Physical Therapist Clinical Specialist

Physical Therapist Clinical Specialist – Full Time

Company: JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute
Location: North Bergen, New Jersey

Provides physical therapy treatment and education to inpatients and outpatients. Assists in the education and development of departmental and other hospital staff.

• Performs physical therapy assessment and evaluations on a daily basis, on‑going re‑assessment and administers physical therapy treatment to patients in conjunction with a licensed care practitioner authorized to prescribe treatment.
• Implements daily treatment modalities which may include exercise, heat, light, ultrasound, water, electricity, massage, gait training, balance training and other rehabilitation techniques.
• Provides daily patient and family education programs and assistance in exercise programs and goal setting.
• Uses a multidisciplinary approach in executing patient treatment; coordinates with Case Management, Nursing and Physicians to participate in timely discharge and continuation of treatment upon hospital discharge.
• Provides in‑service programs for Physical Therapy Staff.
• Organizes Journal Club for Rehab In‑service program.
• Serves as clinical resource for junior staff.
• Provides in‑service programs for Nursing and other ancillary staff on equipment use, transfer training and body mechanics.
• Monitors equipment use for safety and wear and tear in the department.
• Ensures delivery of excellent customer service resulting in positive and improving patient satisfaction scores for the department and Medical Center.
• Guides departmental support personnel on a daily basis.
• Prepares daily schedules for inpatients and outpatients.
• Attends hospital and department in‑service program as required.
• Assists the Director in developing and implementing a Quality Improvement Program in Physical Therapy.
• Performs educational in‑service for both department and hospital staff.
• Attends continuing education programs outside the hospital to maintain professional competence.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Masters Degree in Physical Therapy with Clinical Specialist Certification through the APTA or Doctorate in Physical Therapy from an accredited program with two years clinical experience.
• Prior acute care and outpatient experience required.
• Ability to read and concentrate frequently to check accuracy of reports, correspondence, computer records, etc.
• Ability to read, understand, analyze and interpret policies and procedures.
• Ability to deal with stress of public interactions, frequent interruptions and multitasking.
• Flexibility to respond to changes in priorities, special project assignments and emergency situations.
• Applies principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions to provide effective patient care.

• BLS AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification.
• Physical Therapist License.

• General office conditions.
• Extensive employee and outside contacts.
• High stress.
• Works indoors in a well‑lit and ventilated area.
• Possibility of cuts or minor burns from instruments and equipment.
• Some direct exposure to contagion, but risk is minimal when proper safety precautions are observed.
• Possibility of strains due to moving patients (or objects).
• Requires substantial standing, walking, stooping and lifting.
• Willingness to work with realization that errors and incompetency may have serious consequences to patient.
• Long periods of sitting with frequent standing or moving to other areas to retrieve or return documents.
• Requires periods of keying on computer terminal to input information.
• Requires constant verbal communication in person or using the phone.
• Requires frequent reading of correspondence, reports, material, etc.
• Frequently lifts objects from 10–150 lbs.
• Frequently lifts with assistance objects greater than 150 lbs.
• Frequently carries objects weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Frequently pushes objects up to 500 lbs with assistance from others.

Minimum hourly rate: $44.33 (actual salary may vary based on experience, qualifications, market and other factors). Ongoing benefits include health, dental, vision, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits.

Hackensack Meridian Health is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding, genetic information, refusal to submit to a genetic test or make available to an employer the results of a genetic test, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, national origin, nationality, ancestry, disability, marital status, liability for military service, or status as a protected veteran.