At Houston Methodist, the Physical Therapy (PT) Clinical Fellow position, completes planned program of post-professional clinical and didactic education provided for rehabilitation services modality that is designed to complete the guidelines as set by the Physical Therapy Board of Examiners Association. This position focuses in preparation as a provider of safe, expert patient care services through the fellowship program which combines opportunities for necessary clinical supervision and mentoring with a theoretical basis for advanced practice and scientific inquiry. The PT Clinical Fellow position performs patient management services including evaluation, treatment, referral, supervises support personnel (as applicable), and performs related duties such as participation in rounds, clinics, departmental performance improvement, and clinical education in accordance with regulatory agency/professional association guidelines, state practice act, applicable regulations, and departmental policy, procedures and practices. This position demonstrates competence to adapt to work and customer service to accommodate the unique physical, psychosocial, cultural, safety and other developmental needs of patients served by the department.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Promotes a positive work environment and contributes to a dynamic, team-focused work unit that actively helps one other to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with all members of the patient care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner.

• Cooperates and collaborates with members of the interprofessional healthcare treatment team regarding patient's current treatment, progress and discharge planning.

• Provides contributions towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement, i.e. peer-to-peer accountability.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Evaluates patient's level of function; develops and implements plan of treatment. Collaborates and communicates with the healthcare team any modifications to patient's treatment plan, progress, and discharge planning for achievement of identified patient specific goals, following evidence based guidelines.

• Performs complete and comprehensive evaluation of assigned patients to identify patient's level of function and to determine the treatment plan. Develops the plan of care based on evaluation findings, implementing the physical therapy treatment plan.

• Provides education, which includes active listening and teaching, to patients, family members, and/or caregivers. Consistently evaluates the patient's comprehension and adapts teaching methods accordingly. Serves as resource to clinical residents and nursing in teaching best practices.

• Contributes to meeting/exceeding department and organization targets for patient satisfaction.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Oversees appropriate patient care duties and those treatments delegated to assistants and technicians in accordance with the state practice act and department and hospital policies.

• Monitors patient progress; maintain timely and accurate patient records.

• Completes all patient documentation and enters charges for services provided.

• Identifies and escalates issues and opportunities for improvement. Follows up on action items to ensure completion of assignments. Contributes towards improving department/practice quality and safety scores.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• With guidance, uses resources efficiently to maximize utilization of time and equipment. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize tasks for self and clinical fellowship assignments.

• Maintains accurate and complete documentation of patient education and procedures performed in a timely manner in the patient record. Enters accurate charges for services provided, as applicable.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participates in individual and staff development and expansion of services, including research projects. Presents relevant special topics in professional literature at clinic meetings, rounds, conference, and meetings as delegated or requested by the faculty. Completes, as appropriate, presentations and case reports to complete Fellowship curriculum.

• Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual process improvements. Remains current on professional issues and clinical skills by attendance of appropriate CEUs and involvement with professional organization. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Graduate of education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certificates, Licenses and Registrations section.

WORK EXPERIENCE

• One year physical therapy experience with one of the following:
•       ◊ Completion of HM or comparable Physical Therapy Residency program
•       ◊ With board specialty Certification in applicable content area

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• PT - Physical Therapist - State Licensure within 30 days or
• PT-Temp - Physical Therapist Temporary - State Licensure -- Compact Privileges granted by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners and permanent Texas PT licensure and
• BLS - Basic Life Support (AHA)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations.

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security.

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles.

• Exhibits strong interpersonal, teamwork and leadership skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers

• Demonstrates good communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to work as a team member

• Demonstrates good time management skills

• Possesses competent computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems and standard Rehabilitation equipment.

• Demonstrates professional and technical competence in the selection, evaluation, utilization of treatment plans

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs Yes
• Business professional No
• Other (department approved) Yes

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area No
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Since its founding in 1919, Houston Methodist Hospital has earned worldwide recognition. Houston Methodist Hospital is affiliated with the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, one of the nation's leading centers for medical education and research.  In 2020, U.S. News & World Report named Houston Methodist Hospital to its top ranked Honor Roll for the fourth time and second consecutive year. 2020 also marked the ninth year in a row Houston Methodist Hospital has been named the No. 1 hospital in Texas. Houston Methodist Hospital directs millions of research dollars into patient care and offers the latest innovations in medical, surgical and diagnostic techniques. With 952 operating beds, 85 operating rooms and over 8,000 employees, Houston Methodist offers complete care for patients from around the world.

 

The same high-quality care for which Houston Methodist is known is available at several Emergency Care Centers in Houston and the surrounding areas.  These Emergency Care Centers house exam rooms, full digital radiography suite, low radiation dose 16-slice CT scan, ultrasound and a full on-site stat chemistry lab.