Physical Therapist - Burn Unit
New Orleans, Louisiana
University Medical Center New Orleans

Physical Therapist - Acute Care Hospital (Burn Unit)

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Description

• Provide physical therapy services in the Burn Unit, treating patients with 0-100% Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) burns.
• Work every Saturday and Sunday in the Burn Unit, plus 3 additional shifts Monday through Friday (schedule varies).
• Must be able to float to other patient areas as needed.
• Patient care includes managing pain, surgical dressings, mobility, positioning to prevent contractures and scarring.
• Caseload ranges from 2 to 8 patients per day, with higher census during cooler months.
• Opportunity to assist with outpatient PT evaluations and therapy if time allows.
• Scrubs provided.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Physical Therapist license in Louisiana.
• Minimum of 1 year of Physical Therapist experience, including experience within the last year.
• Experience in an inpatient setting.
• Experience with Epic electronic medical record system.

Shift Details

• Day shift, 5 days a week, 8 hours per day (8:00 AM – 3:30 PM).
• Total 40 hours per week.

Compliance and Documentation Requirements

• Government-issued photo ID matching all documentation.
• Background check within 6 months covering all locations lived/worked/schooled in past 7 years.
• EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks required within 30 days of start.
• Drug screen within 30 days of start (specific panels depending on hire date).
• Employment application with 7 years of work history, no gaps over 30 days.
• Skills checklist updated within 12 months of start and annually.
• Medication/Pharmacology competency exam, Core Part I, II, III competency exams required annually.
• TB testing: Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 3 months of start; annual TB questionnaire required.
• Immunizations:

  • Tdap within 10 years (declinations accepted with proper forms).
  • 2 MMR vaccines or positive titers for Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Rubella (boosters required if titers low).
  • 2 Varicella vaccines or positive titer (boosters required if titer low).
  • Hepatitis B series, titer, or declination (declinations must be signed within 12 months of start).
• Seasonal flu vaccination/documentation required annually (Oct 1 – Mar 31), with exemptions and declinations accepted.
• Physical exam not required by facility but required by placement agency within 12 months of start.

Certifications

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required (AHA).
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) may be required depending on unit assignment—verify with unit description.
• Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Blue Card accepted; may be completed onsite within 30 days of start if not already certified.

Additional Notes

• Must be able to work weekends consistently.
• Floating to other patient care areas is mandatory.
• Facility provides scrubs.

This position is ideal for a Physical Therapist or Occupational Therapist with burn unit experience seeking a travel contract in an acute care hospital setting.