Physical Therapist Outpatient

Position Title: Physical Therapist I

Physical Therapist I primarily manages outpatient care with occasional responsibilities in acute care settings. This role includes the delegation of tasks to Physical Therapist Assistants and aides. The incumbent's activities focus on patient-centered care, applying assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation in compliance with evidence-based physical therapy standards, physician directives, and regulatory policies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Patient Evaluation

  Conduct comprehensive evaluations of patients' functional status through formal and informal assessment techniques to ascertain skeletal, neurological, respiratory, and cardiovascular health.

• Treatment Planning

  Formulate targeted treatment regimens based on evaluative data and the patient’s response to optimize implementation of the prescribed care plan.

• Documentation and Collaboration

  Draft and submit a formal treatment plan to be integrated into the authorized plan of care, ensuring alignment with physician input. Adjust treatment plans as necessary to reflect patient status changes. Co‑sign verbal orders from Physical Therapist Assistants when required.

• Scheduling

  Create and communicate a frequency‑and‑duration‑specific treatment schedule to patients, families, and caregivers, coordinating with clinical support personnel.

• Patient Education

  Provide in‑depth education to patients, families, and caregivers regarding their conditions, treatment alternatives, prognosis, and the rationale for proposed therapeutic interventions, utilizing various modalities and therapeutic exercises.

Additional Responsibilities

• Supervision

  Oversee the activities of Physical Therapist Assistants, aides, Home Health Aides, and students per organizational and regulatory standards.

• Equipment Procurement

  Assess patients’ needs for adaptive and supportive equipment, liaise with suppliers to facilitate orders, and assist patients in securing necessary equipment.

• Documentation Compliance

  Record patient responses to therapies and any changes in their condition following affiliate documentation policies and regulatory guidelines. Ensure timely completion of daily documentation related to billing processes.

• Intervention Competence

  Provide therapeutic interventions that restore or enhance optimal functional outcomes within the therapist's specialty area.

• Home Education Programs

  Educate families and caregivers in home‑based therapeutic routines using effective teaching methodologies.

• Communication

  Maintain effective oral and written communication skills to enhance patient care quality through coordination with interdisciplinary team members.

• Professional Development

  Foster education and development among staff, students, and healthcare providers through relevant training opportunities. Engage in process improvement initiatives and program development.

• Community Engagement

  Advocate for physical therapy services by participating in community education efforts and functioning as a case manager for designated cases.

• Commitment to Mission

  Demonstrate a commitment to the affiliate’s mission through exemplary customer service, high‑quality care, and teamwork.

• Confidentiality

  Uphold patient privacy in accordance with affiliate policies.

• Conduct additional duties as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications

• Proficient verbal and written communication skills in English to engage with diverse populations at various organizational levels.
• Ability to work autonomously while showcasing effective problem‑solving, organizational capabilities, and time‑management skills.
• Compliance with mandatory Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements annually, per the Exposure Control Plan.
• Readiness to work in environments potentially exposing the individual to communicable diseases, with correct usage of personal protective equipment.
• Capability to execute essential job functions with reasonable accommodations as needed.
• Skills to demonstrate and educate on selected treatment protocols to both professional and non‑professional audiences.

Physical and Mental Requirements

• Ability to navigate stressful situations involving public interactions, including those associated with trauma, grief, and death.
• Physical capacity to wear necessary personal protective equipment, including latex alternatives if required.
• Mobility to freely move within the healthcare facility and perform outlined job functions.
• Adequate vision and hearing capabilities, with or without assistive devices.
• Capacity to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods, which may include frequent postural changes.
• Awareness of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and infectious materials, with adherence to health testing protocols.
• Competence in managing multiple tasks, maintaining effective interpersonal relations, and ensuring consistent attendance and alertness during work hours.
• Dexterity to perform tasks requiring manipulation, reaching, grasping, and feeling, with potential for repetitive motion.

Certifications and Licenses

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required within one month of hire or transfer.
• Valid Physical Therapy License (PT).