Physical Therapist I

Description

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Summary:

UNC Hospitals Rehabilitation Services is seeking a compassionate and dedicated Physical Therapist I to join our multidisciplinary team at the Ambulatory Care Center in Chapel Hill, NC. This full-time position offers the opportunity to provide high-quality, patient-centered care across the orthopedic continuum, including postoperative rehabilitation, persistent pain management, work-related injuries, sports and recreational medicine, and geriatric care.

In addition to outpatient practice, this role includes opportunities to provide coverage in our onsite short stay unit, where you will support patients in the immediate postoperative phase and assist with safe, efficient transitions home and into outpatient rehabilitation following orthopedic surgery. This experience allows clinicians to work at a critical juncture in the care continuum while collaborating closely with surgical and interdisciplinary teams.

Our clinic emphasizes 45-minute, one-on-one treatment sessions to promote individualized care, strong therapeutic relationships, and thoughtful clinical decision-making to optimize patient outcomes.

This position serves a diverse patient population, including individuals from both typical and underserved communities. Clinicians treat patients across a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds, including those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged and non-English-speaking, with a significant Spanish-speaking population. Beyond direct patient care, the role offers opportunities for mentorship, professional development, and clinical program development, enabling therapists to make a meaningful impact on patients, the care team, and the broader community.

Key Benefits of Joining Our Team:

• Diverse Patient Population: Work with a broad range of patients, including those from underserved communities and individuals who speak languages other than English, enriching your professional experience and cultural competency.
• One-on-One Patient Care: Provide 45-minute, individualized treatments, ensuring personalized, high-quality care that allows for optimal patient outcomes and meaningful therapeutic relationships.
• Mentorship & Growth: Collaborate with experienced therapists and an orthopedic physical therapy resident, participate in mentorship opportunities, and engage in continuing education programs. You will also have the opportunity to mentor students and residents, contributing to the development of future professionals.
• Community Impact: Our clinic offers resources such as a clinic food bank, and many of our clinicians go beyond their role to assist patients with housing insecurity, transportation, and other barriers to accessing care. This work is deeply rewarding, allowing you to make a tangible difference in the community by meeting the unmet needs of patients and addressing disparities in access to healthcare. Additionally, UNC offers opportunities like the community outreach committee, where you can expand your impact through broader engagement and advocacy efforts. Your work will be both meaningful and uplifting, contributing to the health and well-being of underserved populations.

Core Responsibilities:

1. Patient Care: Conduct evidence-based evaluations and administer comprehensive treatments to address mobility disorders and related impairments in a wide range of patient populations, with a focus on orthopedic, post-operative, persistent pain, work-related injuries, sports and recreational medicine, and geriatric care.
2. Diagnostic Testing: Perform both basic and advanced diagnostic tests to accurately assess patient conditions and inform treatment plans.
3. Mentorship & Education: Provide supervision and education to graduate Physical Therapy students and/or clinical fellows/residents, contributing to the development of innovative care programs.
4. Clinical Evaluation: Regularly analyze results from diagnostic and therapeutic tests to modify treatment plans as necessary and ensure optimal patient outcomes. Facilitate communication to ensure continuity of care.
5. Community Involvement: Serve as a clinical resource and participate in outreach initiatives that target underserved populations. Engage with the community through the clinic's food bank, outreach committee, and participation in local sporting events to promote health and wellness.
6. Professional Participation: Actively contribute to departmental meetings and in-service training sessions to support the quality and consistency of clinical care within the department.
7. Quality Improvement: Maintain detailed and accurate patient records, participating in ongoing quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient care and operational efficiency.

Why UNC Health?

At UNC Health, we offer a comprehensive and competitive total rewards package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and work-life balance. This includes competitive pay, medical, dental, and vision coverage, generous paid time off, and retirement plans with employer matching.

We are committed to your long-term professional growth, offering significant support for continuing education, board certification, and tuition reimbursement, along with flexible scheduling options that promote sustainability and balance. As clinicians gain experience, there are clear pathways for advancement through our clinical ladder, with opportunities to progress to higher clinical roles once you reach or exceed five years of experience, recognizing advanced skills, contributions, and professional leadership.

Team members may further advance their careers through participation in committees, mentorship and precepting roles, and clinical or program development initiatives, with eligibility for annual market or merit-based pay increases.

Beyond the workplace, UNC Health provides meaningful opportunities to engage in community outreach and service, allowing you to contribute to advancing health equity and expanding access to care across the communities we serve.

Work Schedule:

Other information:
Education Requirements:
* Graduation from an accredited Physical Therapy program.
Licensure/Certification Requirements:
* Licensed as a Physical Therapist in the state of North Carolina.
* BLS within 3 months of hire date.
Professional Experience Requirements:
* No prior experience required, though experience in outpatient orthopedics or sports medicine is preferred.
Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:

• Strong communication and time management abilities.
• Experience working with diverse patient populations, including those from underserved backgrounds, is highly valued.
• Fluency in Spanish is a plus but not required.

Legal Employer: STATE

Entity: UNC Medical Center

Organization Unit: ACC Physical Therapy

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Salary Range:$35.87 - $51.57 per hour (Hiring Range)

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Onsite

Work Schedule: Day Job

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: Yes

This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If, however, you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email applicant.accommodations@unchealth.unc.edu if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.