Physical Therapist

Provides physical therapy evaluation, management, and treatment services to patients referred by physician departments. Provides services in a manner that is consistent with departments mission statement and responsive to unique needs of customers including favorable clinical outcomes, quality of service and access, and fiscal accountability.

• Greets patient, establishes rapport, and orients patient to physical therapy.


• Conducts initial evaluation, which includes activities such as interpreting referral information, reviewing pertinent past history, documenting patient concerns, performing an appropriate examination utilizing specialized evaluation skills, initiating appropriate home exercises or dispensing appropriate equipment, establishing an initial physical therapy treatment plan, including discharge planning.


• Develops treatment plan with guidance from applicable clinical guidelines. Treatment plan should include: problem identification, measurable short-term goals to address identified problems, desired outcome result to be achieved including functional long-term goals, timetable for patient progress and discharge, resources to be utilized to address the barriers to goal attainment, resources to be utilized to promote the continuation of good health after discharge.


• Discusses treatment plan with patient and/or family to establish expectations. Communicates treatment plan with referring physician, support staff, and appropriate external payor resources through appropriate documentation and/or discussion with revisions as appropriate.


• Manages case as patient progresses through therapy with guidance from applicable clinical guidelines, and job descriptions.


• Delegates and instructs services to be rendered by clinical support staff, including, but not limited to, specific treatment procedures, precautions, special problems, or contraindicated procedures. Presents appropriate cases, as defined by established procedure, at patient conferences.


• Provides, or directs and supervises the physical therapy intervention consistent with the results of the examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, and plan of care.


• Provides timely review of treatment documentation, reevaluation of patient and patients treatment goals, and revision of treatment plan when indicated. Communicates these revisions appropriately to customers and support staff.


• Establishes discharge plan to include post-discharge activities, and documents discharge summary and status. Communicates discharge plan appropriately to customers and support staff.


• Participates in program development initiatives to include formal initiation and development of clinics and protocols that are data-driven and customized to needs of referring physician.


• Demonstrates innovation and open and flexible attitude in working with program change and addressing customer needs.


• Exercises positive listening and communication skills and is good team player as perceived by customers, supervisors, peers, and clinical and administrative support staff.


• Participates in problem solving by developing viable options which address identified problem and are consistent with departmental goals.


• Demonstrates working knowledge and appropriate application of CPT-4 codes for all services provided. Keeps abreast of coding modifications and/or definitions (e.g., attends ongoing coding training sessions).


• Demonstrates evidence of professional growth through active participation in following: quality improvement activities, patient conferences, peer review of charts, meetings, in-services, and rounds, research and teaching, continuing education courses, staff training, clinical preceptorships with students and volunteers.


• Demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to provide care and/or service appropriate to populations served.