Therapy Education Specialist - Lower Extremity (Maple)

OrthoNebraska creates the inspired healthcare experience all people deserve by giving people a direct path to personalized care and life-enhancing outcomes. With a focus on safety and people, we set the bar high in providing high-quality care with an unmatched experience. Our team members are critical to our success and growth and are rewarded for their dedication and hard work. IF this sounds like the type of team and environment you want to be a part of apply today!

Position Summary: The Therapy Education Specialist, is a change agent in promoting ongoing professional development of therapy staff. Position requires extensive knowledge of therapeutic interventions targeting orthopedic diagnoses of the lower extremity/upper extremity spine. They serve as a role model /consultant/mentor in skill development and utilizes various educational delivery methods to advance treatments that achieve unparalleled outcomes across the lower extremity/upper extremity spine orthopedic patient populations.

Position details

Position Requirements

Education: Graduate of an approved physical therapy or occupational therapy program - required.

Licensure: Fully licensed to practice physical or occupational therapy in the state of Nebraska and / or Iowa - required.

Certification:

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required within 60 days of hire.
• Advanced Certifications & Training Preferred - OCS, SCS, FAAOMPT, CHT, Cert MDT, NIOMPT, PRC or similar for review required.
• Tenured Professional Experience in lieu of certifications may be considered.
• Encourage working toward advanced certification if not currently held.

Experience: 3+ years minimum of experience as a physical or occupational therapist in an outpatient environment - required.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to problem solve through a well-defined approach.
• Ability to instruct and collaborate with others.
• Strong team orientation.
• Ability to accomplish multiple tasks and prioritize activities.
• Strong analytical skills, with experience in data analysis, performance measurement, and the use of quality improvement tools is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

Essential Job Functions

• Provide and Supervise quality patient care by following established guidelines.
  • Approximately 30 hours a week dedicated to patient care (for 1.0 FTE)
  • May include individual caseload, co treat or mentoring role with other therapy staff including oversight of care plans.
• Monitor performance of all levels of therapy staff by data collection, coaching, education and role modeling to ensure ongoing performance improvement.
• Problem solve and make decisions within area of accountability to ensure effective and efficient patient care.
• Monitor / facilitate progression of staff along clinical development pathways including curriculum and skill validation.
• Collaborate on development of protocols, return to sport testing, integration / training of technology and equipment to ensure best practices.
• Facilitate departmental education focused on evidence based best practices supported in research and literature.
  • Assess ongoing needs for continuing education on new and evolving procedures, equipment and/or technology to enhance outcomes.
  • Collaborates with management and Therapy Quality Coordinator for in-services and staff development programs.
  • Leadership within committees required.
  • Maintains all team member educational records of training programs.
• Coordinate and conduct department orientation for licensed therapy staff. Working closely with department leadership and Therapy Quality Coordinator.
  • Evaluates orientation and onboarding experiences to ensure newly hired team members are prepared to practice safely and independently.
  • Ensure completion of departmental subspecialty specific checklists and uploaded into team member files.
  • Meets with new team members and Therapy Quality Coordinator, as needed, to discuss orientation process and collaborates with management if an orientation extension plan is required.
• Implement and evaluate processes to ensure team members meet established competency requirements.
  • Partner with department leadership and Therapy Quality Coordinator to establish annual competency requirements based on the needs assessment, high risk/low volume skills, and performance improvement issues.
  • Collaborates with department leadership and Therapy Quality Coordinator regarding personnel issues related to orientation and/or educational needs for successful onboarding.
• Mentor staff in areas of patient care, patient interaction, physician communication and time management.
• Employee is responsible for all other duties as assigned.

Physical requirements: his position is classified as Medium Work in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, requiring the exertion of 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Physical Demand requirements are in excess of those for Light Work.