Outpatient Physical Therapist-Full-time

Northwestern Medicine; Naperville (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Medicine is seeking a licensed Physical Therapist in Illinois to provide direct patient care, teach, and participate in department processes. The role emphasizes teamwork, compliance with ethics and standards, and continuous improvement in service delivery.

Responsibilities include patient assessments, treatment planning, documenting progress, and collaboration with clinicians and staff to optimize outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in physical therapy is required.
• Illinois licensure as a physical therapist is required.
• BLS certification within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care and participate in education and committees.
• Demonstrate NM values in daily work and interactions.
• Document assessments, re-evaluations, and discharge summaries.

Skills

Patient care

Clinical education

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Physical Therapy

Licensed Physical Therapist in Illinois

Tools

BLS Certification

Job description

Description

The Physical Therapist SL reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Physical Therapist SL is a licensed physical therapist who complies with the Code of Ethics/Standards of Practice as outlined by their professional organization and by the State of Illinois. The position includes direct patient care, teaching, participation on appropriate committees and departmental process improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Serves as a role model for all therapists and clinical interns in all aspects of professional, clinical, communication, education and leadership activities.
• Demonstrates the four NM values of teamwork, patients first, integrity, and excellence in daily work and interactions.
• Presents a friendly, approachable, professional demeanor and appearance.
• Provides accurate information and timely updates to patients and customers.
• Addresses questions and concerns promptly, or identifies appropriate person and resources to do so.
• Provides directions to help to patients and customers with finding their way.
• Uses effective service recovery skills to solve problems or service breakdowns when they occur.
• Demonstrates teamwork by helping co-workers within and across departments.
• Communicates effectively with others, respects diverse opinions and styles, and acknowledges the assistance and contributions of others.
• Uses organizational and unit/department resources efficiently.
• Manages work schedule efficiently, completing tasks and assignments on time.
• Contributes to opportunities and processes for continuous improvement.
• Participates in efforts to reduce costs, streamline work processes, improve and grow services we provide.
• Demonstrates creative problem solving and diversity when adapting the treatment to special circumstances as evidence by team feedback and documentation. (RE cards, thank you notes).
• Demonstrates essential skill competencies in selecting the appropriate evaluation in the use of treatment modalities, equipment and protocols.
• Performs re-evaluations according to department guidelines, adjusting the treatment plan accordingly.
• Evidenced by chart review.
• Assumes complete responsibility over the course of physical therapist patient management from the time of initial contact to discharge for functional progress, safety and treatment outcome as evidenced by team feedback and documentation.
• Adheres to department policy regarding evaluations, progress notes, and discharge summaries. All notes are legible.
• Completes daily notes that reflect patients response to treatment, actual performance, and an assessment as to status, relevant to the treatment plan and eventual discharge needs as evidenced by chart review, meeting all JCAHO documentation requirements (e.g. allows other therapists to continue treatment, allows for interpretation by payers, supports reimbursement).
• Provides educational materials and methods appropriate to the patient’s level of understanding and motivation as evidenced by chart review, observation and team feedback.
• Participates in committees, department processes and special projects in accordance with clinical expertise and individual performance plan.
• Works to develop and maintain physician relations through phone communication, shadowing, marketing visits, and rounds/surgery observation.
• Creates a culture of respectful communication by listening, asking for team member input, open and honest conversation, approachability, and timely acknowledgement of individual and team contributions as evidence by huddles/staff meetings, RE cards, and thank you notes.
• Accepts constructive feedback and is able to make timely changes as evidenced by written coaching forms/chart audits and team feedback.
• Completes new evaluations and discharge follow up phone calls to support patient satisfaction goals.
• Proactively completes non-patient care responsibilities within established timelines (coverage notes, PTO/schedule change requests, bonus pay forms, and follow up phone calls).
• Contributes to educational efforts of department/clinic (e.g. in-services, journal clubs, new hire orientation, PI).
  • Minimal Expectation: inservice from continuing education course and/or leading one article review.
• Proactively acts as a clinical instructor to students, observers, interns.
  • Minimum Expectation: is one student/intern per year.
• Score may be based on quality of experience as rated thought student evaluation.
• Maintains both patients/day and billable time unit standards set by department and makes efficient use of non-billable time.
• Demonstrates willingness to flex schedule to meet patient care needs, quarterly staff meetings and department specific meetings outside of normal work hours.

AA/EOE.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelors Degree in Physical Therapy.
  • Graduates prior to January 1, 2002, the applicant's curriculum shall have a minimum of 120 semester hours that shall include a minimum of 50 semester hours credit in general education and at least the following subject areas in professional education (a minimum of 57 semester hours required):
    • Basic Health Sciences (Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Kinesiology, Neurology, Psychology).
    • Clinical Sciences to include, but not limited to the major areas of: Medicine or Surgery. Physical therapy theory and application, including therapeutic exercise, evaluation procedures, physical agents, mechanical modalities, electrotherapy, massage, orthotics and prosthetics, and professional issues.
    • Clinical Education a minimum of 800 clock hours.
  • Graduates after January 1, 2002 must have a minimum of a master's degree in physical therapy.
• Licensed Physical Therapist in State of Illinois.
• BLS within 30 days of hire.

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events.

Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings.

If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.