Intern, Physical Therapy

tuftsmedicine; United States; On-site; USD 20,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Tufts Medicine is offering a year‑long internship in physical therapy designed to bridge the credentialed Doctor of Physical Therapy program with entry‑level practice. The internship spans a September start, NPTE after January, and licensure progression through February to August under licensed PT supervision in Massachusetts.

During the first 14 weeks, interns gain hands‑on clinical learning, progressing to entry‑level competencies.

Qualifications

• Active Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Successful completion of CE I and CE II.
• In good academic standing with no program concerns for graduation.

Responsibilities

• Assesses, re-assesses & treats a variety of diagnoses with professional competency and efficiency to ensure quality patient care.
• Assesses & re-assesses patient pain and develops appropriate treatment plans to maximize functional outcomes.
• Interacts professionally with patient/family and involves them in the plan of care; develops a teaching plan considering learning, culture and psychosocial needs.
• Sets realistic short- and long-term goals and plans for care related to musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and integumentary systems.
• Communicates clearly with patients, families, physicians, staff and all other customer groups.
• When licensed, supervises and educates students, PT aides and rehab staff per MA supervision law.
• Maintains timely documentation in the medical record for all patients treated to support communication and reimbursement.
• Contributes to department operations, adheres to billing guidelines, insurance limits, and other dept processes.
• Prepares department for JCAHO surveys and participates in quality improvement activities.

Skills

BLS certification

Clinical experience

Education

Doctor of Physical Therapy program (credentialed)

CE I

CE II

Academic standing

Job description

Job Profile Summary

This role focuses on assessing the needs of patients who have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities and delivering therapy services to improve their developmental, physical or cognitive impairment . In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Physical Therapy duties: Provides services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. Examines patient's medical history, evaluates their physical abilities, determines their potential to respond to therapy, and develops treatment plans . An organizational related support or service (administrative or clerical) role or a role that focuses on support of daily business activities (e.g., technical, clinical, non-clinical) operating in a "hands on" environment . The majority of time is spent in the delivery of support services or activities, typically under supervision . An entry level role that typically requires little to no prior knowledge or experience, work is routine or follows standard procedures, work is closely supervised, and communicates information that requires little explanation or interpretation.

Job Overview

This position is a year-long internship which spans the final student clinical experience through licensure and early practice to provide a seamless transition to entry-level practice under mentorship. The typical timeline will have the intern start in September, graduate from the credentialed Doctor of Physical Therapy program in January, take the January National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) and continue as a licensed intern from February through August. The intern is able to work under supervision of a licensed physical therapist according to Massachusetts state law title XVI, Chapter 112, section 23C.

The first 14 weeks of the internship will entail progressive hands-on learning in the clinical setting with progression to entry level competencies by week 14. Subsequently, the intern will be expected to perform job duties conforming to that of an entry level physical therapist.

The entry level physical therapy evaluates, develops and implements specific treatment programs for individual patients according to the principles and practices of physical therapy. The therapist will be educated in evaluating and treating across the life span to help patients achieve a maximum level of function using various therapeutic exercises, activities, modalities and skills. The therapist is responsible for documenting all age-appropriate patient care treatments in the medical record to comply with the policy and procedures of the department, organization and JCAHO requirements. The staff member will act as a liaison with other disciplines for problem-solving issues that arise related to clinical therapy services. May provide physical therapy coverage on a rotating basis for weekends and holidays dependent on operational need.

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications

1. In good academic standing, no program concerns for graduation or CE III.
2. Successful completion of CE I and CE II.
3. Active certification in Basic Life Support (BLS)

Preferred Qualifications

1. Prior clinical experience in the intern's preferred setting or subspecialty.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Assesses, re-assesses & treats a variety of diagnoses with a high degree of professional competency & efficiency to ensure quality patient care; Able to evaluate & treat pediatric, adolescent, geriatric & the general population.
2. Assesses & re-assesses patient pain and develops appropriate treatment plan to assist patient in attaining maximum functional outcomes.
3. Interacts professionally with patient/family and involves patient/family in the formation of plan of care; formulates a teaching plan based upon identified learning, cultural and psychosocial needs.
4. Sets realistic short- and long-term goals and plan of care related to patient's physical therapy needs within the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and integumentary systems.
5. Communicates clearly and appropriately to patients, families, physicians, staff and all other customer groups.
6. Once licensed, supervises and educates students, physical therapy assistants and rehab aides according to MA supervision law.
7. Maintains and completes proper and timely documentation in the medical record for all patients treated to promote communication to physicians and to ensure proper reimbursement.
8. Contributes to the department to ensure that the operations are efficient and cost effective; adheres to billing guidelines, charges, insurance limitation & all other departmental operations.
9. Prepares department for JCAHO surveys and participates in quality improvement activitie