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UnitedHealth Group
Vancleave, Mississippi

PRN Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical TherapistIncludes weekendsPer Diem

Listed compensation

$52k-$79k

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Explore opportunities with Deaconess HomeCare, a part of LHC Group, a leading post-acute care partner for hospitals, physicians and families nationwide.

As members of the Optum family of businesses, we are dedicated to helping people feel their best, including our team members who create meaningful connections with patients, their families, each other and the communities we serve. Find a home for your career here. Join us and embrace a culture of Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

As the Per Diem Physical Therapist Assistant, you will perform treatment and provide exercise instruction and patient education aimed at improving/enhancing the patient's well-being while following the established plan of care.

Primary Responsibilities

Responsible for following all state specific laws governing the provision of physical therapy in home care, to follow the treatment set only as defined by the supervising PT; to perform only those procedures that he/she is qualified and trained to perform and to make all recommendations for changes in the plan of care to the supervising Physical Therapist

Instructs and aids patients in active and passive exercise, muscle re-education, gait, functional, ADL, transfer, safety, and prosthetic training

Observes, records, and reports to the supervising PT, the nurse supervisor, and/or the physician the patient's response to treatment and changes in the patient's condition. Coordinates care with the other members of the healthcare team as appropriate

Instructs patient, family, caregiver, and other members of the health care team in the areas of therapy within the scope of the physical therapy assistant

Ability to function in any home situation regardless of age, race, creed, color, sex, disability, or financial condition of the client

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications

  • Current, licensed, registered, or certified to assist in the practice of physical therapy in state of practice
  • Current driver’s license and vehicle insurance, access to a dependable vehicle, or public transportation
  • Available to work a weekend rotation

Preferred Qualifications

Current CPR certification or ability to complete within 90 days of hire

Ability to perform physical tasks required for patient care, including lifting, transferring, and assisting with mobility

Pay Range

  • $52,417 - $78,625 annual total cash target pay
  • $30.24 - $45.36 per visit point
  • $25.20 - $37.80 hourly rate

Annual total cash compensation for this role assumes full-time employment (40 weekly hours) at full productivity and generally follows the range above.

Total cash compensation includes earnings from per visit point pay and hourly pay and is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience and may increase over time based on productivity and performance in the role.

This role receives two types of compensation depending on the work being performed. When conducting visits, you will be paid per visit point rate compensation. Your per visit pay will be calculated by multiplying your per visit point rate by the productivity points you accrue for various types of visits.

Each type of visit is assigned a certain number of productivity points that is inclusive of “direct” and “indirect” patient care activities. Visits are assigned based on patient and business needs.

The number of visits performed each week will vary based on individual productivity targets and the productivity points assigned to the visits performed. You will be paid your hourly rate for certain non-visit activities such as orientation. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

In addition to your pay, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements).

No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone–of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income–deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life.

Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes.

We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes — an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.

Key Responsibilities

The Physical Therapist Assistant performs treatments, provides exercise instruction, and educates patients to improve their well-being under the supervision of a Physical Therapist. They are responsible for observing and reporting patient responses to treatment and coordinating care with the healthcare team.

Requirements

Candidates must be licensed or certified to practice physical therapy in the state of practice and possess a valid driver's license with access to a vehicle. The role requires the ability to perform physical tasks such as lifting and transferring patients, as well as availability for weekend rotations.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Gait trainingFunctional trainingADL trainingPatient assessmentCare coordinationSafety trainingDocumentation

Physical Therapist Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Mississippi is 87.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$66k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $75k in an average-cost state. 61.9% of Mississippi clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

UnitedHealth Group holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 75/100, 1,414 active listings.

What does the Physical Therapy market look like in Mississippi?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$52k–$79kPhysical Therapy median $81k (middle half $64k–$110k)13 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$75k in purchasing powerMississippi index 87.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Physical Therapy listings in Mississippi138 active22,039 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
UnitedHealth Groupsilver tier, 75/100Top Employers work-life index1,414 active listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top contract/1099 PTA Jobs

5 matches · ranked by pay

Work-Life Balance Distribution

5 jobs · 3 employers
0
1-2
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3-4
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5-6
3
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2
9-10

Higher = better work-life balance

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Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 1.7
Below most Physical Therapist Assistant listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 4,946 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes weekends
UnitedHealth Group logo

About UnitedHealth Group

Hospitals and Health Care
Eden Prairie , Minnesota
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

401k
Comprehensive Benefits Package
Recognition Programs
Equity Stock Purchase

Living in Vancleave

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$264k≈ 5.0× annual pay
Residents’ average commute
33 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
90.0
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

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

BEA 2024 · Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.