SEARHC is a non-profit health consortium which serves the health interests of the residents of Southeast Alaska. We see our employees as our strongest assets. It is our priority to further their development and our organization by aiding in their professional advancement.

Working at SEARHC is more than a job, it’s a fulfilling career. We offer generous benefits, including retirement, paid time off, paid parental leave, health, dental, and vision benefits, life insurance and long and short-term disability, and more.

Key Essential Functions and Accountabilities of the Job

Functions minimally as a working clinical director to provide direct patient care. 

Provides assessments, perform evaluations, identifies therapy diagnosis, formulates therapy treatment plan with goals and implements treatment of PT, OT, and/or SLP services to patients.

Responsible as the primary therapy provider to implement, supervise and modify a therapy plan of care based on assessment of patient response to optimize the outcome for each patient.

Attends care conferences, regular meetings/rounds and remains in contact with referring providers, nurses and other rehabilitation professionals and collaborates with other team members to ensure appropriate medical equipment is arranged and care plan is established prior to discharge. 

Documents patient encounter findings and treatments including diagnoses, treatment plan, recommendations, and prognoses in appropriate format according to hospital policies.

Directs the work of support staff, students or interns. 

Develops, implements and conducts patient education and therapy programs. 

Responsible and accountable for all administrative functions, such as oversight of day-to-day department operations and clinical activities.

Responsible for annual operating budget of the department.

Manages the selection, training and development of staff and other personnel activities.

Monitors budget and utilizes operational resource and participates in program development. 

Ensures services are in compliance with professional standards, state and federal regulations. 

Maintains supply stocks, equipment and the clinical area at acceptable levels. 

Therapy services may be performed outside of Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center (MEMC) in conjunction with SEARHC Community Health Services (CHS) and the community at large and may take place in locations including:  SEARHC Community Clinics, SEARHC Long Term Care Units, Wrangell Medical Center, AICS, other consortium locations, community senior centers, Pioneer Home, health/job fairs, patients’ home and/or workplace, and other collaborative efforts between MEMC – PT, OT, SLP and the communities served.  

Provides therapy consultation, presentations, and in-service to medical staff, consultants and other interdisciplinary health care personnel and patient populations regarding therapy services.  Directs and coordinates education programs, including the training of physical therapy interns from affiliated university programs and in-service programs for medical staff, nursing staff, etc.

Responsible for timely and accurate completion of service plan, including assessing and reporting required volume, quality and monitoring indicators to administration.  Plans, directs within hospital standards, Alaska state licensure requirements, regulatory and practice standards of PT, OT and/or SLP and the national professional guidelines established by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), American Occupational Therapy Association (OATA), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and/or American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA).

Other Functions

Other duties as assigned

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does require supervisory responsibilities.

Additional Details:

Education, Certifications, and Licenses Required

Masters’ degree (required) or doctorate degree (preferred) in Physical Therapy from an APTA approved program

Licensed as a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist and/or Speech Language Pathologist

Current Basic Life Support Certification

Valid, unrestricted driver’s license

Experience Required

Two or more years’ administrative experience with at least 2 years in healthcare and/or insurance environment

Six years professional work experience

Preferred

Experience in both acute in-patient and outpatient settings

Administrative knowledge of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology

Provider enrollment experience

Knowledge of

Physiology of musculoskeletal including active/passive range of motion, gait, strength, biomechanics and mental cognition in order to administer a variety of standardized assessments, being able to select the most appropriate test for a specific client and implement treatments accordingly.

Various techniques for providing sound assessments, evaluations, treatment planning, and treatments for patients presenting various diagnoses with functional deficits among the general population.

Regulations and practice standards as they relate to PT/OT/SLP including billing mechanisms (Medicaid, Medicare and third-party payers) that may be available for patient equipment and service.

Skills in

Managing a department with multiple services, including budget oversight, staff supervision and daily department operations.

Utilizing, properly fitting patients and training staff with adaptive devices, including splints, braces, orthosis, seating equipment, durable medical equipment and ADL assistive device.

Ability to

Communicate effectively with administration, staff, patients, families, teachers, community members and non-PT/OT/SLP service professionals; persons of any level of understanding and with cultural sensitivity. 

Translate complex PT/OT/SLP service diagnoses, evaluations and therapies into simple and understandable oral and written language.

Deliver treatment techniques and assist patient mobility while keeping patients and oneself safe.

Computer Skills

Proficient in Microsoft Office Products including Word, Excel and PowerPoint

SEARHC-provided computer applications

Other Qualifications

Occasional multi-day travel to remote locations by boat or small plane which may be in inclement or harsh weather.

Position Information:

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!