As one of the nation’s leading pediatric health care systems, Nemours is committed to providing all children with their best chance to grow up healthy. We offer integrated, family-centered care to more than 280,000 children each year in our pediatric hospitals, specialty clinics and primary care practices in Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Nemours strives to ensure a healthier tomorrow for all children – even those who may never enter our doors – through our world-changing research, education and advocacy efforts. At Nemours, our Associates help us deliver on the promise we make to every family we have the privilege of serving: to treat their child as if they were our own.

As the birthplace of the Nemours health care system, the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware, honors our legacy of delivering exceptional care to the children of the Delaware Valley and beyond. Ranked among the nation’s best pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report and honored with the ANCC’s Magnet® Designation for excellence in nursing practice, we offer intensive and acute inpatient and outpatient services covering more than 30 pediatric specialties. We recently completed a multi-phase hospital expansion that includes new inpatient rooms, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department. Additionally, Nemours duPont Pediatrics allows us to reach more children across the region through community-based physician services and collaborative partnerships with health and hospital systems.

Provides physical therapy evaluation, treatment and consultation independently to all patients across programs under the prescription of a physician within the guidelines designated by department and hospital policy and procedures. Demonstrates clinical competency in direct patient care and is responsible for the completion of 100% of level I PT and level II PT clinical competencies and at least 75% of level III PT clinical competencies.

Direct Patient Care Responsibilities

1. Demonstrates proficiency in the care of all ages: pediatrics, adolescents and adults.
2. Demonstrates proficiency in the care of neonates as required by assignment.
3. Performs all essential and marginal responsibilities for Staff I and Staff II physical therapy job descriptions.
4. Provides information/effective evaluation treatment strategies and support to families while considering the lifelong implications for various diagnoses of patients seen within the department.
5. Completes timely documentation as required by department policy, #4.7, JCAHO and CARF standards.
6. Attends meetings related to patient treatment and contributes to discussion as an interdisciplinary team member. Takes leadership role as indicated by team—case management, care team leader.
7. Assists in coordinating outside agencies to recommend durable medical equipment, home/school modifications and transitional therapy program prior to discharge from therapy/hospital.
8. Provides inservice training programs and follows specific protocols/pathways for direct patient care issues as mandated by hospital specialty programs. When applicable, works with staff to review and revise protocols/pathways.

Indirect Patient Care Responsibilities

1. Staff Development: Provides staff mentoring on specific technical skills and interventions. Requisitions specialty materials and coordinates budget suggestions for program needs and therapeutic equipment. Completes peer review forms and suggests changes and revisions to the peer review system. Reviews discipline-specific competencies annually to reflect current practice and treatment techniques.
2. CQI: Participates in program, specialty and hospital CQI. Trains staff in CQI and records/reports on CQI projects.
3. Assessment and Treatment: Assesses new evaluation and treatment tools. Provides input to staff on new assessment and intervention strategies. Designs and reviews treatment protocols, and coordinates the design and implementation of critical and clinical pathways.
4. Program Development: Develops strategic goals for specialty, discipline and/or program in collaboration with program director. Reviews/revises clinical tools. Assists in designing activities to increase program use, awareness and marketability. Attends program meetings.
5. Clinical Education: Teaches classes in the hospital or community on specialty and Level III areas as needed. Provides clinical mentorship/training to Level I and Level II staff. Adequately and appropriately supervises PTA staff. Supervises and assists with students as needed by department. Coordinates educational requests from internal/external programs.
6. Teamwork: Coordinates and participates in program, discipline, intra-hospital and extra-hospital educational programming for typical and specialty populations with physician, nursing and other ancillary staff. Leads/coordinates multidisciplinary or program specialty teams.
7. Professional Development: Attends advanced course work for specialty development and presents inservice to staff. May prepare professional abstracts, design professional poster presentations, design teaching modules, serve on professional association committees, and pursue professional specialty certification. Leads/attends physical therapy meetings as scheduled in hospital. Participates in promotional activities for physical therapy.
8. Mandatory Inservice Training: Completes mandatory annual inservice training which may include, but is not limited to, safety, infection control, bioterrorism, HIPAA, corporate compliance training, CPR and program-specific respiratory training.
9. Weekend rehab rotation: checks crash cart per hospital policy.

This is a per diem position, up to 20 hours per week, and after-school hours are required.

Requirements

1. B.S. degree or higher in Physical Therapy.
2. Two years or more experience required.
3. One year or more preferred pediatric/specialty experience.
4. Strong multi-specialty knowledge and experience as related to pediatrics.
5. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
6. Strong teaching and interpersonal skills.
7. New Jersey and Delaware state licenses to practice Physical Therapy.
8. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification within 6 months of employment.
9. Specialty certification preferred as necessary for department.
10. Member of professional specialty organizations (APTA, Delaware PT Association, SCI, TBI Associations, etc.) preferred.

Our dedication to professionals who are dedicated to children frequently earns Nemours a spot on the list of top workplaces in the communities we serve. Our Associates enjoy comprehensive benefits, including our unique “Bridge to a Healthy Future” pediatric health plan, an integrated wellness program, opportunities for professional growth, and much more.

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As an equal opportunity employer, Nemours is committed to focusing on the best-qualified applicants for our openings.