Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital - (PRN/ 19 hours per week: Mon - Thurs) Working mostly with Total Joints
At Houston Methodist, the Physical Therapist II (PT II) position is responsible for evaluating and developing the therapy plan of care for a broad range of diagnoses and acuities. This position may specialize in care for certain complex patient types through advanced training and education. As an experienced therapist, the position provides education to patients, their family members, and/or caregivers, and collaborates with other interprofessional team members as needed for problem resolution and achievement of identified patient‑specific goals. The PT II delivers patient care directly, ensuring adherence to safety standards and guidelines to achieve optimal patient safety, customer service, and outcomes. The role serves as preceptor, mentor, and resource to less experienced staff, including other therapists and technicians, and may act as a clinical resource to students and clinical fellows. The PT II assists with the collection of quality metrics and analytics and the development of best practices and process improvement initiatives.
FLSA Status: Non‑exempt
Qualifications
Education
- Graduate of an education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certifications, Licenses and Registrations section.
Experience
- Two years of experience as a Physical Therapist; or completion of HM or comparable Physical Therapy Residency program.
Licenses and Certifications
- BLS – Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) – American Heart Association.
- PT – Physical Therapist – State Licensure – Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation_PSV with the Texas Board of Examiners. Compact license acceptable according to current ECPTOTE requirements.
Skills and Abilities
- Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.
- Proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English necessary to perform essential functions, especially regarding patient or employee safety or security.
- Effective communication with patients, physicians, family members, and co‑workers in a manner consistent with customer service focus and positive language principles.
- Strong assessment, organizational, and problem‑solving skills, demonstrated by the capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components.
- Exposes increasing expertise and executes experienced clinical skills for a particular patient population.
- Exhibits strong interpersonal, teamwork, and leadership skills with all healthcare team levels and ensures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians, and co‑workers.
- Functions independently, capable of handling challenging or difficult therapy procedures and patient care situations.
- Demonstrates sound judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team and patients and their families.
- Proficient computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems and standard rehabilitation equipment.
- Professional and technical competence in selecting, evaluating, and utilizing treatment plans for increasingly complex patient populations.
Essential Functions
People Essential Functions
- Contributes to teamwork, consistently offering assistance and responding positively to requests for assistance. Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment. Offers guidance to interprofessional health care team when appropriate and applies feedback to improve patient outcomes.
- Uses therapeutic communication, which includes active listening and teaching, to establish a relationship with patients, families, and interprofessional health care team to collaborate on the plan of care. Partners with team members by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data comprehensively.
- Teaches and provides guidance to nursing and support staff. Orients new team members and assists with precepting students in clinical rotations and clinical fellows. Uses peer‑to‑peer accountability toward improvement of department score for employee engagement.
Service Essential Functions
- Performs complete and comprehensive evaluation of patients across a broad range of diagnoses and acuities to identify the patient’s level of function and to determine the treatment plan. Develops and implements the physical therapy treatment plan. Provides service to complex patient populations.
- Provides education to patients, patient’s family members, and/or caregivers based on learning needs. Consistently evaluates the patient’s comprehension and adapts teaching methods accordingly. Serves as a resource to clinical fellows and nursing in teaching best practices.
- Collaborates and communicates with the healthcare team to modify the patient’s treatment plan, progress, and discharge planning to achieve identified patient‑specific goals. Advocates on patient/family behalf to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns, utilizing appropriate resources.
- Balances and adjusts as needed the caseload for the assigned team members to result in optimum patient care and outcome. Initiates improvements for department score on patient satisfaction through peer‑to‑peer accountability to service standards.
Quality/Safety Essential Functions
- Assesses patients regularly, monitors progress toward treatment goals, modifies goals, and plans or programs as indicated. Recognizes complications or limitations associated with certain procedures and proactively addresses them for optimum outcomes.
- Provides selective oversight of physical therapy–related activities provided by interprofessional health care team, and if necessary, adjusts the plan to improve quality of outcome and maintain patient safety.
- Proactively identifies opportunities for corrective action and assists in process improvement by providing recommendations and contributing to meeting department and hospital targets for quality and safety. Identifies practice improvement areas with research‑based evidence and assists in development of treatment protocols and best practice for certain populations or practice areas to achieve patient safety outcomes, supported by accurate documentation.
Finance Essential Functions
- Maintains accurate and complete documentation of patient education and procedures performed in a timely manner in the patient record. Enters accurate charges for services provided, as applicable.
- Uses resources efficiently to maximize utilization of time and equipment. Self‑motivated to independently manage time effectively, minimizing incidental overtime, and prioritizing daily tasks, assisting coworkers as needed. Meets labor productivity standards by effectively managing established patient load assignments.
Growth/Innovation Essential Functions
- Initiates innovative solutions through evidence‑based practice/performance improvement projects. Actively participates in and may lead department projects and/or hospital committees. Participates in HM‑related and approved hospital/community teaching opportunities, community services, and/or functions.
- Identifies and presents areas for innovation, efficiency, and improvement in patient care or unit operations using evidence‑based practice literature. Assists higher‑level PTs with program development and/or clinical competencies.
- Seeks opportunities to identify self‑development needs and expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development as a Physical Therapist, taking appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an ongoing basis.
Supplemental Requirements
Work Attire
- Uniform: No
- Scrubs: Yes
- Business professional: No
- Other (department approved): Yes
On‑Call*
*Note that employees may be required to be on‑call during emergencies (i.e., Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc.) regardless of selection below.
Travel**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**
- May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area – No
- May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area – No