Clinical Specialist - Physical Therapy

Clinical Specialist - Physical Therapy

The Clinical Specialist provides direct patient care which includes development, assessment, and implementation of treatment programs. Additionally, the Clinical Specialist acts as a clinical resource to staff and students. The Clinical Specialist I will arrange for, plan and deliver educational opportunities for internal and external customers locally and may participate regionally. The Clinical Specialist I reports directly to the Director, the Assistant Director and/or the Clinical Supervisor.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Evaluates patients and interprets examination findings to determine the nature and extent of dysfunction relative to persons limited by medical problems, birth defects, or health related conditions to restore their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives.
• Establishes treatment goals, and plans treatment to achieve established goals relative to age, medical history and dysfunction.
• Administers or prescribes modalities and other physical agents.
• Administers or prescribes exercise programs/development of patient care programs.
• Demonstrates professional competence and clinical reasoning in assessing patients condition at the onset and through all phases of skilled physical therapy.
• Routinely takes usual and special precautions relative to the age, medical history and condition of the patient, and the type of treatment being given.
• Regularly reassesses clinical signs and symptoms to determine effectiveness of treatment, progression towards goals, and the need for modification of treatment and/or goals.
• Implements the treatment program through direct treatment of the patient.
• May delegate a portion of the treatment plan to appropriate supportive personnel.
• Coordinates the treatment plan and participates in discharge planning with other health care personnel as appropriate.
• May participate in relevant patient care rounds and case management conferences.
• Provides advice and education to patient and family.
• Discharges patients from physical therapy services when skilled therapy is no longer medically necessary and when clinically appropriate.
• Upholds Kaiser Permanentes Policies and Procedures, Principles of Responsibilities and applicable state, federal and local laws.
• Follows department guidelines on cleanliness of assigned areas and reports non-functioning of patient care equipment by following department equipment maintenance policies and procedures.
• Provides accurate and timely documentation of physical therapy services provided per State and Federal requirements and relevant medical group policies and guidelines.
• Works in partnership with Management to complete all mandatory compliance requirements.
• May be required to be trained to cover a diverse population of patients depending on local medical center need.
• May be involved in the clinical competency of PT Assistants and PT Aides.
• Adequately supervises PT assistants and PT aides when patient related and non-patient related tasks are delegated to them.
• Demonstrates internal and external customer service at all times and behaves in accordance with Principles of Responsibility.
• Provides input to clinical performance of staff around routine procedures as appropriate.
• Provides input to management regarding the performance evaluation of staff.
• Assists department in aligning itself with regional and local goals.
• Assists in the development and implementation of department policies and procedures.
• Is involved in staff development and mentoring for both professional growth and/or skills improvement.
• Is involved in the development of programs to improve patient care.
• Completes and/or oversees in-services for internal staff and/or physician development as needed by the local medical center.
• Develops and/or oversees clinical competencies at the medical center service area.
• Is involved in medical center training such as ergonomics, physician education, etc. as needed.
• May be involved in providing clinical input in relation to Quality Assurance and Utilization Management.
• May mentor another provider deficient in skills, as identified by management, utilizing interpersonal, professional and clinical skills in order to improve performance.
• May guide staff to the appropriate clinical resources.
• Develops and/or oversees clinical competencies of PT Aides, PT Assistants, and other Physical Therapists at the medical center service area.

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum three (3) years equivalent experience (2080 hours = 1 year) OR Completion of an APTA credentialed fellowship program (management will verify if credentialed is necessary) OR Minimum two (2) years of experience and successful passage of a specialty certification exam.

Education:

• Completion of an accredited PT training program with a Bachelors, Masters, or Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy
• Minimum of 200 hours of specialized education (can be completed via applicable continuing education course work, residency or fellowship hours/course work.)

License, Certification, Registration:

• Physical Therapist License (California) required at hire OR Physical Therapist License - Applicant (California) required at hire
• Physical Therapist License (California) within 4 months of hire
• Basic Life Support required at hire
• National Provider Identifier required at hire

Additional Requirements:

• Must be able to work in a Labor/Management Partnership environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Member APTA preferred.

Notes:

• Will be part of weekend and holiday rotation to cover inpatient. Preferred orthopedic fellowship training