Community health is about more than just vaccines and checkups. It’s about giving people the resources they need to live their best lives; this is our vision. At Neighborhood, we are Better Together. As a private, non-profit, community health organization, we serve 355,930 medical, dental, and behavioral health visits from 76,630 people annually. We do this in pursuit of our mission:

ROLE OVERVIEW and PURPOSE

The Physical Therapist works to support the mission and vision of Neighborhood Healthcare (NHC) by providing participants rehabilitative physical therapy treatment. This role will provide clinical physical therapy evaluations and treatment plans for program participants, on an acute restorative or maintenance level. In addition, this role will integrate physical therapy treatment plans into the plan of care (POC) as directed by the provider orders.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Screens and evaluates participants for rehabilitation needs of acute, restorative, or maintenance levels according to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
• Collaborates with nursing home and assisted living staff regarding the rehabilitation needs of participants
• Documents participant POCs for all referral provided to participants to other NHC services, such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, and medical clinic
• Communicates with staff regarding participants’ needs in areas of positioning, mobility, and safety, as needed
• Communicates with family members and caregivers to ensure that recommendations are feasible for participants and their caregivers can appropriately assist
• Provides physical therapy treatments, including modality treatment, therapeutic exercise, and functional mobility training
• Provides written instructions and illustrations of movements to participants and caregiver for at home use, as needed
• Ensures that participants and caregivers understand the durable medical equipment (DME) loan program’s terms and policies
• Delegates therapy plans for specific participants to the physical therapy support team according to the complexity of the participants’ needs and the nature of procedures according to the California Physical Therapy Practice Act or other applicable state specific regulations
• Instructs participants and caregivers in the use and maintenance of DME and methods used to enhance the mobility, safety, and functional independence of participants
• Makes home visits and educational sessions as needed and indicated in the POC; documents activities and participant/caregiver responses in participant’s chart
• Discusses POC with multi-disciplinary team to integrate services with overall POC for participants
• Participates on the interdisciplinary team, peer review, and QM activities
• Documents all procedures performed in participant’s medical chart according to NHC policies and procedures
• Provides guidance to staff and team members that is consistent with state laws and company policies
• Orders, inventories, distributes, and maintains DME for participants
• Orients and educates contract physical therapists on NHC systems and goals
• Identifies defective DME and takes appropriate action to repair or replace items
• Ensures that DME loans, returns, repairs, and purchases are documented in the appropriate records per department policies
• Makes purchases appropriate for participants and rehab operations within established department budget and goals
• Solicits ideas from staff for ongoing improvements and efficiencies of the rehab department
• Provides specific training to non-rehab staff in relation to participant needs, such as CNAs and drivers
• Participates within the interdisciplinary team in the formulation of POCs for participants, as well as in other interdisciplinary team settings that plan, coordinate, and monitor the care participants