Physical Therapist

Job Title/Position: Contract Hospice Physical Therapist
Reports To: Clinical Supervisor
Location: Rapid City South Dakota

Stillwater hospice is expanding and growing! Our Rapid City location is one of our best and we need a professional Physical Therapist to join our already amazing group. Come join this dynamic team and add to the excitement! If you believe in compassionate care, value relationships and love a challenge, apply now!

$150 - $200 per visit

Position Summary

The Contract Hospice Physical Therapist provides occasional, home-based visits to hospice patients in and around Rapid City, SD. The primary focus of this role is comfort , safety, and preservation of function at end of life—not rehabilitation or strengthening. The therapist completes initial assessments and, when appropriate, develops individualized, comfort‑centered therapy plans in collaboration with the hospice interdisciplinary team.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive initial physical therapy assessments in the patient’s home, focusing on pain, mobility, functional abilities, and safety.
• Develop and document comfort‑oriented therapy plans of care that support hospice goals (e.g., positioning, transfers, gentle mobility, energy conservation), not long‑term rehab or strengthening programs.
• Provide limited, goal‑directed treatment interventions as clinically indicated (e.g., gentle range of motion, positioning strategies, transfer training, caregiver training).
• Educate patients and family caregivers on safe body mechanics, positioning, transfers, use of assistive devices, fall prevention, and strategies to maximize comfort and dignity.
• Collaborate with the hospice team (RN case managers, medical director, social workers, aides, chaplains) to ensure therapy recommendations align with the patient’s goals of care and changing condition.
• Reassess patients as needed to modify the plan of care in response to changes in comfort, function, or safety.
• Accurately document assessments, plans, visits, and recommendations in accordance with agency policy, professional standards, and applicable regulations.
• Communicate significant changes in patient condition or needs promptly to the hospice nurse case manager and/or physician.
• Adhere to hospice philosophy, emphasizing quality of life, symptom relief, and support for patients and families.

Qualifications

• Current, unrestricted Physical Therapist (PT) license in the state of South Dakota.
• Graduation from an accredited Physical Therapy program.
• Minimum 1–2 years of clinical PT experience; prior hospice, home health, or geriatric experience strongly preferred.
• Understanding of hospice philosophy and goals of care, with a patient‑ and family‑centered approach.
• Ability to shift from restorative/rehabilitative goals to comfort‑ and function‑focused interventions appropriate to end‑of‑life care.
• Strong communication, teaching, and interpersonal skills; ability to work compassionately with patients and families facing serious illness.
• Reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and appropriate auto insurance for travel to patient homes in the Rapid City area.
• Ability to work independently in the field, manage a flexible and intermittent caseload, and complete timely documentation.

Schedule and Compensation

• PRN/contract role with visits scheduled based on patient need and referral volume.
• Compensation paid per visit or per evaluation/treatment, to be determined in contract.