Licensed Physical Therapist, Per Diem - Gardner Heights Health Care Center

Gardner Heights, a 110-bed skilled nursing community located in Shelton, CT. Gardner Heights has an excellent community reputation and historically strong census. A notable provider of secure dementia care, we also specialize in long-term living and short-term rehabilitation options. At Gardner Heights, we pride ourselves on decades of staff longevity, which translates to excellent resident care outcomes and sets us apart from other providers

Apple Rehab is a family owned and operated company that treats residents and staff like family too. Our expert team of senior management is located at our home office, right in Avon, CT, ensuring superior care from a local company. Our leadership is not across the country, but rather in your backyard.

The Apple Rehab Difference

What distinguishes Apple Rehab? We think it is our philosophy of Better Life, which operates on the premise that each patient and staff member is a special individual with unique thoughts, ideas and experiences. It is the quality of the relationships between our staff and patients that make Apple Rehab a better place to live and work. Apple Rehab is a best-in-class provider of short-term rehabilitation and skilled nursing services. We seek to attract and retain the best employees; in turn we offer a competitive salary and first-rate benefits including medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, and life insurance as well as paid time off, 401(k) and much more.

Job Title: Physical Therapist

Job Description/Qualifications

This position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications which may be required of the employee assigned to the position. Depending on the size of the facility the job duties may vary.  Receipt of the job description does not imply or create a promise of employment, nor an employment contract of any kind; my employment with the Company is at-will.

Position Summary

Physical Therapists (PTs) provides a variety of medical services to help individuals who have been injured or physically affected by illness to recover or improve function. A physical therapist must be able to evaluate a patient’s condition and devise a customized physical rehabilitation and treatment plan. The PTs’ goal is to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability, in order to maximize quality of life.

Position Responsibilities

Physical Therapists provide care to patients based on the application of scientific physical therapy principles. Responsibilities of the Physical Therapist include (but are not limited to): 

Plans and administers medically prescribed physical therapy treatment for patients suffering from injuries, or muscle, nerve, joint and bone diseases, to restore function, relieve pain, and prevent disability

Reviews physician's referral (prescription) and patient's condition and medical records to determine physical therapy treatment required

Tests and measures patient's strength, motor development, sensory perception, functional capacity, and respiratory and circulatory efficiency, and records findings to develop or revise treatment programs

Plans and prepares written treatment program based on evaluation of patient data

Administers manual exercises to improve and maintain function

Instructs, motivates, and assists patient to perform various physical activities, such as non-manual exercises, ambulatory functional activities, daily-living activities, and in use of assistant and supportive devices, such as crutches, canes, and prostheses

Administers treatments involving application of physical agents, using equipment, such as hydrotherapy tanks and whirlpool baths, moist packs, ultraviolet and infrared lamps, and ultrasound machines

Evaluates effects of treatment at various stages and adjusts treatments to achieve maximum Administers massage

Administers traction to relieve pain

Records treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enters information into computer.

Instructs patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.

Confers with physician and other practitioners to obtain additional patient information, suggest revisions in treatment program, and integrate physical therapy treatment with other aspects of patient's health care.

Orients, instructs, and directs work activities of assistants and aides.

Performs other position-related duties as assigned, depending on assignment setting Other Responsibilities

Complete required orientation as directed by facility

Follow facility and OSHA safety rules and procedures while on assignment

Follow facility and GHR Unusual Occurrence Protocol

Respect cultural and religious practices of patients

Uphold HIPAA regulations

Punctual and dependent for assigned/confirmed shifts

Required Qualifications:

Graduate of an accredited PT program

Current PT license, in good standing with the State licensing board

New Grads Welcome To Apply!

Federal-, State- and GHR-required credentials current and on file

Cognitive skills as related to the position

Working Conditions

Evening and weekend work may be required in order to fit patient schedules. The job is physically demanding. Physical Therapists are required to stand for long periods of time. They spend considerable time stooping, kneeling and crouching. PTs move heavy equipment. They assist with patient transfers and lifts or help them turn, stand or walk. So, to guard against back injury, they must follow proper body mechanics and procedures for lifting/moving patients. Physical Therapists that work in sub-acute or long-term care settings, have patients that need more assistance, therefore the job is more physically demanding, compared to PTs that work in out-patient settings.

Physical Demands

Ability to lift fifty (50) pounds. Moving, lifting or transferring of patients may involve lifting of up to

100 pounds.

Ability to stand for extended periods

Fine motor skills

Visual acuity