Acute Care Physical Therapist-Per Diem
Listed compensation
$38.07-$59.08/hr
The week · per this posting
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Scheduled Weekly Hours: 0
- Sturdy Health is seeking a skilled and compassionate Per Diem Acute Care Physical Therapist to join our Rehabilitation Services team. The Physical Therapist will provide comprehensive physical therapy evaluation and treatment to patients in the acute-care hospital setting, with an emphasis on safe functional mobility, prevention of complications associated with hospitalization, and appropriate discharge planning.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong clinical reasoning, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary healthcare team in a fast-paced hospital environment.
Essential Responsibilities
Perform comprehensive physical therapy evaluations and assessments of patients with a variety of medical, surgical, orthopedic, neurological, and cardiopulmonary diagnoses.
Develop individualized treatment plans based on the patient's medical status, functional limitations, goals, and discharge needs.
Provide Therapeutic Interventions Including
Bed mobility training
Transfer training
Gait training
Balance activities
Therapeutic exercise
Functional mobility training
Stair training
Neuromuscular re-education
Assistive-device Training
Monitor patient response to treatment, including vital signs and changes in medical status.
Recognize precautions, contraindications, and safety concerns and modify treatment appropriately.
Safely manage patients with IV lines, oxygen, drains, catheters, telemetry, and other hospital equipment.
Educate patients and families regarding mobility, exercise, safety, equipment, and home programs.
Make appropriate recommendations regarding discharge destination, durable medical equipment, continued therapy, and level of assistance required.
Collaborate with physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, case managers, social workers, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.
Document evaluations, treatments, progress, and discharge recommendations accurately and in a timely manner in the electronic medical record.
Prioritize and manage a variable caseload according to patient acuity and hospital needs.
Participate in quality improvement, education, and departmental activities as appropriate.
Maintain compliance with hospital policies, professional standards, infection-control requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.
Required Skills/Qualifications/Training/Experience
- New clinicians considered
- Excellent communication skills
Follows Evidence-based Practice Guidelines
Strong clinical reasoning, assessment, and documentation skills.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
Ability to safely perform the physical requirements of an acute-care physical therapy position.
Preferred Skills/Qualifications/Training/Experience
Prior hospital, acute care setting
Educational Requirements
Graduate of an accredited Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate Degree Physical Therapy Program
License/Certification
MA License
BLS CPR
Age Specific Criteria: Ability to effectively communicate to all age levels served within the scope of the position/assigned areas.
Ability to Meet Job Performance Expectations: Must have the ability to perform the essential functions of the position without posing a direct threat to the health and safety of themselves or other individuals in the workplace, with or without a reasonable accommodation.
- Salary Range: $38.07-$59.08
- Salary Range Details
The pay range displayed on each job posting reflects the anticipated range for new hires. A successful candidate’s actual compensation will be determined after taking factors into consideration such as the candidate’s work history, experience, skill set, and education. This is not inclusive of the value Sturdy Health’s benefits package (if applicable), which includes among other benefits, healthcare/dental/vision and retirement. For annual salaries this is based on full-time employment.
- Sturdy Memorial Hospital is an equal employment opportunity employer. There is no discrimination because of race, color, creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status or disability.
Key Responsibilities
The physical therapist will perform comprehensive evaluations and develop individualized treatment plans for patients in an acute-care hospital setting. They will provide therapeutic interventions, monitor patient progress, and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to ensure safe discharge planning.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a degree from an accredited physical therapy program and possess a valid Massachusetts license and BLS CPR certification. Strong clinical reasoning, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced hospital environment are required.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
Key Skills
Physical Therapist Career Context
In Massachusetts, the Physical Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$100k (89 salary observations; 164 listings), vs ~$93k nationally (2,380 salary observations; 8,217 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-09-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.
Of the 40 active Physical Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 8% are remote, 50% have no call, 73% require no weekends.
Physical Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is up 1.0% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).
The cost-of-living index for Massachusetts is 105.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$101k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $95k in an average-cost state. 63.2% of Massachusetts clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
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