Physical Therapist - Acute Care

Physical Therapist – Acute Care Location: Vanderbilt Health | Nashville, TN Schedule: Full-Time | Includes 2 weekend days per month Job Summary Provides physical therapy services to patients with impairments, functional limitations, disabilities, or changes in physical function and health status resulting from injury, disease or other causes under occasional guidance. Actively collaborates with the health care/educational team to meet patient care, outcomes and system improvement objectives. Why Choose Vanderbilt Health? Day-One Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, PTO, and retirement Clinical Career Ladder: Structured growth from PT Level 1 to 4 Free Continuing Education: Department-hosted CE opportunities Comprehensive Onboarding: 10-12 week orientation across hospital units Formal Mentorship Program: Supported by a dedicated committee Team-Based Culture: Collaborate across disciplines and lead initiatives Nationally Recognized Health System: Excellence in care, research, and innovation Your Impact as an Acute Care Physical Therapist Provide evidence-based evaluations and treatment for hospitalized patients Deliver care across diverse settings, including ICU and emergency department Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to develop patient-centered care plans Educate patients and families on mobility, safety, and discharge planning Document care in accordance with hospital and regulatory standards Contribute to mentorship, quality improvement, and departmental initiatives Key Responsibilities Analyze comprehensive information from formal and informal assessments to determine a rehabilitation treatment diagnosis. Collaborate with stakeholders in establishing the plan of care, coordinate and implement care delivery while anticipating patient care needs across the rehabilitation continuum. Apply evidence-based interventions to ensure effective outcomes and re-evaluate performance to assess patient’s progress toward goals. Employ strategies to promote successful return to home, community, and school/vocational environments. Additional duties may be assigned. Technical Capabilities Treatment Planning & Goal Setting (Novice): Demonstrates sufficient proficiency in developing a plan of care that incorporates treatment interventions focused on meeting objective goals. Develops and documents patient-focused short and long-term goals that are functional and measurable. Identifies the need for and referral to other services, as needed. Rehabilitation Therapist Patient Evaluation (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in evaluating patients with physical deficits including impairments, developmental disabilities, functional limitations, disabilities, or changes in physical function by obtaining information pertinent to the assessment and administering and scoring standardized tests and objective measures of deficit areas (e.g., Gross Motor Function Measure, Pediatric Assessment Disability Inventory, etc.). Selects appropriate measures and performs a functional assessment to document patient’s status requiring skilled therapy. Interprets the results of the assessment and their significance to the patient, family, referring physician and other members of the health care team. Treatment Implementation (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in providing treatment consistent with physician prescription and established plan of care. Able to modify treatment plan as needed to demonstrate provision of skilled therapy services including progression of treatment throughout course of care, and revision of treatment interventions of goals not met. May supervise and direct certified athletic trainers (PT only), physical therapist / occupational therapist assistants, technicians and volunteers and students. Selects and follows correct protocol for care and utilizes evidence-based treatments. Has completed at least one year of clinical experience in treatment implementation. Rehab Therapist Patient Documentation (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in documentation practices. Documents in the appropriate templates and utilizes only approved abbreviations within patient documentation. Meets institutional standards for quality and timeliness of documentation. Physical/Occupational Therapist Patient Education (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in communicating functional impact of assessment findings, treatment interventions, treatment planning diagnosis, and disease process. Considers the communication needs/level of understanding of audience and may share appropriate information/literature. May supervise, educate and train students from professional programs of physical therapy, occupational therapy and athletic training. Core Accountabilities Organizational Impact: Delivers job responsibilities that impact own job area/team with some guidance. Problem Solving / Complexity of work: Uses existing procedures, research and analysis to solve standard job related problems that may require some judgement. Breadth of Knowledge: Requires subject matter knowledge within a professional area to meet job requirements. Team Interaction: Individually contributes to project/work teams. Core Capabilities Supporting Colleagues – Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities. Building and Maintaining Relationships: Seeks to understand colleagues priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas. Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner. Delivering Excellent Services – Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service. Solving Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns to supervisors in a timely manner. Offering Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support. Ensuring High Quality – Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards. Ensures Continuous Improvement: Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond. Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department. Managing Resources Effectively – Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service. Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources. Makes Data-Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error. Fostering Innovation – Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes or accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them. Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action. Adapts to Change: Embraces changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work. Position Qualifications Licensed Physical Therapist (or eligible) in the state of Tennessee. Acute care or hospital experience preferred, but not required. Strong communication skills and commitment to team-based, patient-centered care. This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth. Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled. #J-18808-Ljbffr