Where You’ll Work

Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Hospitals have a history of caring for our community that goes back more than 100 years. We provide a broad range of medical and surgical services including minimally invasive and outpatient options. Our family of services includes the area's only inpatient oncology unit, the Orthopedic, Spine, and Hand Center, Family Birth Center, the Lactation Support Center and retail store, and many others. Mercy Hospital Downtown is a 194-bed facility located in downtown Bakersfield. Mercy Hospital Southwest is a 78-bed facility and the only hospital located in the rapidly growing area west of Highway 99. Mercy Hospital is a member of Dignity Health and is a trusted community partner, serving residents of Bakersfield and Kern County with quality, compassionate care since 1910. Learn more here at https://www.dignityhealth.org/central-california/locations/mercy-bakersfield.

One Community. One Mission. One California

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Physical Therapist, you will help patients rebuild or maintain their physical wellbeing so they can function at their best level, reduce pain, and improve their quality of life. Every day you will perform initial evaluations, develop and update individualized plans of care, and provide a variety of direct treatments. You will be expected to consistently meet patient care productivity standards, collaborate with the interdisciplinary team and families, and promote a positive customer service environment. To be successful in this role, you must possess strong age-appropriate competency skills, excellent communication abilities, and a collaborative, patient-centered approach to care.

Clinical/Technical Skills

Performs evaluations/re-evaluations, discharge summaries progressing patients toward goals and accurately documents results written/electronically on inpatients according to MHB and physical therapy practice standards.
Performs appropriate treatment which may include, but not limited to proper use of modalities and therapeutic procedures to maximize functional skills toward independence. Uses equipment specific to age and size of patient.
Maintains a safe environment considering the patient's unique circumstances and risk factors related to age, physical limitations and mental status.
Uses office or other Rehab equipment effectively & efficiently.
Appropriate to the needs of the patient, involves patient/family. Obtains patient history, conducts physical assessment, establishes priorities for care. Assess patient's learning needs, readiness for discharge and ability to manage illness after discharge.
Develop/implement care plan and/or discharge plan for each patient, including interpreting physician orders, progress notes. Provide direct patient care, as required. Contact physician with any problems or concerns, as necessary. Report changes in patient's condition to physician. Maintain safe, clean and therapeutic environment for patients.
Prepare or assign all required documentation to meet legal requirements and hospital policies and procedures. Maintain appropriate communication with other staff members, patient and family members, including answering questions, discussing patient care and providing emotional support to patients and family. Appropriately involves all care givers, proactive discharge planning.

Critical Thinking/Problem Solving

Selects appropriate treatment methods which include proper modalities and therapeutic procedures.
Recognizes patient's concerns of how their medical condition may impact their socioeconomic situation.
Initiates appropriate referrals to other members of the health care team as determined by the patients' needs.
Involves the patient in care, treatments and procedures as appropriate to condition and situation.
Evaluates patient outcomes and adjusts the patient's plan of care appropriately.
Participates in the assessment of the quality of patient care on an assigned unit. Participates in data collection, development of new or changes principles of care after data analysis completed and monitors compliance for new implementation.
Demonstrates performance consistent with the Patient's Bill of Rights and policies of facility. Address and meet patient's physical, emotional, spiritual, and psycho/social needs. Promote patient's rights, maintain privacy and confidentiality. Identify ethical issues and refer to appropriate resources.
Meets and addresses the age related needs of patient groups served, including pediatrics, adolescents, adults and geriatrics. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care, based on physical, psycho/social, educational, safety and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the patients served in his/her assigned service area.

Interpersonal/Communication Skills

Maintains accurate written/electronic documentation records of patients evaluated and treated, including, but not limited to Progress Notes, Daily Treatment Logs, Daily Charge Slips etc.
Assesses patient's ability to manage self-held and/or self operated equipment.
Involves the patient/caregivers in the care/treatment and procedures as appropriate to condition and situation. Explains procedures prior to beginning. Observes care given by patient/caregivers, Provides feedback and further instruction.
Provides education to the patient/caregivers that includes: an explanation and rationale for all treatments, tests, equipment and procedures prior to performance, speaking distinctly and in language appropriate to the patient's age and encourages questions, at a pace that insures understanding, topics that are unique to the needs of the patient.
Communicates patients needs effectively to the medical/hospital staff and obtains all necessary orders.
Participates in in-service and staff development. Assists in orienting and supervising other department personnel, interns or volunteers as assigned.
Ensures and or participates in patient satisfaction initiatives including, but not limited to rounding, service recovery and or any other program associated there with.
Is aware of and adheres to performance improvement standards at both the departmental and hospital wide level to continue the enhancement and improvement of care within the organization.
Address and meet patient's physical, emotional, spiritual, and psycho/social needs. Promote patient's rights; maintain privacy and confidentiality. Identify ethical issues and refer to appropriate resources.
Demonstrates awareness of professional responsibility by being a role model for peers and subordinates while maintaining practice within Patient's Bill of Rights and CHW Core Values. Promote teamwork and a positive work environment, model cooperative behavior with other staff members and act in a professional manner. Uses effective lines of communication. Participates in problem-solving committees annually in which unit-based problems are identified and a plan made for correction. Functions as a preceptor. Contributes to cost effectiveness by adhering to staffing patterns. Adapts well to changes. Supervises and monitors objectives set for other work groups.

Professional Development

Maintains and develops professional Physical Therapy practices for self and others. Actively participates in setting personal goals annually and submits plan for attaining goals. Pursues continued training in changes in treatments and techniques through obtaining CEU's. Is available as a resource for co-workers with regard to policy and procedure. Attends > 50% of staff meetings and all mandatory services. Maintains skill set specific to needs of the patient population. Follows policies with regard to tardiness, attendance, dress code and use of time.

Legal, Moral and Ethical Parameters

Demonstrates performance consistent with the Patient's Bill of Rights and policies of facility. Address and meet patient's physical, emotional, spiritual, and psycho/social needs. Promote patient's rights, maintain privacy and confidentiality. Identify ethical issues and refer to appropriate resources.

Completed other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

Required

Entry level accepted. Individuals working in the NICU, one year pediatric experience is required.
Physical Therapist: CA, upon hire.
Basic Life Support - CPR, upon hire (Must be through the American Heart Association).

Preferred

Completed post graduate education, or possess certification or CEU's in Acute care, geriatrics, wound care, orthopaedics, pediatrics, NICU & neurology or any other clinically relevant coursework/seminars.
1 year of hospital based, acute care practice, upon hire.
Advanced experience with computer software programs and clinical documentation in Hospital based practice.
Multi-lingual, Spanish, Tagalog.