PHYSICAL THERAPIST - OUTPATIENT

Insight Health Systems; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 66,124 - 68,880; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid sick time

Paid vacation time

Health, vision, and dental benefits

Short and long-term disability insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Chicago is seeking a Physical Therapist for outpatient services. You will deliver compassionate, effective care to diverse patient populations, including children, adults, and seniors. Essential responsibilities include evaluating patient needs, developing treatment plans, and educating patients on therapy interventions. Candidates must hold a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and demonstrate strong evaluation and communication skills. This full-time position offers competitive pay and a supportive work environment.

Qualifications

• Ability to interpret physician’s referrals and counsel staff on treatment.
• Demonstrated competency in performing basic evaluation procedures.
• Ability to assess mental, emotional, and cognitive status.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality care for patients of all age groups.
• Interpret patient evaluations and recommend treatment plans.
• Educate patients and families on physical therapy processes.

Skills

Patient care

Communication

Evaluation procedure skills

Treatment planning

Education

Doctor of Physical Therapy degree

Job description

Apply for the PHYSICAL THERAPIST - OUTPATIENT role at Insight Health Systems.

Insight Health Systems provided pay range

This range is provided by Insight Health Systems. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$48.00/hr - $50.00/hr

We Are Insight

At Insight Hospital and Medical Center—Chicago, we believe there is a better way to provide quality healthcare while achieving health equity. The Chicago location looks forward to working closely with our neighbors and residents, building a full‑service community hospital in the Bronzeville area of Chicago; creating a comprehensive plan to increase services and meet community needs. With a growing team dedicated to delivering world‑class service to everyone we meet, it is our mission to deliver the most compassionate, loving, expert, and impactful care in the world to our patients.

Be a part of the Insight Chicago team that provides patient care second to none! If you would like to be a part of our future team, please apply now.

Short Summary

Under the administrative direction of Rehab Services and Occupational Medicine, and the direct supervision of the Physical Therapy Supervisor, the Physical Therapist provides care appropriate to the age of children and adolescents (8‑18 years); adults (19‑60 years); and geriatric adults (61 years to the end of life). The therapist also provides community education on physical therapy topics and educates hospital personnel, working with Physical Therapist Assistants and other qualified department staff.

These duties are performed in a highly confidential manner, following the mission, values, and behaviors of Insight Hospital and Medical Center. Employees are expected to provide a high quality of care, service, and kindness toward all patients, staff, physicians, volunteers, and guests.

Evaluation

• Demonstrates ability to interpret physician’s referrals.
• Can identify precautions and contraindications in frequently referred diagnoses.
• Able to counsel the staff on specific physicians’ treatment philosophies.
• Acts as a resource to physicians in recommending appropriate physical therapy interventions.
• Provides resource material regarding the interventions to medical personnel and PT staff when appropriate.
• Obtains all pertinent information from the patient or patient chart before initial evaluation including past medical history, and present medical or surgical interventions.
• Consults with the physician and nurse for further clarification as needed.
• Consults with the supervisor when appropriate.
• Chooses and applies appropriate evaluation procedures as defined by each unit.
• Demonstrates competency and accuracy in performing basic evaluation procedures on a frequently referred diagnosis.
• Demonstrates ability to assess general mental, emotional, and cognitive status in frequently referred cases.
• Obtains current subjective information from the patient including the patient’s understanding of their diagnosis, chief symptoms/complaints, status before diagnosis, functional limitations, previous treatment, and social history.
• Independently sets and documents measurable short‑term and long‑term goals for all diagnoses based on evaluation data for frequently referred diagnoses.
• Completes Physical Therapist evaluations for Physical Therapy Assistants before delegating them to the Physical Therapy Assistant.
• Identifies and documents precautions, special problems, contraindications, goals, anticipated progress, and plans for re‑evaluation.
• Re‑evaluates and modifies plan of care and goals when necessary.

Plans and implements patient treatments

• Reviews chart and/or obtains current information before each treatment session and usually recognizes information that may require necessary modification of Physical Therapy treatment.
• Seeks guidance from appropriate personnel.
• Incorporates data obtained into a treatment session.
• Utilizes subjective and objective evaluation results to plan a treatment program appropriate to the diagnosis or disability.
• Progresses treatment promptly for frequently referred diagnoses.
• Acts as a resource for Physical Therapy Assistants.
• Evaluates patient response to treatment and revises goals, treatment, and plan as appropriate.
• Recognizes abnormal physiological and psychological changes and reports these to appropriate personnel.
• Seeks guidance for questionable situations and documents incidences with assistance.
• Instructs patient, health care provider, and family regarding patient’s participation in a physical therapy program.
• Involves patients and families as appropriate in treatment planning and discharge.
• Includes physical therapy recommendations for discharge.
• Recommends necessary durable medical equipment or other therapeutic devices that promote optimal functioning and patient safety.
• Utilizes appropriate modalities that include but are not limited to heat, cold, light, water, sound, and electricity.
• Utilizes therapeutic exercise and mobilization as well as exercise equipment.
• Can present rationale for selection of a particular procedure.
• Participates in individual patient care conferences, team conferences, clinics, and rounds to coordinate patients’ plans of care.
• Makes a concise verbal report regarding the patient’s status when requested.
• Incorporates safety, infection control, and emergency procedures into the patient’s treatment. Uses universal fluid precautions at all times.

Administrative and Organizational duties

• Has a thorough knowledge of policies and procedures.
• Frequently refers to Policy & Procedure Manual in carrying out job responsibilities.
• With occasional guidance, organizes their schedule that reflects a “Patients 1st” philosophy.
• Rearranges schedule, coordinates with peers ask for assistance when necessary.
• Carries a patient load that reflects the productivity standard of the unit.
• Demonstrates appropriate written communication:
  • Is responsible for electronic documentation that includes but is not limited to initial evaluations, progress notes, home programs, discharge summaries, statistical reporting, charges, and interdisciplinary forms.
  • Maintains timely and accurate department records according to departmental policies and procedures.
  • Informs supervisor if paperwork gets behind.
  • Documentation meets the standards of the department, outside regulatory agencies, and insurance agencies.
  • With assistance, completes variance reports.

Participation in Performance Improvement

• Participates in the process to review current clinical procedures, protocols, and forms.
• Makes recommendations for change.
• Completes clinical competencies as determined by the unit.
• May participate as a member of a quality improvement team.

Departmental Administration

• Attends unit and departmental meetings unless formally excused. Reports to meetings on a timely basis.
• Makes recommendations for new equipment needs of the department. Provides credible support data and literature to justify equipment need, benefit, and cost.
• Appropriately delegates responsibilities to support personnel and Physical Therapy Assistants.

Supervisor Communication

• Informs supervisor about significant developments in the following areas: unusual patient or physician problems, equipment problems, incidents of injury to patient or self.
• Serves as a department representative on patient care teams as requested.
• Checks that department equipment is in working condition and meet safety standards before use in treatment.
• Reports defective equipment to supervisor promptly and initiates work orders as appropriate.Utilizes hospital equipment and supplies cost‑effectively and respectfully.
• Maintains a clean work environment.

Educational Responsibilities

• Identifies own learning needs and searches out educational experiences to meet own needs.
• Attends hospital orientation.
• Attends 65% of the departmental services offered.
• Meets department and accreditation standards for documentation of attended in‑services and continuing education courses including hospital fire, safety, and infection control.
• Documents attendance on the professional education record.
• Attends at least 20 hours of continuing education per year.
• Seeks to stay current on issues involving Physical Therapy (i.e. reads journals, researches clinical questions, attends APTA functions).
• Maintains current CPR certification according to department policy.
• Participates in one patient or community education program (including but not limited to scoliosis screening, back school, career days, job fairs, PT week, arthritis program, outpatient pulmonary rehab program, clinical partner, collegiate nurses, transportation tech training).

Communication Skills

• Demonstrates appropriate verbal communication: Establishes rapport with patients and families, explains reasons for therapy interventions to the patient, and instructs and answers any questions.
• Gives, receives, and validates information in a clear, concise, and timely manner.
• Recognizes the effects of nonverbal communication upon others and adjusts posture, facial expressions, and mannerisms to meet situational needs.
• Cope with own emotional responses when the behavior of the patient becomes difficult (frightening, embarrassing, or angry).
• Maintains an appropriate professional distance from the patients without sacrificing compassion and concern. Displays courtesy and respect to others.
• Maintains HIPAA compliance and does not discuss confidential information about patients except in a private area and only when there is a need for clinical assistance.
• Demonstrates openness to other points of view or approaches to patient problems.
• Identifies possible conflicts and works to achieve positive outcomes.

Written Communication

• Maintains written communication that is legible, concise, accurate, and written to the level of the reader.
• Maintains timely and accurate department records according to departmental policies and procedures.
• Informs supervisor immediately if paperwork gets behind.

Additional Responsibilities

• Follows directions given by supervisor or director and asks questions at an appropriate time or place. Is receptive to constructive feedback. Seeks feedback regarding performance.
• The individual’s disposition, temperament, and reactions are consistent with the philosophy that the patient’s welfare is the prime objective.
• Is supportive verbally of the hospital, department, and co‑workers.
• Demonstrates a willingness to meet departmental rotational needs. Adjusts schedule when needed.
• Actively participates in finding solutions to identified problems.
• Anticipates the needs of co‑workers and takes the initiative to respond.
• Adheres to departmental policies and procedures regarding attendance and absenteeism.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Paid Sick Time – effective 90 days after employment.
• Paid Vacation Time – effective 90 days after employment.
• Health, vision & dental benefits – eligible at 30 days, following the 1st of the following month.
• Short and long‑term disability and basic life insurance – after 30 days of employment.

Insight Employees are required to be vaccinated for COVID‑19 as a condition of employment, subject to accommodation for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs.

Insight is an equal opportunity employer and values workplace diversity!

Seniority Level

Entry level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Health Care Provider

Industries

Hospitals and Health Care