SENIOR PHYSICAL THERAPIST, AMBULATORY- BOSTON

Senior Physical Therapist

Provide physical therapy services in ambulatory clinic site environment. The Rehabilitation Services Department at Brigham and Women's Hospital provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, and orthopedic technician services to patients. Brigham and Women's Hospital is a nationally ranked academic medical center located in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston, Massachusetts. Senior Physical Therapists must have at least three years of clinical experience with strong clinical knowledge and skills. They will be joining a team with diverse clinical backgrounds and expertise. Therapists should have an unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Their primary responsibility is to provide patient care in accordance with State licensing regulations, departmental standards and policies, and accepted professional standards of care. Therapists will treat adult patients with a variety of diagnoses across a range of acuity. Additionally, we are looking for clinicians who will be able to treat patients with a variety of different backgrounds and identities.

In addition to providing exemplary patient care, Senior physical therapists serve as mentors to other staff in the department. Alongside Clinical Specialists, Senior therapists collaborate regularly with other rehabilitation disciplines and the multidisciplinary team. They will assist in staff education and training, triaging patient consults, program development, quality initiatives, and optimizing departmental policies and procedures. Senior therapists will also have opportunities for clinical growth through internal continuing education programming, financial support for external continuing education courses and conferences, and access to a formal mentorship program. Senior therapists can also participate in a variety of Rehabilitation Department Committees to enhance their professional growth in addition to their clinical care. These committees include: The Community Resource Committee, Practice Standards Committee, Staff Development Committee, Rehab Recognition Committee, Research Committee. Opportunities to advance on our established merit-based clinical ladder (i.e., Staff Therapist, Senior Therapist, Clinical Specialist) allow clinicians to be recognized for their clinical, scholarly, and service contributions and accomplishments.

Principal duties and responsibilities include:

• Examines and evaluates patient's physical therapy needs. Formulates a physical therapy diagnosis and develops a treatment plan with treatment goals directed towards maximizing function.
• Demonstrates competency in all clinical knowledge and skills specific to the patient case type(s) in assigned area of care.
• Acts as a clinical or non-clinical resource.
• Consults with other members of the health care team to ensure coordination and effectiveness of therapies provided.
• Is assigned additional tasks and responsibilities which may include, but not be limited to: orientation of new staff, participation on committees, involvement in QI activities, supervision of students and aides, and involvement in developing/revising practice standards.
• Participates in implementation of quality assurance program for clinical service.
• Assists in implementation of triaging, prioritizing, monitoring admissions, referrals, and discharges to and from the service as assigned.
• Participates in special interest group or committee within the department in order to promote staff education and program development.
• Assists in proper care and distribution of department supplies and equipment, making recommendations for adequate inventory and appropriate and new equipment.
• In the absence of the clinical supervisor, assumes duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Director.
• Participates in departmental meetings, which help to formulate policies, procedures and program development.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Must be a graduate of an accredited physical therapy program. Bachelor's Degree Physical Therapy required. Doctor of Physical Therapy Physical Therapy (DPT) preferred.
• Must possess a current unrestricted license to practice physical therapy from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• Must have a minimum of 3 years of clinical experience and a performance record that consistently exceeds expectations.

Skills/Abilities/Competencies Required:

• Must possess communication and interpersonal skills sufficient for effective leadership and training of assigned personnel and working relationships within the department and assigned unit, in addition to those skills required of a staff therapist (up to 90% of work time).
• Must possess analytical abilities and sound knowledge in Physical Therapy to act as an education and clinical resource, in order to assist with development and implementation of programs, policies, and procedures and for orientation and training of new staff therapist (up to 90% of work time).
• Work requires up to three months orientation to acquire necessary familiarity with department and hospital policies and procedures, and the specific quality standards of care and procedures unique to the assigned patient area.
• Must possess effective communication skills (written and verbal) to interact with patients (up to 70% of work time), rehabilitation and medical team (up to 20% of work time), and patients' families (up to 10% of work time).
• Work requires prolonged walking and standing (up to 95% of work time); lifting, transferring, and positioning of patients and equipment (10% - 50% of work time), and the transportation of patients (up to 10% of work time).
• Work with critically ill patients (up to 10% of work time) produces a high level of stress and mental fatigue.
• Must be able to work with patients 15 years old up to geriatric. The majority of patient care is with patients 18- to 65-year-olds.
• The individual in this position must demonstrate appropriate knowledge of the principles of growth and development, which would include neonates to the elderly. In addition, the therapist must demonstrate competency in assessment and treatment relative to age specific needs for the patient population for which they provide therapy, and as described in the department's practice standards.

Working conditions:

• Works in hospital environments where there is some exposure to blood/body fluids/hazardous materials, communicable diseases (10% - 25% of work time) and unpleasant odors (up to 25% of work time).
• Work requiring physical effort for lifting, transferring, and positioning of patients and/or equipment (up to 50% of work time) may result in musculoskeletal strain or injury with improper body mechanics.
• Work requires use of sharp and/or electrical equipment (up to 20%), which could result in, cuts or burns with improper safety.

Supervisory responsibilities:

• Assists with supervision and education of staff therapists, assistants, and aides.

Fiscal responsibilities:

• Patient charges are entered in an accurate and timely manner as appropriately supported by the medical documentation.
• Hospital and department equipment is managed in an appropriate and cost-efficient manner.

Hospital wide responsibilities:

• Works within legal, regulatory, accreditation and ethical practice standards relevant to the position and as established by BWH/ MGB; follows safe practices required for the position; complies with appropriate BWH and MGB policies and procedures; fulfills any training required by BWH and/or MGB, as appropriate; brings potential matters of non-compliance to the attention of the supervisor or other appropriate hospital staff.

MGH Institute of Health Professions