Job Description

The contracted Physical Therapy Service (Physical Therapist with or without Physical Therapist Assistant) will render services to mentally ill inpatients of Pilgrim Psychiatric Center (PPC) campus located at 998 Crooked Hill Road, Brentwood, NY 11717. These individuals must meet the professional education requirement for licensure in Physical Therapy, maintain current licensure and registration in the state of New York & must be credentialed to provide PT service at PPC. Experience working with mentally ill patients is preferred. Background check will be required for all personnel providing this contracted service.

Contractor will work two eight (8) hour days per week (16 hours/week). Shift to be determined. As part of the team approach to patient care and rehabilitation, all referrals to Physical Therapy are made by the Medical Specialist/Nurse Practitioner (NP). There will be direct contact between Physical Therapy Personnel and patients.

Contractor will consult with patient’s treatment team as clinically indicated.


The contractor agrees to provide following Physical Therapy (PT) services through:

1. Functional Assessment and Evaluation establishing a PT Plan of care by the Physical Therapist with the subsequent recommendation & application of therapeutic physical therapy modalities, agents, exercise, and other related procedures which serve to maximize functional independence & level of functioning. This may include use of assistive devices e.g., wheelchairs and walkers.
2. Restoration & maintenance of physical function through rehabilitation of acute or prolonged physical dysfunction and/or pain, with special emphasis on movement dysfunction. The objectives of such interventions are to alleviate pain, reduce disability, prevent deformity, improved activities of daily living (ADL) skills and achieve maximal physical independence to contribute to the comfort and dignity of all patients. This includes recommendations for exercises on the Unit if clinically applicable.
3. Prevention of physical dysfunction and falls including recommendations regarding fall prevention.
4. Assessment of long-term use of Wheelchairs and Orthotic Devices e.g., brace.
5. Participation in the continuing interdisciplinary evaluation of individual patients for purposes of initiation, monitoring and follow-up of individualized treatment plans including discharge planning if applicable.
6. Collaboration with appropriate staff to develop individualized PT protocols to reduce risk and improve function using specialized adaptive PT equipment etc. This includes identifying safety risks inherent in mentally ill patient population (suicide, self-injurious behavior etc.) to minimize ligature risk in the environment & from the equipment used.
7. Medical Record documentation of information on the results of evaluation and assessment of patients (PT Plan of Care, individual Treatment Notes & monthly PT Progress Note) will be summarized in clear concise form. These notes will be written so that a person unfamiliar with the patient will be able to understand the patient as it relates to PT modality used, patient participation & progress towards established goal/s. Evaluations will conform to the format currently in use at PPC.
8. The Physical Therapist Assistant administers Physical Therapy treatments in accordance with the established PT plan of care by the Physical Therapist.
9. Participation in all required trainings for direct-care and other related staff.
10. Maintenance of initial & ongoing annual competency assessment by a peer.
11. Any other assigned duties as needed to comply with applicable Federal and State regulations.
12. Comply with Infection Control Policy & Procedure of the facility applicable to health care personnel, equipment & environment of patient care.
13. Assure adherence to facility fire and safety procedures.
14. Comply with the standards for ethics and professionalism in physical therapy established by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
15. Contracted staff will be responsible for PT equipment & its maintenance.
16. Contract will be monitored continuously through dedicated quarterly indicators.