Physical Therapist – Inpatient LTAC
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center

Physical Therapist (Inpatient) - Travel/Contract

Location: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Position Details

• Specialty: Therapy/Rehabilitation (Physical Therapy - Inpatient)
• Shift: Day shift, 5x8 hours (choose Mon-Fri OR Tues-Saturday)
• Hours: 40 hours per week
• Weekend Requirement: 2 weekend shifts per month
• Cases: Adults, Adolescents, Geriatrics
• Typical caseload: Approximately 8 patients per day
• No on-call required
• No floating outside scope of practice
• No block scheduling accommodations
• Local candidates not accepted within 100 miles radius
• Pending New Mexico license accepted at time of submission
• Return to Office (RTO) restrictions: Absences greater than 7 days require approval
• Facility may call off up to 3 shifts during a 13-week assignment
• New contracts and extensions must be at least 10 weeks
• Travelers must take a 6-month break after 4 consecutive assignments or 1 year of work, whichever comes first

Patient Population & Unit Info

• Focus on total joint replacements with same-day discharge (last evaluation starts at 5:00 PM)
• Diagnoses treated include but are not limited to:

  • Falls, CVA (stroke), Trauma, Pneumonia, Ethanol withdrawal
  • Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA), Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA), ORIF (Open Reduction Internal Fixation)
  • Orthopedics, Pulmonary Embolism (PE), Sepsis, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
  • Respiratory failure, Liver failure, Kidney failure, Wounds

Required Skills & Experience

• Acute care experience required
• Experience with outpatient clinic, rehabilitation hospital, and skilled nursing facility (SNF) settings preferred
• Knowledge and skills in:

  • Body mechanics, cervicalgia, low back pain
  • Post-operative care for cervical surgery, shoulder repair, spinal surgery
  • Spinal conditions, total hip and knee replacement
  • Cognitive disorders, Parkinson’s disease, post-stroke rehabilitation
  • Spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury
  • Home exercise program development and patient/family education
• First-time travelers accepted if they have acute inpatient experience

Required Certifications & Licenses

• New Mexico Physical Therapy License (pending accepted at submission)
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required
• COVID-19 vaccination required; religious and medical exemptions accepted with completion of exemption form signed by a provider
• Other certifications (ACLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC, NIH Stroke Certification) may be relevant but not explicitly required for this role

Facility Information

• Community-based hospital
• Level III Trauma Center
• Level I Teaching Facility
• Total staffed beds: 65 inpatient, 12 ICU
• Charting system: Cerner
• Parking: Free
• Scrub color: Black pants and red shirt

Compliance & Documentation Requirements

• Background checks including 7-year criminal history, EPLS/GSA/SAM, HHS/OIG, and fingerprinting required
• Physical exam within 1 year prior to start
• Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 1 year
• Drug screening: Negative 10-panel drug screen within 30 days of start (THC screen not required)
• Immunizations or proof of immunity required for:

  • Tdap (declinations accepted)
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (positive titer or 2 vaccines)
  • Hepatitis B (positive titer, series, or declination)
  • Varicella (positive titer or 2 vaccines)
• Annual flu vaccination or approved exemption required for flu season
• Fit mask test required within 1 year of start
• COVID-19 vaccine exemptions require specific facility forms and approval process
• Unit-specific skills checklist required and must be updated annually
• Two professional references within 3 years of hire required

Additional Notes

• No prior travel experience required
• Guaranteed 40 hours per week
• No floating or block scheduling flexibility
• Strict local radius rule (no locals within 100 miles)

This position is ideal for physical therapists with acute inpatient experience seeking a travel contract in a community hospital with a focus on orthopedic and neurological rehabilitation cases.

Requirements/Qualifications

• Valid Physical Therapist license in New Mexico
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Experience in an inpatient setting