ALS/MND Clinical Research Physical Therapist

Site: The General Hospital Corporation

 

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

 

 

Job Summary

Under the general supervision of the Associate Director of Care Innovation/Physical Therapist, the ALS/MND Clinical Research Physical Therapist is responsible for clinical care of patients with ALS, SMA, and other neuromuscular diseases, as well as actively participating in ALS and other neuromuscular clinical research, within the scope of their license in Massachusetts. The ALS/MND Clinical Research Physical Therapist is familiar with Motor Neuron Diseases and Clinical Research within this population and is a member of the outpatient multidisciplinary clinical care and clinical research teams at the Sean Healey and AMG ALS Center ALS Clinic, MGH Adult SMA clinic, and the Neurological Clinical Research Institute.

 

Qualifications

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide competent, compassionate physical therapy care based on scientific principles, physical therapy knowledge/education, and clinical judgement
• Provide Physical Therapy assessment, consultation, recommendations, care coordination, PT treatment, and education to patients with ALS and other neuromuscular/neurological diseases, and their families/caregivers
• Identify, facilitate, and evaluate the outcomes of physical therapy care for individual patients or groups of patients.
• Coordinate involvement of the patient, family/caregivers, and health team members in patient care, including patient/family education, and provide and recommend resources (verbal, demonstrative, written, community) for patients and their families
• Order, in collaboration with MDs/APPs, appropriate equipment and services for patients. 
• Provide patient follow-up (including phone calls, email, and paperwork) between in-person clinical visits, including communication with patients, caregivers, and internal/external healthcare providers (PT, OT, as well as MD/NP/RN), including community outreach to outside organizations
• Participate in Virtual Visits with providers (MD/NP) as needed
• Document relevant patient information
• May require occasional visits to patient homes for clinical care or travel to clinical meetings
• Appropriately utilize physical therapy and other clinical resources to provide care
• Train and mentor other clinical staff, including PTs, as appropriate
• Participation in, and coordination of, clinical and department projects as appropriate,
• With the Associate Director of Care Innovation, actively identify needs/issues/projects and coordinate projects and plans, asking for direction as needed

RESEARCH RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform outcome measures as outlined in the protocol.  This may include any appropriate outcome measure, including but not limited to strength and other physical testing, Vital Capacity Testing, ALS Functional Rating Scale Questionnaire, Interview Questionnaires, gait and balance measures, and other tests and measures appropriate to the role
• Act as primary outcomes trainer for NCRI and MND clinic staff for outcomes measures for clinical trials and for the ALS clinic, and monitor the overall outcome process
• Act as a resource for study staff regarding outcomes and other appropriate study visit and study-related questions per GCP training, PT clinical knowledge, and outcomes measures expertise
• Coordinate and implement research studies according to the study protocols
• Collaborate with PIs and study teams on new studies to ensure timely start-up, and be available to assist the study team with the coordination of services needed to implement the study, as well as be available to assess study progress and problem-solve as needed
• Assess patient participation on a continuous basis in light of ethical considerations.  Act as a liaison between the patient/participant and other members of the team regarding patient care activities related to the protocol.
• Work with physicians, nurses, research coordinators, and patients in the selection of and participation by appropriate patients/participants
• Develop, implement, and support systems to promote efficiency, productivity, and operating systems to economize resources
• Facilitate integration of regulatory guidelines to ensure saf