Acute Care Physical Therapist
St. Louis, Missouri
Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Physical Therapist - Acute Care Hospital (Travel/Contract)

Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Summary

• Provide physical therapy services across diverse patient care areas including medicine, surgery, orthopedics, neurology, cardiopulmonary, and oncology.
• Primary role is inpatient acute care with a focus on level 1 trauma acute care patients.
• Floating within therapy service lines may be required to meet facility needs.

Schedule

• Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM (start time flexible up to 8:00 AM).
• Required to work one weekend (Saturday and Sunday) every 4 weeks, with a compensatory day off during that week.
• No on-call requirements.
• Guaranteed minimum of 3 shifts per 13-week contract.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Physical Therapist license in Missouri (pending state license accepted).
• Minimum 1 year of Physical Therapist experience within the last year.
• Experience working with Level 1 Trauma patients.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Experience & Eligibility

• First-time travelers accepted.
• Local candidates within 75 miles radius are not accepted.
• No floating to sister facilities required.
• Return-to-Office (RTO) restrictions: No more than 7 days off within the 13-week contract.

Compliance & Documentation Requirements

• Government-issued ID required.
• Criminal background check within 6 months, including statewide and nationwide searches.
• Quarterly EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG checks required.
• Education verification of highest related degree required before start.
• Professional license primary source verification required (NURSYS for Missouri).
• Physical exam within 1 year of start.
• Drug testing within 1 year of start, including a comprehensive panel.
• Immunizations and health screenings:

  • Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 1 year.
  • Tdap vaccine or declination.
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella immunity or vaccination/declination as applicable.
  • Seasonal flu vaccination or approved exemption during flu season.
• Fit mask testing (N95) required and must be renewed annually.
• Various facility-specific documents including HIPAA acknowledgement, confidentiality form, latex allergy questionnaire, hand hygiene, fingernail, and dress code policies must be reviewed and signed prior to start.
• Badge photo required (head and shoulders, white background, no obstructions, taken within 6 months).
• Employment application and unit-specific skills checklist required within 1 year of start.
• Unit-specific competency exams and medication/pharmacology competency exams required and must be updated annually.

Additional Notes

• Role involves assessments, documentation, patient/family education, and safety & injury prevention.
• Facility uses EPIC for charting.
• Parking options available with monthly passes (details provided during orientation).
• Must adhere to facility policies including dress code and fingernail standards to avoid being sent home.
• References: Two professional references required; supervisors within the last year preferred.

This position offers a structured acute care physical therapy role with a focus on trauma patients, requiring strong clinical skills and flexibility in scheduling, including weekend coverage.