Physical Therapist I - Acute Therapy

Cedars-Sinai; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles hires a Physical Therapist I to evaluate and treat patients under physician prescriptions, delivering care aligned with standards and ethics.

You will develop care plans based on evaluations, coordinate with the care team, document thoroughly, and educate patients while ensuring safety and inclusivity across diverse populations. This role supports professional development and clinical teaching within a dynamic hospital setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited program is required; master's/doctorate preferred.
• California State license for Physical Therapist (PT) is required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
• No experience required.
• Competent to perform evaluations and develop treatment plans with appropriate documentation.

Responsibilities

• Performs evaluations and develops comprehensive plans of care.
• Manages PT care and coordinates with the care team for total patient care.
• Completes documentation accurately and promptly.
• Provides patient education and discharge planning for follow-up services.
• Contributes to professional development and education of students.

Skills

Clinical reasoning

Patient education

Team collaboration

EHR proficiency

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Physical Therapy

Master's or Doctorate preferred

Job description

Job Description

The Physical Therapist I evaluates and treats patients in accordance with the prescription of the physician. Provides patient care consistent with Scope of Practice Standards and Code of Ethics; the Plan for the Provision of Care to Patients, the Plan for Corporate Compliance, the Performance Improvement Plan and Patient Education Plan. Assists in the continuous quality improvement process and in the education and training of students and assists in divisional growth and cohesiveness to ensure a high quality of therapy care. Provides care while maintaining safety of the environment, utilizing appropriate communication with sensitivity and attention to special populations, including patients with diverse cultural backgrounds, age, developmental issues and physical disabilities.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Responsible for leveraging talent, knowledge, skills, and a strong work ethic to consistently meet and exceed primary Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets, while maintaining healthy work habits.
• Performs evaluations appropriate to established procedures. Ensures there is a prescription/order for all evaluations and uses relevant test and standardized measures congruent to best practice. Develops a comprehensive plan of care that is supported by evaluation findings and prognosticate patient outcomes/progress integrating all relevant factors. Manages the physical therapy care of the patient and coordinates with others to ensure the patient receives the total care they need. Completes all required documentation in an accurate and thorough manner within the expected timeframes.
• Utilizes treatment intervention and strategies within the scope of practice and supported by established plan of care and integration of evidence-based practice to maximize patient outcomes tailored to specific patient populations.
• Provides patient education appropriate for patient population and identifies and facilitates patient discharge needs including documentation, communication with care team, and recommendation for follow-up services.
• Identifies safety concerns regarding patient population and institutes appropriate measures to provide a safe environment, including protection of self and others. Reviews identified risks and benefits of therapy and obtains consent from patient and/or caregiver.
• Provides individualized, patient-centered care with respect to personal, cultural, spiritual beliefs and preferences; age-related cognitive and psychosocial needs; social support needs; gender, sexual orientation, and economic background.
• Contributes ideas and suggestions to continuously improve processes, procedures, methods and productivity, and utilizes quality principles for continuous performance improvement.
• Participates in activities that promote professional identity within the clinical environment, the Cedars-Sinai environment and the community at large.
• Participates in professional development through clinical education, formal mentoring programs, further development of clinical and professional competencies, involvement in research and scholarly work.
• Effectively serves as a clinical instructor/mentor in accordance with specific discipline, regulatory and professional context.
• Participates in continuous learning and professional development and documents evidence.
• Contributes to conversations and activities that positively impact team dynamics, cohesion, and morale and promotes individual accountability.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy program is required. Master's or Doctorate degree is preferred.

Licenses/Certifications:

• California State license for Physical Therapist (PT) is required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.

Experience and Skills:

• No experience required.
• Must be competent by virtue of training and/or experience to perform evaluations, design and implement treatment plans and provide education in a manner appropriate to the age of the patient.
• Experience and/or knowledge of assessment and intervention techniques in a medical and physical disabilities setting.
• Working knowledge of subject matter domain areas in clinical quality, patient safety, regulatory and reimbursement context.
• Demonstrates ability to deliver safe, appropriate, ethical and evidence-based care in an effective, efficient and professional manner; incorporates feedback, self-reflection, sound clinical reasoning and problem solving to continuously improve quality of care and operational processes.
• Demonstrates good decision-making/problem solving skills. Exhibits good clinical reasoning skills and judgments in managing patients.
• Demonstrate standard computer skills, use of electronic health record, and office skills as relevant to duties.
• Must possess a minimum computer competency comprised of a working knowledge of Windows or comparable system (specifically including keyboard and mouse skills). As applicable to individual job duties and expectations, employee must additionally possess a working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, presentation development, e-mail, browser and online reporting.
• Ability to convey and/or receive written/verbal information to/from various audiences in formats.
• Ability to demonstrate time management and priority setting skills.
• Collaborates to problem solve and make decisions to achieve desired outcomes.
• Establishes effective working relationships with cross-functional team(s).
• Shares knowledge, time and expertise to assist other members of the team.
• Ensures practices and procedures are inclusive of interpersonal and cultural diversity.
• Cultivates and maintains strong customer relationships and rapport with stakeholders and/or client groups.