Physical Therapist, Acute Care
Orange, California
Saint Joseph Hospital

Job Opportunity: Physical Therapist - Acute Care Hospital

Location

• Orange, California

Employment Type

• Travel / Contract

Contract Length

• 13 weeks

Job Description

• Acute Care Inpatient Physical Therapist
• Stroke Certified Center
• Heavy Orthopedic caseload
• No wound care required
• Daily caseload: approximately 10 patients
• Shift: 10-hour day shifts (typically 4 days per week, 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM)
• Weekend requirement: minimum 2 weekends per month
• Block scheduling may be accommodated at manager's discretion

Facility Type

• Acute Care Hospital
• Magnet recognized
• 426 staffed beds
• Charting system: Epic
• Free parking available

Required Qualifications

• Valid Physical Therapist license in California
• Minimum 3 years of Physical Therapist experience, including experience within the last year
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• State license in good standing

Prior Travel Experience

• Not required

Required Documentation & Compliance

• I-9 verification
• Government-issued photo ID (Driver’s License or State ID)
• Social Security Card (for Washington state OBRA search if applicable)
• Background check within 90 days covering all locations lived/worked in past 7 years; updated annually
• Education verification (degree/diploma/transcript as applicable)
• Employment application covering at least last 5 years
• Minimum of 2 professional references covering 1 year of employment in a comparable specialty/setting
• Physical exam within 1 year of start, signed by MD, NP, PA, or DO, indicating ability to work
• Immunizations and health screenings:

  • Negative TB test or chest X-ray within 12 months, updated annually
  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Tdap vaccine within 10 years (declination accepted)
  • MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccination or positive titer
  • Hepatitis B vaccination or signed declination
  • Varicella vaccination or positive titer
  • Seasonal flu vaccine during flu season (declination accepted)
  • COVID-19 vaccination record preferred (declinations not required)
• Drug screening: 9-panel drug screen within 12 months; instant tests acceptable with attestation
• Respirator clearance (RespSafety) required annually for travel candidates
• Fit mask testing required for travel candidates (updated annually)
• Background checks including EPLS/GSA/SAM and HHS/OIG within 30 days of start, updated monthly
• State-specific searches as applicable (e.g., Washington State Patrol search)
• Photo for badge (passport style with neutral background) required prior to start

Certifications (as applicable)

• BLS (Basic Life Support) - AHA or Canadian Heart & Stroke Foundation certification
• ACLS, PALS, NRP, NIH Stroke Certification, and others as required by clinical track or facility (verify per candidate’s profile)
• IV Certification, CPI, Management of Assaultive Behavior, Chemotherapy, Electronic Fetal Monitoring certifications as applicable (verify per clinical track)
• Medication/Pharmacology competency exams as applicable

Additional Requirements

• Float policy acknowledgment: may be required to float to other nearby facilities within a reasonable distance
• Completion of required WorkRamp modules (annual regulatory, specialty-specific, regional core, and facility-specific modules) prior to start and annually thereafter
• Epic training modules completion as required by facility and role
• Skills checklists updated annually as applicable
• Compliance with all state-specific and facility-specific credentialing and onboarding requirements

This position offers an opportunity to work in a high-acuity, stroke-certified acute care hospital with a focus on orthopedic patients, providing a structured 4x10 hour day shift schedule with weekend coverage expectations. The role requires a licensed Physical Therapist with at least 3 years of experience and current BLS certification. First-time travel therapists are welcome to apply.