Therapy Manager, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Program

Job Requirements

Responsible for the general direction, coordination and financial management of all therapies for a specific patient care unit/area. The Therapy Manager is the primary clinical resource for therapists within the same discipline/cluster and works in conjunction with the NurseManager to ensure the integration of all therapies and related services into the unit's patient care delivery system.

Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age, culture, ethnicity, and specific individual diagnostic needs of the patients served in his/her department. He/she must be able to assess and interpret data about the patient's status in order to identify each patient's specific needs and provide the care needed by the patient group (pediatric, adolescents and/or geriatric patient group, culture and diagnostic specific).

Consistently expresses and demonstrates compassion and courtesy for patients. Extends courtesy and support to patient's families/visitors.

• Technological Transformation- Uses change management skills to align new technologies with the organization's culture and needs of key stakeholders. Considers work structure, job design, educational needs and other necessary resources during integration. Utilizes technology to achieve optimal organizational performance.
• Diversity- Promotes an environment of respect and inclusion where multicultural employees can learn from one another, work collaboratively and achieve their full potential. Minimizes intergroup conflict by engaging in fair and supportive practices. Capitalizes on staff differences to creatively solve problems. Upholds organizational values while balancing cultural needs. Understands and applies the components of cultural competence to the workforce.
• Critical Thinking Skills- Demonstrates ability to solve problems and make decisions employing inquiry, reasoning and a results-oriented approach. Gathers, assesses, and analyzes all relevant information before generating solution options. Raises and pursues insightful, significant questions. Identifies the impact of decision on all parties affected. Independently designs actions that are perceived as fair, balanced, and ethically sound when implemented.
• Designs and implements safe labor allocations and staffing adjustments in accordance with volume, clinic activity and budgetary considerations. Evaluates skill mix and changing patient care requirements. Provides professional vigilance over competency and performance of clinical and support staff.
• Develops/integrates departmental processes that assure adequate inventory of therapeutic/diagnostic equipment, instrumentation and supplies. Communicates with Materials Management and UMMS Charge Master whenever modifications are needed for billing and supply codes. Holds self and staff accountable for accurate entry of data and charge capture.
• Serves as leader, role model, change agent, and operational manager of financial and clinical activities. Integrates service processes within operations that improve patient outcomes and exceed customer satisfaction expectations. Develops processes and procedures for departmental operations involved in delivering patient care. Holds staff accountable and monitors compliance. Serves as filter and main contact for clinical issues.
• Respect for individuals, Customer Service, Teamwork and Collaboration:
• Respect and Customer Service- Models excellence in customer service behaviors. Holds staff accountable for responding to customer requirements. Intervenes to support or additionally provide service recovery process steps as appropriate. Completes appropriate documentation. Oversees and demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age, culture, ethnicity, spirituality, and individual needs of the persons served. Consistently seeks and conveys relevant operational information, using hand-off communication approach. Assists staff to identify and address potential breeches in information management and confidentiality (HIPAA) issues.
• Collaboration & Teamwork-Understands team dynamics and cultivates an environment that enables staff to work collaboratively towards departmental/organizational goals. Sets and communicates clear expectations for the team. Develops an environment in which team members cooperate, participate in decision making, respect and support each other. Utilizes skills in providing feedback, conflict resolution and negotiation to handle interpersonal problems that occur within the team. Works collaboratively with others across boundaries to accomplish organizational goals.
• Leadership, Clinical and/or Technical Skills:
• Leadership & Management- Articulates a clear direction for the unit/department that translates into action steps and goals for staff. Influences staff to move in desired direction through delegation of tasks, removal of barriers, monitoring progress and serving as an advocate. Provides guidance to staff in setting priorities and in developing time management skills.
• Communication- Fosters a two way communication process that is transparent and ensures employees receive timely, frequent, accurate information that affects their quality of work life and condition of employment. Demonstrates an awareness of non-verbal cues and their impact on the quality of the message. Provides targeted written and verbal communications that are clear, logical, succinct and that support organizational and departmental goals.
• Relationship Management- Uses effective relationship management skills to develop trust and respect of others at all levels in the organization through words and actions. Demonstrates collaborative behaviors with peers who are interdepartmental on each other to achieve department organizational goals. Surfaces and diffuses potential sources of conflict before they escalate and negotiates solutions to problems fairly, diplomatically and that are in the best interest of the organization.
• ITG- Integrates available information technology into departmental processes to maximize departmental workload efficiencies and organizational performance. Identifies and recommends new technologies that reduce the cost of care or improve outcomes.
• Talent Management-Accurately identifies and selects qualified candidates during the recruitment process (interviewing, hiring and orientation). Employs strategies to retain talented individuals including recognition, coaching and a supportive environment. Develops and delivers timely, valuable and constructive feedback via the performance review system that includes reflective self-analysis, goal setting and action planning for improvement. Creates and delivers stretch assignments as growth opportunities for staff. Grows bench strength toward succession planning.
• Professional & Community Outreach-Provides representation of self and UMROI to professional organizations and community outreach groups to meet their needs and values that align with organizational priorities, mission, vision and values.
• Positive Employee Relations- Promotes an environment free from conduct that violates the rights of others; aligns personal behavior with mission, vision and values. Demonstrates high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness, fairness and compassion. Fosters a climate of trust. Creates a climate for growth and opportunity.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Quality and Patient Safety:
• Accountability- Acknowledges and assumes personal responsibility for improving overall departmental performance. Designs and facilitates actions that create and support a culture of personal accountability for staff. Demonstrates ownership and conveys a sense of obligation to answer for actions or results within the span of control. Enacts appropriate performance management techniques to correct staff deficiencies.
• Compliance- Is knowledgeable about pertinent regulatory, accreditation, and applicable standards (TJC, CARF, OSHA, etc). Monitors and ensures daily operational compliance with applicable standards. Contributes to the regulatory process, providing direction and vigilance to performance for area of responsibility, activity and or/project.
• Safety-Guides staff in detecting, reporting, and taking corrective safety risks. Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority. Monitors and reports suspected trends. Identifies causal factors and takes corrective measures to prevent reoccurrence as appropriate.
• Cost Effectiveness:
• Budget Management- Utilizes available financial systems and data to develop departmental budget that is aligned with the organizational goals. Maintains diligence in tracking departmental financial performance against budget targets. Recognizes sources and/or causal factors of departmental budget variances. Develops, communicates and implements prompt corrective strategies. Implements systems and review processes that assure financial stewardship (e.g. accurate charge capture for billable services and/or supplies consumed). Oversees departmental operations to improve efficiency and reduce costs when delivering services.
• Education and Research::
• Professional Growth & Development- Collaborate with leadership to create an individual development plan that identifies an individual's learning and developmental goals. This plan includes self-reflection regarding skills and career goals, training, education, and development activities (formal and informal) to acquire the competencies needed to meet identified goals. Maintains professional growth and development to keep abreast of trends and regulatory changes in area of specialty. Maintains professional affiliations, and attends outside conferences and seminars as needed and within budgetary and management approval.
• Elevates performance and competency of staff by creating, coordinating and conducting educational programs and collateral materials. Considers provisions necessary for staff to attend required in-services or meetings.
• Supports participation in organizationally approved research projects.

Work Experience

• Current certification and/or licensure as a Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Recreational Therapist, or Speech Language Pathologist
• Current certification in CPR for healthcare providers.
• Minimum of a baccalaureate degree with a specific major in occupational therapy, physical therapy, recreational therapy, speech communication or therapeutic recreation. A master's degree in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech communication or related clinical and/or administrative area is preferred.
• A minimum of three to five years professional/supervisory experience involving demonstrated competence in the clinical setting. Must have knowledge and proven performance in meeting professional standards.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to analyze financial data.
• Highly proficient skills in directing and managing the work of staff therapists, supervisory and support staff, assigning work priorities, auditing work quality, orienting, training and implementing professional standards.
• Highly effective verbal and written communication skills including courtesy, resourcefulness and efficiency in answering questions, giving directions, locating staff and explaining hospital/departmental policies and procedures are necessary. Verbal communication skills may include communicating with an interdisciplinary team, patients, and families.
• Excellent customer relations skills
• Highly effective verbal communication skills including courtesy, resourcefulness and efficiency in answering questions, giving directions, locating staff and explaining hospital/departmental policies and procedures are necessary. Verbal communication skills may include communicating with an interdisciplinary team, patients, and families. Effective writing skills are also required in order to take messages and maintain miscellaneous records, receipts, reports and logs.