NorCal SCI - Physical Therapist
Full-time or part-time positions
$50-$75 per hour commensurate with experience
Location: South Bay
NorCal SCI Center
JOB SUMMARY
NorCal SCI (www.norcalsci.org) is a Bay Area-based 501(c)(3) non-profit with the mission to provide information, resources and programs allowing people affected by or living with a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)/Disorder in Northern California to thrive and live productively. Since our inception in 2017, we have engaged in a variety of different initiatives and approaches to help and support our community. We now want to increase our impact by launching our own outpatient facility to provide extended rehabilitation and exercise in a setting for those with a new case of spinal cord injury. We are currently in the process of opening a facility in the Bay Area opening in 2023.
This position is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about serving and helping the SCI community and who genuinely wants to build something from the ground up. As the primary PT, the ideal candidate will not only be an excellent practitioner but also a creative-minded person with the willingness and desire to solve problems and tackle challenges as they arise. There will be great opportunities for the candidate to create protocols and programs; in other words, to be essential in writing the playbook, not just adhering to an existing paradigm, or looking for answers from someone else. Diligence, collaboration, strong initiative, flexibility and creativity are a must.
Additionally, this position will require having exceptional interpersonal skills and to be able to effectively communicate with the SCI population. Clients will come from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and experiences, and most will be dealing with a recent traumatic injury and the resulting changes to their lives. Therefore, sensitivity, empathy and emotional intelligence are essential in being able to provide tactful and nuanced care and respectful support.
The goal of physical therapy in our clinic is to promote recovery and greater independence by utilizing evidence-based outcome measures to assess the individual’s condition and to work towards their goals and objectives for improved quality of life. Clients will have had their diagnoses and inpatient care already and will be coming to our facility for extended outpatient care and continuing exercise that they cannot acquire, or in many cases, afford elsewhere.
DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Physical therapists perform an examination and evaluation to establish a diagnosis, treatment through an implementation of a plan of care, monitoring of progress, and making quality of life decisions by using best available evidence and standards of care.
Patient Care Responsibilities will include:
Performs physical therapy evaluations and administers various muscle, neurological, gait, functional and developmental tests to determine a patient's physical limitations. Consults previous records and evaluations from patient’s physician and other care providers.
Establishes short and long-term therapeutic intervention goals based on the results of the evaluation and in consultation with the patient and their desired goals for increased independence and improved quality of life.
Makes appropriate changes in therapeutic intervention programs according to the patient's progress and performance.
Administers direct patient care, utilizing the full range of physical therapy techniques.
Supervises, collaborates, and coordinates with the Exercise Trainer/Assistant and/or Occupational Therapist. Manages any part of a patient's therapeutic intervention and delegates specific aspects of training to the assistant.
Completes all aspects of discharge planning as appropriate.
Prepares, maintains and transmits accurate patient care records in a timely manner using our Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system as required including services rendered, progress notes, discharge notes and third party payer reports (e.g. Medicare, Medi-Cal forms).
Communicates effectively and efficiently with patients, families, staff and other interdisciplinary healthcare personnel.
Demonstrates effective time management skills.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Minimum of 3 years experience as a licensed physical therapist working primarily with the neurological/spinal cord injury patient population.
Possession of exceptional interpersonal, time management, problem solving and self-initiation skills.
Willingness to think and work creatively and collaboratively with support staff and the NorCal SCI team. Genuine interest in building a new program.
Full-time position seeks candidates to work up to 40 hours per week, part-time position up to 20 hours per week.
Possession of or proven eligibility for licensure as a Physical Therapist by the Physical Therapy Board of California.
Knowledgeable and experienced with signs, symptoms and intervention of common urgent medical issues related to SCI, i.e., blood pressure fluctuations (autonomic dysreflexia, hypotension), temperature regulation, urinary tract infection, wound intervention.
Possession of or proven eligibility for CPR certification.
Basic computer skills in word processing, use of Electronic Medical Records system, online communication, and ability to be organized with note taking.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
Prior professional clinical experience with SCI, stroke and/or other neurological conditions.
Prior experience across the continuum of care, including acute care, inpatient acute rehabilitation and outpatient settings.
Prior experience working with an interdisciplinary health provider team.
Member of a professional organization, or certification/specialty in neurologic patient population. Member of a professional organization, or certification/specialty in neurologic patient population a plus.
COMPENSATION
Full-time and Part-time positions with hourly rate of $50-$75 based on experience.
Additional benefits negotiable based on hours worked and commitment.
Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter via e-mail to info@norcalsci.org