General Definition and Scope of Job
The primary role of the physical therapist is to establish, direct, prescribe, and communicate care needs between physical, occupational, and speech therapies for the emergency department, medical/surgical floor, intensive care unit, outpatient surgery department, and long-term acute care department to parties directly in charge of patient care and needs.
Job Status: Casual
What are the Minimum Skills, Experience and Educational Requirements?
- Master’s degree in physical therapy; Doctorate degree preferred from an accredited university
- Strong background in physical therapy services
- Valid physical therapy license for the state of Michigan
- BLS certification
- Interpersonal skills to communicate with patients effectively and accurately.
- Ability to function within a team and perform treatments with other teammates.
- Identify areas for growth and development of new patient programs.
What are the Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities?
- Reviews and evaluates patient’s potential and response to interventions to assist with goal setting and discharge planning.
- Audits documentation, pursues development of continuing education opportunities, and maintains up to date records of staff certifications and licenses.
- Prescribes all activities based on cardiac, pulmonary contraindications, orthopedic limitations, and medications.
- Organizational skills to plan, schedule, arrange, direct, and oversee entire rehabilitation services to ensure optimum departmental operation.
- Develops and maintains cooperative working relationship between the department and members of the medical staff, nursing services, and other ancillary departments. Collaborates with respiratory, nursing, and other medical staff regarding patient care.
What are the Critical Demands of the Job?
- Performs evaluations to assess the level of care required for patients, establish goals, create plan of care, and discharge planning.
- Establishes, critiques, and revises goals and treatment approaches based on patients’ functional abilities and tolerance to sessions.
- Educate and instruct fellow rehabilitation and nursing staff on patient needs and safe handling procedures.
- Ability to navigate electronic medical system for chart review and documentation of care.
- Ability to monitor and manage patient safety during treatment sessions including vitals, lab values, and patient response.
What are the Working Conditions?
- Work within a team of clinicians for treatment of patients
- Requires direct contact with teammates, medical staff, and family regarding patient care.
- Must be flexible and able to move between tasks fluidly with very little notice.