Physical Therapist - Lead - HOT JOB

Pay Range:

SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. We see our employees as our strongest assets. It is our priority to further their development and our organization by aiding in their professional advancement.

Working at SEARHC is more than a job, it’s a fulfilling career. We offer generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health insurance, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance and long and short-term disability, and more.

Key Essential Functions and Accountabilities of the Job

• Provides general physical therapy evaluations and treatments to a wide range of ages with widely varying diagnoses and issues

• Serves as the operational lead for the rehabilitation clinic, coordinating day-to-day clinic activities and addressing operational barriers that may impact patient care, staff efficiency, patient access, or clinic performance.

• Partners with scheduling, clinic operations, and leadership teams to minimize disruptions to patient access and continuity of care.

• Monitors clinic capacity, patient access needs, and operational workflows and recommends improvements to enhance efficiency and service delivery.

• Serves as the primary operational liaison for temporary providers and travelers, facilitating orientation, communication, and operational support.

• Provides summary reports, operational metrics, and performance data as requested by leadership to support clinic planning and decision-making.

• Responsible for ordering supplies and coordinating equipment needs necessary for ongoing clinic operations. Works with the Division Director to identify, prioritize, and justify capital equipment requests.

• Participates in quality improvement initiatives designed to enhance patient access, operational efficiency, patient experience, and rehabilitation services delivery.

• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

• Provides assessment, performs evaluation, identifies therapy diagnosis, formulates therapy treatment plan with goals and implements physical therapy treatment of PT services to patients.

• Implements, supervises and modifies a therapy plan of care based on assessment of patient response to optimize the outcome for each patient.

• Reviews clinical records and case histories. Attends care conferences, regular meetings/rounds and remains in contact with referring providers and other health care professionals to review patient’s status and individual needs within the health care team concept. 

• Collaborates with other team members to assure appropriate medical equipment is arranged and care plan is established prior to discharge. 

• Documents patients’ encounter findings and treatments including diagnoses, treatment plan, recommendations, and prognoses in appropriate format according to SEARHC policies.

• Provides services in a timely manner and according to regulatory requirements. 

• Works with in-patient and out-patient populations in various settings as assigned. 

• Directs the work of support staff, students or interns.  

• Develops, implements, and conducts patient education and therapy programs based on patient and/or family needs. Provides patients and families clear and concise home exercise programs to achieve the fullest rehabilitative potential.  Ensures that these instructions are understood by asking for feedback and return demonstration of programs by patient or caregivers

• Advises patients and family members in methods that facilitate a capacity for self-care and independence, facilitating movement towards a healthcare partnership between providers, the patients and their families. 

• Creates home programs that are clear and concise and ensures that these instructions are understood by asking for feedback and demonstration of programs by patient or caregivers.

• Assists in acquisition and fit of durable medical equipment/devices based on needs of patient. Communicates with supervisor and/or DME provider to measure, fit, and deliver equipment and keep stocked at appropriate levels.

• Maintains cleanliness of clinical space. Educates staff on PT-related issues and educates patient/family about their functional limitations regarding their injury or diagnosis, as well as how to obtain desired goals with therapeutic exercises, activities and equipment.

• Provides therapy consultation, presentations, and in-services to medical staff, consultants, and other interdisciplinary health care personnel and patient populations regarding therapy services as assigned.  • •

• Adheres to the regulatory and practice standards of PT set by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).  

• Follows all SEARHC confidentiality and quality assurance standards; participates in SEARHC SQM functions, utilizes SQM principles in all aspects of the job. • •

• Other duties as assigned.

Education, Certifications, and Licenses Required

• Entry level qualifying master’s or doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited program OR Graduate from an APTA approved program of Physical Therapy at the master's or bachelor’s level with 2 years proven work and Continuing Education experience that indicates applicant has mastered the knowledge base that would typically be taught in a Doctorate program - required

• Licensed as a Physical Therapist - required

• Valid Driver’s license. - required

• Basic Life Support certification - required within 30 days of hire

• Clinical Competency required within 3 months of hire and subsequently every three years •

• High Risk Competency required within 3 months of hire and subsequently every three years

Experience Required

• Broad-based clinical experience in multiple settings - preferred.

Knowledge of

• Knowledge of musculoskeletal physiology including active/passive range of motion, gait, strength, biomechanics and mental cognition in order to administer a variety of standardized assessments, being able to select the most appropriate test for a specific client and implement treatments accordingly.

• Knowledge of the neuro system and how to assess neuro-related issues that cause musculoskeletal changes, and how to treat them effectively, and when it is appropriate to refer to other health care providers.

• Knowledge in general medical conditions, and ability to refer patients to the appropriate provider when the limitations they present with are not musculoskeletal in nature or require further evaluation.

• Knowledge in various techniques for providing sound assessments, evaluations, treatment planning, and treatments for patients presenting with various diagnoses and functional deficits among the general population.

• Knowledge of various regulations and practice standards as they relate to PT including billing mechanisms (Medicaid, Medicare and third-party payers) that may be available for patient equipment and services.

Skills in

• Skills to utilize, properly fit and train patients with adaptive devices.  Including but not limited to splints, braces, orthoses, seating equipment, durable medical equipment and ADL assistive device

• Skills in expressing self clearly and effectively in written and spoken communication in documentation of written reports, client progress notes, narrative summaries, as well as in training clinical and non-clinical staff; consulting with upper management, outside agencies, organizations, and subordinates; networking with other providers in the community; and proficient in public speaking.

• Demonstrates skills utilizing information technology.  Proficiency with computers including multiple software applications.  Able to interface with multiple programs.  Uses technologies such as laptops, tablets and imaging devices.

Ability to

• Must have the ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, teachers, community members and non-PT service professionals, persons of any level of understanding. Including the ability to translate complex PT service diagnoses, evaluations, and therapies into simple oral and written language that others can understand.

• Must have the physical ability to deliver treatment techniques and assist patient mobility while keeping patients and self-safe.

• Must have the ability to exercise sound judgment in all aspects of employment such as patient care, workplace safety and employee relations. 

Required Certifications:

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!