Gundersen Health System logo
Gundersen Health System
West Union, Iowa

Physical Therapist - Palmer (Casual)

Physical TherapistIncludes callPer Diem

Listed compensation

$39.44/hr

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

Love + medicine is who we are, it's what we do, it's why people want to work here. If you’re looking for a job to love, apply today.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

0 Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinics (Emplify Health, West Union, IA) is seeking a Casual/as needed Physical Therapist to join our highly committed and dynamic rehab team as we provide excellent quality care to patients of all ages. What's Available: Casual/as needed.

Starting pay of $39.44/hr and up, based on your years of experience. What You'll Need: Master's degree in Physical Therapy or a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Advanced training in a specialized area of Physical Therapy. Physical Therapist (PT) licensed in the state of Iowa.

Current Infant-Adult Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers Minimum of 1 year of experience in a related field preferred.

Why Join Us

We offer a work environment that supports you personally and professionally, and a work culture where you are valued and appreciated Departmental leadership that supports you as you do your best work.

High-energy, patient-centered environment that serves every patient population from infancy to the elderly A team-oriented department focused on teaching, which is guaranteed to expand critical thinking skills and nursing skillset You can work anywhere. But not everywhere practices LOVE + MEDICINE.

Join our mission in changing healthcare by applying today to join our highly skilled and dedicated healthcare team!

If you need assistance with any portion of the application or have questions about the position, please contact the recruiter listed below: Primary Recruiter: Jenni Elsbernd Recruiter Email Address: jlelsber@emplifyhealth.org We inspire your best life by relentlessly caring, learning and innovating.

This is our purpose. Together with our values — belonging, respect, excellence, accountability, teamwork and humility — our pillars set our foundation and our future.

Equal Opportunity Employer Around here, loving your job is part of the job. Join our mission in changing healthcare while finding a career you'll love! Gundersen Health System offers a proud, local history spanning more than 100 years.

Our personalized patient care model is only the beginning of what you will experience as we foster population health transformation and innovation to serve our communities and you. We've made it a priority to enrich the lives of our employees as they find a career they love.

Using each employee’s unique talents and passions, Gundersen is committed to delivering exceptional patient and family-centered care to the communities we serve.

You can be part of an exciting, highly adaptable and mission-driven organization with a work environment that supports you personally and professionally and a work culture where you are valued and appreciated offering an employee-first culture, work-life balance, and career advancement & growth opportunities.

This culture allows our organization to attract elite talent, like yourself!

What You Can Expect: Empowerment to shape your work environment, encouragement to improve processes and create efficiencies, and support when seeking opportunities for growth Culture that encourages self-care and provides you with opportunities to be your best self at work and at home Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits packages, as applicable, ensuring your comfort and well-being as a valuable team member Support for your career growth through Professional Development Opportunities, our Tuition Investment Program, Career Development Center, and online continuing education courses Inside our walls and our neighborhoods, we deliver world-class medical care and the right amount of love.

We call it LOVE + MEDICINE and it’s more than our practice. It is who we are. Gundersen Health System, based in La Crosse, WI, is the leading provider of primary and specialized care in western Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota, and northeast Iowa; serving more than 500,000 residents throughout 22 counties.

Our physician-led, not-for-profit healthcare system includes a 325-bed teaching hospital, tertiary referral center, and Level II Trauma Center; community clinics; 6 affiliate critical access hospitals; nursing homes; behavioral health services; vision centers; pharmacies; and air and ground ambulance services.

Together, we inspire your best life by relentlessly caring, learning, and innovating. We deliver Love + Medicine every day to change lives in our communities and enrich the lives of our employees. Select Remote/Hybrid Eligible under More search to see our remote-eligible openings.

A rewarding career and an excellent quality of life awaits you. Learn more about our excellence in patient care, education, research, culture, and something we call Love + Medicine at gundersenhealth.org.

Key Responsibilities

Provide high-quality physical therapy care to a diverse patient population ranging from infants to the elderly. Work within a dynamic rehab team to implement patient-centered treatment plans in a teaching environment.

Requirements

Requires a Master's or Doctorate in Physical Therapy and a valid Iowa state license. Must have current Infant-Adult Basic Life Support certification, with one year of related experience preferred.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

BLS (preferred)

Key Skills

RehabilitationClinical Instruction

Physical Therapist Career Context

Of the 40 active Physical Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 8% are remote, 45% have no call, 60% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Iowa is 87.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.8% of Iowa clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top contract/1099 Physical Therapist Jobs

40 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution29 jobs · 26 employers

10
<$115k
6
$115k-130k
3
$140k
9
$145k-160k
1
$160k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks28 jobs · 26 employers

401k / retirement match
61%
CME allowance
50% this job
Sign-on bonus
46%
Relocation assistance
7%
Loan repayment
4%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Home Health Physical TherapistPer Diem

Transition Care Telemetry · San Juan Capistrano, California

$80-$110/hr
#2

Home Health Physical Therapist (PT) – PRNPer Diem

Concierge Home Care · St. Cloud, Florida

$70-$100/hr
#3

Home Care Physical Therapist- Independent Contractor (Union County)

$74-$95/hr
#4

Home Care Physical Therapist- Per Diem (Ocean County)

$72-$95/hr
+ 38 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 3.0
Better work-life than 30% of Physical Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 22,005 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes call

Living in West Union

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$153k
Median resident rent
$967/mo
Residents’ average commute
19 min
State income tax
Up to 6%
Sources & methodology

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

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

Gundersen Health System logo

About Gundersen Health System

Hospitals and Health Care
La Crosse, WI
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Competitive Pay
Supportive Work Environment