Company Description

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better healthcare, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. At Northwestern Medicine, we pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, we take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

Rehabilitation Services at Northwestern Medicine is a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team within our growing, nationally recognized health system that provides world-class care at 10 hospitals and more than 200 locations in communities throughout Chicago, the suburbs and northern Illinois. Together with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, we are pushing boundaries in innovative care delivery, training the next generation of rehabilitation specialists, and pursuing excellence in patient care. 

Rehabilitation Services values building relationships with our patients and their families, understanding the needs of our clinical and non-clinical staff, and providing opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and program development. Our integration with hospitals and clinics across Northwestern Medicine make it possible for us to serve more patients, closer to where they live and work. While each of our locations has a unique story, Rehabilitation Services at Northwestern Medicine is unified under one mission – Patients First.

Job Description

The Physical Therapist SL reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Physical Therapist SL is a licensed physical therapist who complies with the Code of Ethics/Standards of Practice as outlined by their professional organization and by the State of Illinois. The position includes direct patient care, teaching, participation on appropriate committees and departmental process improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Serves as a role model for all therapists and clinical interns in all aspects of professional, clinical, communication, education and leadership activities.
• Demonstrates the four NM values of teamwork, patients first, integrity, and excellence in daily work and interactions.
• Presents a friendly, approachable, professional demeanor and appearance.
• Provides accurate information and timely updates to patients and customers.
• Addresses questions and concerns promptly, or identifies appropriate person and resources to do so.
• Provides directions to help to patients and customers with finding their way.
• Uses effective service recovery skills to solve problems or service breakdowns when they occur.
• Demonstrates teamwork by helping co-workers within and across departments.
• Communicates effectively with others, respects diverse opinions and styles, and acknowledges the assistance and contributions of others.
• Uses organizational and unit/department resources efficiently.
• Manages work schedule efficiently, completing tasks and assignments on time.
• Contributes to opportunities and processes for continuous improvement.
• Participates in efforts to reduce costs, streamline work processes, improve and grow services we provide.
• Demonstrates creative problem solving and diversity when adapting the treatment to special circumstances as evidence by team feedback and documentation. (RE cards, thank you notes).
• Demonstrates essential skill competencies in selecting the appropriate evaluation in the use of treatment modalities, equipment and protocols.
• Performs re-evaluations according to department guidelines, adjusting the treatment plan accordingly.
• Evidenced by chart review.
• Assumes complete responsibility over the course of physical therapist patient management from the time of initial contact to discharge for functional progress, safety and treatment outcome as evidenced by team feedback and documentation.
• Adheres to department policy regarding evaluations, progress notes, and discharge summaries. All notes are legible.
• Completes daily notes that reflect patients response to treatment, actual performance, and an assessment as to status, relevant to the treatment plan and eventual discharge needs as evidenced by chart review, meeting all JCAHO documentation requirements (e.g. allows other therapists to continue treatment, allows for interpretation by payers, supports reimbursement).
• Provides educational materials and methods appropriate to the patient's level of understanding and motivation as evidenced by chart review, observation and team feedback.
• Participates in committees, department processes and special projects in accordance with clinical expertise and individual performance plan.
• Works to develop and maintain physician relations through phone communication, shadowing, marketing visits, and rounds/surgery observation.
• Creates a culture of respectful communication by listening, asking for team member input, open and honest conversation, approachability, and timely acknowledgement of individual and team contributions as evidence by huddles/staff meetings, RE cards, and thank you notes.
• Accepts constructive feedback and is able to make timely changes as evidenced by written coaching forms/chart audits and team feedback.
• Completes new evaluations and discharge follow up phone calls to support patient satisfaction goals.
• Proactively completes non-patient care responsibilities within established timelines (coverage notes, PTO/schedule change requests, bonus pay forms, and follow up phone calls).
• Contributes to educational efforts of department/clinic (e.g. in-services, journal clubs, new hire orientation, PI).
  • Minimal Expectation: inservice from continuing education course and/or leading one article review.
• Proactively acts as a clinical instructor to students, observers, interns.
  • Minimum Expectation: is one student/intern per year.
• Score may be based on quality of experience as rated thought student evaluation.
• Maintains both patients/day and billable time unit standards set by department and makes efficient use of non-billable time.
• Demonstrates willingness to flex schedule to meet patient care needs, quarterly staff meetings and department specific meetings outside of normal work hours.

AA/EOE.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelors Degree in Physical Therapy.
  • Graduates prior to January 1, 2002, the applicant's curriculum shall have a minimum of 120 semester hours that shall include a minimum of 50 semester hours credit in general education and at least the following subject areas in professional education (a minimum of 57 semester hours required):
    • Basic Health Sciences (Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Kinesiology, Neurology, Psychology).
    • Clinical Sciences to include, but not limited to the major areas of: Medicine or Surgery. Physical therapy theory and application, including therapeutic exercise, evaluation procedures, physical agents, mechanical modalities, electrotherapy, massage, orthotics and prosthetics, and professional issues.
    • Clinical Education a minimum of 800 clock hours.
  • Graduates after January 1, 2002 must have a minimum of a master's degree in physical therapy.
• Licensed Physical Therapist in State of Illinois.
• BLS within 30 days of hire.

Additional Information

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.