Physical Therapist -Outpatient Spine and Pain Institute

About Shepherd Center

With five decades of experience, Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain.

An elite center ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems.

Shepherd is the only rehabilitation facility in the nation with an intensive care unit on-site, allowing us to care for the most complex patients and begin the rehabilitation process sooner.

Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.

Shepherd Center's culture is one of hope, humor, and hard work. You will enjoy career growth, strong relationships with co-workers, strong support from leadership, and fun activities that have kept over 12% of staff members working at Shepherd for more than 20 years.

Join Shepherd Center’s Dean Stroud Spine and Pain Institute, where innovative rehabilitation and compassionate care come together to help patients restore function, improve mobility, and regain independence. Our specialized program focuses on reducing chronic pain, decreasing reliance on medications, and improving overall physical and psychological well-being.

As a Physical Therapist, you will play a vital role in evaluating patients, developing individualized treatment plans, and delivering evidence-based interventions that empower patients to achieve meaningful, lasting improvements. You'll collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, educate patients and families, and utilize specialized treatment approaches to support recovery and long-term pain management.

What Will Set You Apart

• Hands-on experience with Dry Needling techniques
• Clinical experience in both neurologic and orthopedic rehabilitation settings
• Strong knowledge and application of manual therapy techniques
• Experience incorporating Pain Neuroscience Education into patient treatment
• A passion for helping patients overcome complex pain conditions through innovative, patient-centered care

Job Responsibilities

Evaluates patient’s physical and functional status including muscular strength, motor functions, reflexes, ambulation skills and ability to perform activities of daily living.

Observes and interviews patient, reviews medical history, and administers sensory tests, muscle tests, range-of-motion exams, and other evaluation techniques.

Develops and implements treatment program to further patient functional skills, which is then periodically reassessed and adapted.

• Plans and delivers effective patient and family training to ensure proper patient care.
• Utilizes and orders in-house trial equipment according to need and correctly fits equipment to the patient.
• Schedules patients for specialty clinics and programs where appropriate.

Determines and orders/recommends appropriate durable medical equipment in consultation with patient, caregivers, payer source and team members.

Discusses evaluation, goals, and treatment with patient and family and instructs them on the exercise program and in use of equipment.

• Uses evaluation findings to determine appropriate discharge planning needs.
• Effectively participates in intra-departmental staff meetings, and intra-departmental discipline/program committee assignments.
• May participate in education programs by teaching and supervising students.
• Participates in research projects as needed.

Prepares and maintains a record of observations and care given. Documents information clearly and completely utilizing correct forms/systems and in a timely manner according to Center policy.

Performs consistent with Shepherd Center standards, clinical policies, and procedures.

Practices proper safety techniques in accordance with Center and departmental policies and procedures. Responsible for the reporting of employee/patient/visitor injuries or accidents, or other safety issues to the supervisor and in the occurrence notification system.

• Actively participates in center-wide efforts that affect physical therapy practice.
• Establishes relationships with other physical therapists.
• May provide supervision and education to therapy support personnel during and outside of PT treatment sessions.
• May float to inpatient or post-acute programs to provide patient evaluation or treatment sessions as needed.

Practices proper safety techniques in accordance with Center and departmental policies and procedures. Responsible for the reporting of employee/patient/visitor injuries or accidents, or other safety issues to the supervisor and in the occurrence notification system.

Monitors and ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements, organizational standards, and policies and procedures related to area of responsibility. Identifies potential risk areas within area of responsibility and supports problem resolution process.

Performs other duties as required/requested/assigned.

Required Minimum Education

A degree from an accredited program in physical therapy.

Required Minimum Certification

• BLS required.
• Licensed to practice in the state of Georgia.

Required Minimum Experience

Two (2) years recent clinical experience preferred.

Required Minimum Skills

• Basic computer skills.
• Working knowledge of all treatment and therapeutic patient care devices used by physical therapy staff.

Must display knowledge of growth, development and the ability to obtain, interpret and disseminate information in terms of age specific patient needs (adolescent, adult and geriatric.

Demonstrates competency in time management, organization, prioritization and critical thinking by planning and organizing work assignments and prioritizing the specific needs of the patient.

• Takes responsibility for growing professionally and seek opportunities for improving skills.
• Communicates effectively using timely verbal, non-verbal and written communication.
• Willingly adapts to changing work demands and work environment.
• Demonstrates critical thinking skills and makes sound judgments to monitor and respond to patient needs or changes in condition.
• Completes orientation and initial assessment of competency successfully by determined due date.
• Completes mandatory education and annual competency assessment requirements by determined due date.

Preferred Qualifications

Previous experience with patients with Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury Stroke, Concussion and Vestibular Disorders.

Physical Demands

Uses body, tools, or special devices to safely, effectively, and efficiently to move, guide, or place patients. Involves some latitude for judgement with regard to precision attained and the selection of what adaptive device(s) to utilize.

• Ability to transfer and position patients, consistent with lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Repetitive lifting, moving, squatting, kneeling, and crawling physical requirements.

Working Conditions

• Normal patient care environment.
• Some potential for exposure to blood and body fluids.
• Some potential exposure to infectious viruses.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified.