Physical Therapist & Staff Researcher-Full Time

RHI Rehab; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer match

Tuition reimbursement program

Opportunity to work for a nationally/\

Meaningful work that directly supports

Job summary

Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana (RHI) in Indianapolis, IN, seeks a Physical Therapist & Staff Researcher for a full-time outpatient role. You will provide PT services and participate in Locomotor Recovery Laboratory research, with about 20 hours per week dedicated to research activities.

Responsibilities include evaluating inpatients/outpatients, developing treatment plans, ensuring medical necessity, and communicating with the care team.

Qualifications

• Must have a Physical Therapy degree from an accredited program.
• IN state Physical Therapist license required.
• CPR certification per AHA standards or ability to obtain within 4 weeks.

Responsibilities

• Administer PT evaluations for inpatients and outpatients and plan appropriate treatment.
• Develop a treatment plan aligned with goals, age-related needs, and referring practitioner input.
• Ensure medical necessity and use evidence-based treatments and outcome measures.
• Communicate treatment plan updates to team and participate in team conferences.
• Provide direct patient care and family instruction, minimizing risks to patients.
• Participate in research activities ~20 hours per week; contribute to locomotor recovery studies.
• Engage in extramurally funded research on interventions affecting locomotion and recovery.

Skills

IN PT license

CPR certification

Education

Physical Therapy degree

Job description

Physical Therapist &Staff Researcher - Full Time (Outpatient) – Rehabilitation Hospital

(Indianapolis, IN)

Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana (RHI) is nationally ranked among the Best Hospitals for Rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report (2025–2026) and has been named the Best Rehabilitation Hospital in Indiana for three consecutive years.

RHI provides high-quality, evidence-based rehabilitation services to individuals facing life-changing injuries and illnesses. We specialize in brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, and complex medical conditions, serving patients ages 15 and older. RHI is the only Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Model System in Indiana and one of only 16 nationwide.

Position Summary

Under management direction,this position serves a dual role as a direct PT caregiver and a clinical research Physical therapist. Physical Therapist provides Physical Therapy services for a physical medicine rehabilitation population and long-term acute carepopulation from age 15 and older, including but not limited to evaluation, therapeutic exercise, and modalityapplication, under the referral of a physician or qualified non-physician practitioner.

Key Responsibilities

• Administers P.T. evaluations to inpatients and outpatients and determines appropriate treatment
  programs and/or equipment needs, integrating age-specific needs and issues for physical medicine
  rehabilitation population.
• Develops a treatment plan based upon the evaluation, patient goals, age-related issues/needs, and
  goals established by the therapist and referring practitioner to optimize treatment and recovery of
  patients.
• Responsible for assuring the treatment plan supports medical necessity and incorporates
  evidence-based treatments and outcome measures.
• Responsible for assuring the treatment plan is
  revised/updated appropriately and communicated to appropriate team members, including attendance at
  team conference.
• Performs direct patient care services and necessary family instruction, and utilizes appropriate
  techniques and procedures to avoid or minimize accidents and injury related to unsafe practice.
• Employee will participate in research activities as directed by the Director, Locomotor Recovery
  Laboratory an average of 20 hours per week. Schedule will be determined by demand.
• Will participate in extramurally funded research that examines the effects of specific interventions on the
  adaptive properties of human locomotion and functional recovery, ranging from the identification of
  basic neurophysiological mechanisms to clinical applications following neurological injury.

Qualifications / Experience

• Must possess a Physical Therapy degree from an accredited program.
• Physical Therapist IN state license required.
• Speech-Language Pathologist IN state license required.
• Must have current CPR certification in accordance with AHA standards or be able to obtain within 4 weeks of start date.
• One (1) year experience with adult physical rehabilitation preferred.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation package.
• 401(k) with employer match.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Opportunity to work for a nationally recognized rehabilitation hospital.
• Meaningful work that directly supports patient care and recovery.

-Equal Opportunity Employer-

The Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic.