Department:
Status:
Benefits Eligible:
Hours Per Week:
Schedule Details/Additional Information:
Please read below about application instructions. Application should be completed through this link: Residency and Fellowship Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (RF-PTCAS) Applicant Login Page
Atrium Health and Carolinas Rehabilitation offer an orthopaedic physical therapy clinical residency program designed to train physical therapists in advanced orthopaedic physical therapy care in an outpatient setting.
The Carolinas Rehabilitation Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Clinical Residency program was the first orthopaedic physical therapy clinical residency program accredited by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) within the state of North Carolina.
We offer three geographical locations to participate in the residency: Charlotte, North Carolina (Carolinas Rehabilitation) Rome, Georgia (Atrium Health Floyd Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation) Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Aurora Health Care) *starting in 2026
Carolinas Rehabilitation's orthopedic physical therapy residency is a full-time, one year program. Residents are employed by Atrium Health and receive a program-adjusted salary that includes a full benefits package. Residents provide patient care 36 hours per week, including four hours per week co-treating with a faculty mentor. Weekly lecture and lab sessions as well as directed learning activities will occupy the resident's remaining time. All lectures are live streamed with a faculty member present in all three geographical locations.
The curriculum of this residency program provides advanced training in examination, clinical decision-making, medical management and manual therapy-based orthopedic treatment skills. The curriculum combines didactic learning, mentorship experience and individual study and project completion.
Completion of this program will prepare you for:
Pay Range
$33.05 - $49.60Interprets physician referrals, as appropriate, and completes musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and/or integumentary evaluations utilizing appropriate methods.
Establishes a plan of care and implements individual treatment based on evaluation results and functional goals and by utilizing appropriate techniques. Monitors and evaluates outcomes and appropriately adjusts the individualized treatment plan based on the patient's response to treatment and provides status updates to physicians and other teammates. Identifies factors affecting patient's physical and psychosocial comfort and attends to these needs.
Plans for and completes patient discharge including providing written home programs, patient/family teaching, referral for community services, transition planning within the continuum of care and ordering equipment as indicated/appropriate. Communicates and collaborates with appropriate stakeholders to assist in achieving optimum care for the patient.
Completes all required documentation following department policy and accreditation standards with appropriate co- signatures, including patient evaluations, progress notes, team conference reports, and discharge summaries as appropriate. Record patient care and progress of each patient assigned. Completes daily statistics, billing, and scheduling. Applies insurance guidelines regarding authorization and number of visits. Responsible for maintaining site/department established productivity standards. Responsible for understanding and adhering to all billing and documentation policies, procedures, and timelines.
Responsible for cleaning up after patient treatment, putting away equipment, and keeping area neat and orderly. Performs various manual techniques, patient positioning, transferring and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique. Demonstrates skill in use of modalities, exercise equipment and other devices that are available in area worked per department orientation checklist. Demonstrates knowledge of indications and contraindications of modalities and exercise. Promotes patient safety by participating in safety initiatives as requested and appropriately follows all safety and infection control measures pertaining to the general working environment.
Participates in performance improvement activities designed to identify and resolve problems affecting patient care outcomes and to improve quality of care. Manages assigned caseload, informing site leadership of coverage needs and ability to cover; assists with coverage, based on department needs and regional needs
Pursues professional growth through participation in continuing education courses, department in-services, and reading professional literature. Orients new staff to clinical and department policies as requested. Participates in the evaluation process of co-workers by providing verbal or written feedback as requested.
May supervise physical therapy assistants following all applicable state and local compliance requirements. Includes delegating patients to assistive personnel while providing direction, recommendations regarding treatment and ongoing supervision while maintaining responsibility for patient plan of care and goals. May supervise physical therapy extenders (rehab aides/techs) in administering treatments to patients and will teach them appropriate techniques to perform with specific patients. May supervise physical therapy students after completing one year of clinical experience.
Education
Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited school or educational requirements commensurate with the date of graduation. Maintains continuing education requirements as mandated by applicable state professional standards.
Certification / Registration / License
Licensed Physical Therapist in the State upon which you work. Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers (obtained within 90 days unless department leader has determined is not required) by American Heart Association (AHA)
Work Experience
No experience required
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities
Intermediate computer skills
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organization skills
Demonstrated organization, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
Successfully completes all competency assessments/requirements pertaining to provision of patient care and consistent with site standards
Team members will maintain annual educational requirements for hospital-based certifications (e.g. DNV, CARF or others).
Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions
Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, and squat throughout the workday
Must be able to:
lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist.
lift up to 10 lbs. from waist to overhead.
lift and carry up to 40 lbs. at waist height a reasonable distance
Must be able to:
push/pull with 30 lbs. of force.
perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present
Position requires repetitive use of hands:
Simple grasping - 5-15 lbs. - 20% of the workday.
Pushing/pulling - up to 75-100 lbs. - 10% of the day
Fine manipulation of hands during massage and joint mobilization
Must have functional use of senses to allow for effective communication
Exposed to electrical and chemical hazards as well as blood and body fluids; therefore, must have ability to wear protective clothing as needed
Position may require travel; therefore, may be exposed to road and weather hazards
Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job
DISCLAIMER
All responsibilities and requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only responsibilities to be performed by an employee occupying this job or position. Employees must follow any other job-related instructions and perform any other job-related duties requested by their leaders.
Our Commitment to You:
Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:
Compensation
Benefits and more
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.