Relief Physical Therapist

Physical TherapistIncludes weekendsNo callNo nightsPer Diem

Listed compensation

$55.5-$68.38/hr

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting, benefits and time off.

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

Company Description

At Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, we know world-renowned care begins with world-class caring. That's why we combine advanced technologies and breakthrough discoveries with family-centered care.

It's why we provide our caregivers with continuing education and state-of-the-art facilities, like the newly remodeled Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. And it's why we need caring, committed people on our team - like you. Join us on our mission to heal humanity, one child and family at a time.

Job ID: P142711-2571

Job Description

Job Summary

This Relief Physical Therapist position will provide essential developmental care to medically complex infants and families in various nurseries within Stanford Medicine Children’s Heath, and also provide care to adolescents with the Comprehensive Care Program for LPCH.

This role offers diverse opportunities to work with patients across various ages in the pediatric acute care setting. We seek candidates with expertise in evaluating and treating infants in the NICU, along with a strong background in pediatric acute care.

Essential Functions

The essential functions listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification. They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Employees must abide by all Joint Commission Requirements including but not limited to sensitivity to cultural diversity, patient care, patient rights and ethical treatment, safety and security of physical environments, emergency management, teamwork, respect for others, participation in ongoing education and training, communication and adherence to safety and quality programs, sustaining compliance with National Patient Safety Goals, and licensure and health screenings.

Must perform all duties and responsibilities in accordance with the hospital's policies and procedures, including its Service Standards and its Code of Conduct.

  • Performs patient care tasks with medically complicated patient populations. Determines rehab prognosis and implements the clinically indicated therapy plan of care. Determines the therapy diagnosis to address impairments and functional movement limitations. Selects and administers appropriate assessment and treatment techniques during all phases of the rehabilitation process.
  • Evaluates, recommends, and trains on the use of durable medical equipment. May fabricate devices as clinically indicated. Discharges patients from treatment as clinically indicated, with adequate discharge planning including equipment procurement and patient/family training. Communicates discharge plan appropriately to patient, family, and health care team.
  • Identifies needs for equipment repair or upgrade to maintain quality of care. Makes recommendations for selection and purchase of specific equipment and supplies.
  • Initiates and participates in interdisciplinary care planning to meet the needs of each patient and family, including participation in rounds and patient care conferences and communicating with and instructing other care providers. May contact community agencies as necessary to provide continuity of service between hospital and community.
  • Ensures documentation and billing are timely, accurate and complete, including evaluation, assessment, treatment precautions, plan of care, progress notes, discharge summaries, and charges.
  • Provides direct patient care that meets department and professional standards of practice, during patient assessment, development of physical therapy care plan, patient treatment, family/caregiver training, and discharge planning. Informs supervisor if problems arise related to the delivery of patient care or caseload volume.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

  • Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities as well as possession of any required licenses or certifications is qualifying.
  • Education: Requirement met by License/Certification Requirement.
  • Experience: None Required

License/Certification

RQI Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support or

Basic Life Support by American Heart Association (AHA)

Physical Therapist by California Physical Therapy Board

Knowledge

These are the observable and measurable attributes and skills required to perform successfully the essential functions of the job and are generally demonstrated through qualifying experience, education or licensure/certification.

  • Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
  • Sound clinical reasoning skills consistent with standards of care and professional practice standards; demonstrates good safety awareness, judgment and problem analysis and resolution.
  • Knowledge of legal issues affecting the clinical practice.
  • Knowledge of regulatory practice requirements.
  • Knowledge of available equipment and vendors used in assigned area.
  • Ability to work well and build relationships with individuals at all levels of the organization.
  • Knowledge of evaluation and treatment methodologies as applied to complex patient care; demonstrates self-directed learning skills to remain current with evidence-based practice
  • Ability to manage clinical caseload
  • Ability to provide appropriate care and progress treatment based on professional standards of practice, and on the needs of the specific individual, including age and developmental considerations, cultural and psychosocial issues, precautions and medical condition.
  • Knowledge and adherence to Code of Ethics and performance standards specific to the clinician's professional organization.
  • Knowledge of business aspects of position, such as utilization management, charging practices and regulatory compliance.

Physical Requirements

The Physical Requirements and Working Conditions in which the job is typically performed are available from the Occupational Health Department. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Additional Information

Pay Range

  • Compensation is based on the level and requirements of the role.
  • Salary within our ranges may also be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, location, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.
  • Typically, new team members join at the minimum to mid salary range.
  • Minimum to Midpoint Range (Hourly): $55.50 to $68.38

Stanford Medicine Children's Health (SMCH) strongly values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination in all of its policies and practices, including the area of employment.

Accordingly, SMCH does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, or disability, or the perception of any of the above.

People of all genders, members of all racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.

Qualified applicants with criminal convictions will be considered after an individualized assessment of the conviction and the job requirements, and where applicable, in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

  • Employee Referral Amount: Not Applicable
  • Employee Group: NE - Non-Exempt/Non-Represented
  • Fixed Term Employment Duration: None
  • Job Family: LP Rehabilitation
  • Department: IP Therapy - Physical
  • Remote Eligible: No
  • Benefits Eligible: No
  • Scheduled Weekly Hours: 0
  • Work Shift: Day - 08 Hour

Key Responsibilities

Provide developmental care to medically complex infants in nurseries and adolescents in the Comprehensive Care Program. Responsibilities include performing patient assessments, implementing therapy plans, and coordinating discharge planning with families and healthcare teams.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Certifications

BLS

Key Skills

NICU EvaluationRehabilitation PlanningDurable Medical Equipment TrainingPatient Documentation

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Relief Physical Therapist at Stanford Medicine Children's Health a 6.9 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% in Pediatrics (Physical Therapy) — ranked against 435 active Pediatrics (Physical Therapy) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, no night shifts.

Pediatrics — Physical Therapist Career Context

Of the 50 active Pediatrics listings this role was benchmarked against, 8% are remote, 38% have no call, 54% require no weekends.

Pediatrics pay on WeekdayDoc is up 8.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top contract/1099 Physical Therapist Jobs

49 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution37 jobs · 29 employers

6
<$120k
5
$120k-140k
15
$140k-160k
8
$160k-180k
3
$180k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks29 jobs

401k / retirement match
72%
CME allowance
55% this job
Sign-on bonus
34%
Relocation assistance
14%
Loan repayment
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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$80-$110/hr
#2

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$74-$95/hr
#3

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+ 47 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 5.1this job 6.9
Better work-life than 80% of Pediatrics (Physical Therapy) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 435 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No call
  • No nights
  • Includes weekends

Living in Palo Alto

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$3.26M
Typical market rent
$4,678/mo
Residents’ average commute
21 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
110.4
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.