff along clinical development pathways, including curriculum and skill validation.
• Collaborate on the development of protocols, return-to-sport testing, and integration/training of technology and equipment to ensure best practices.
• Facilitate departmental education focused on evidence-based best practices supported by research and literature.
• Assess ongoing needs for continuing education on new and evolving procedures, equipment, and/or technology to enhance outcomes.
• Collaborate with management and the Therapy Quality Coordinator for in-services and staff development programs.
• Provide leadership within committees as required.
• Maintain all team member educational records of training programs.
• Coordinate and conduct department orientation for licensed therapy staff, working closely with department leadership and the Therapy Quality Coordinator.
• Evaluate orientation and onboarding experiences to ensure newly hired team members are prepared to practice safely and independently.
• Ensure completion of departmental subspecialty-specific checklists and upload them into team member files.
• Meet with new team members and the Therapy Quality Coordinator, as needed, to discuss the orientation process and collaborate with management if an orientation extension plan is required.
• Implement and evaluate processes to ensure team members meet established competency requirements.
• Partner with department leadership and the Therapy Quality Coordinator to establish annual competency requirements based on needs assessment, high-risk/low-volume skills, and performance improvement issues.
• Collaborate with department leadership and the Therapy Quality Coordinator regarding personnel issues related to orientation and/or educational needs for successful onboarding.
• Mentor staff in areas of patient care, patient interaction, physician communication, and time management.
• Responsible for all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Graduate of an approved physical therapy or occupational therapy program (required).
• Fully licensed to practice physical or occupational therapy in the state of Nebraska and/or Iowa (required).
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required within 60 days of hire.
• Advanced certifications and training preferred (e.g., OCS, SCS, FAAOMPT, CHT, Cert MDT, NIOMPT, PRC, or similar). Tenured professional experience in lieu of certifications may be considered.
• Encouraged to work toward advanced certification if not currently held.
• 3+ years minimum of experience as a physical or occupational therapist in an outpatient environment (required).

Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to problem-solve through a well-defined approach.
• Ability to instruct and collaborate with others.
• Strong team orientation.
• Ability to accomplish multiple tasks and prioritize activities.
• Strong analytical skills, with experience in data analysis, performance measurement, and the use of quality improvement tools (highly desirable).
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

Physical Requirements

This position is classified as Medium Work in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, requiring the exertion of 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.

Must be able to pass a background check. Pre-employment physical and drug testing are conducted. Any job offer will be contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment physical with a drug screen, background check, and obtaining active licensures per job requirements.