Physical Therapist - Pediatric Acute Care

Department Overview

This position is open to a Physical Therapist. The purpose of this job/position is to function as a member of the Rehabilitation Services patient care team by providing developmental therapy evaluation and treatment for our neonatal population. Treatment includes therapy services such as neonatal/infant massage and manual therapy, NDT, non-pharmacological pain management, family/caregiver education, and various other physical modalities to promote gross and fine motor development, improve breathing mechanics, and assist patients in improving strength, endurance, mobility and flexibility. The neonatal therapist in this position would be expected to serve clients in multiple areas of Doernbecher Children's Hospital, including the Doernbecher Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Pediatric ICU, Pediatric Medical/Surgical wards, and outpatient follow-up services.

Therapists evaluate each patient referred, establish treatment goals/objectives, develop a treatment plan and implement the plan. Therapists are expected to supervise therapy interns and students, assist with other educational research activities conducted by the department or the hospital and meet hospital standards regarding documentation and productivity. This position may include weekend shifts.

Function/Duties of Position

Provides Skilled Rehabilitation Treatment

• Prioritize care needs given medical necessity, discharge plan, medical stability and appropriateness to participate in rehabilitation.
• Performs and documents skilled patient care activities, including direct treatment and caregiver/patient/family education.
• Monitors and adjusts treatment plan specific to patient progress.
• Facilitates routine patient activity plans with nursing and other caregivers.
• Updates recommendations to team regarding continuing rehabilitation needs and plan as patient’s condition and situation warrant.
• Directs, supports and provides supervision as required for PTA’s, Aides and volunteers.
• Develops and enhances patient care program and patient outcomes in specialty area.
• Documents treatment and other patient contacts in patient's medical record in compliance with DNV, OHSU, OAR’s and third-party payer criteria.

Care Coordination

• Collaborate with the patient, family and medical team in multi-disciplinary patient rounds, ensuring a common level of understanding of the patient’s rehabilitation needs, and providing recommendations for rehabilitation after discharge.
• Requests patient/family conferences as appropriate, and participates in conferences representing department, heightens awareness of and advocates for rehab needs of patient.
• Enhance patient safety both during and after hospitalization by assisting the team in problem-solving, including but not limited to fall risk reduction, prevention of contracture, implementation of structured activity for patients with cognitive impairments.
• Provides feedback and educates physicians, fellows, residents, and other health care providers about rehabilitation (including but not limited to medical necessity for skilled rehabilitation services and appropriate referrals, and expectations for rehabilitation outcome and rehabilitation service intensity at various levels of care).

Performance Improvement and Professional Development

• Maintains current knowledge of, and complies with hospital and department policies and procedures, union contracts, etc.
• Participate in ongoing professional development, mentoring and competency assessment for self and other staff. Includes but is not limited to: attending educational classes appropriate to a job development, communicates additional training needs to direct supervisor, attends staff meetings and orients new staff, cross-trains for positions in assigned or other areas.
• Assists in department quality improvement.

Department Operations

• Maintains a clean, safe and orderly environment for the patients, family and staff. Includes, but is not limited to: maintaining supplies, equipment and forms, notifying appropriate personnel when cleaning and repairing of equipment is needed following infection control policies.
• Ensures return of equipment after patient use to designated place (whether unit-owned or department-owned).
• Ensures and supports the delivery of individualized, high quality, current and evidenced based patient instructional materials; appropriate for patient condition and learning preferences.
• Ensures scheduler/manager has ongoing, current availability for scheduling.
• Responds in a timely manner to scheduling requests; both for pre-scheduling requests for work opportunity response, and same day-notice unscheduled requ