| Allied Health World Home | Physical Therapy | |
Physical Therapist Jobs
By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: February 5th, 2010
Where can physical therapists be employed?
Physical therapists can work in a wide variety of settings. Hospitals, acute care settings, along with outpatient rehabilitation clinics are the most common settings. In these areas physical therapists are able to see a variety of types of patients from geriatric
individuals to infants. Some of the most common types of patients seen by PTs in hospital settings are those who have had joint replacement, those who have become injured after a fall or car accident, and stroke survivors just to name a few.
Learn more about physical therapy salary.
Long term care facilities, such as nursing homes, also employ physical therapists. Oftentimes therapists who work in these settings are contracted to rotate between several different long-term care facilities since there is not enough need for a PT in just one location.
School systems also employ PTs to work with children who struggle with aspects of their education due to a rehabilitation issue. Some examples of children who may need to see a physical therapist in a school setting include those with cerebral palsy, autism, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Other children who need rehabilitation are those who have been involved in car accidents and while they cognitively can participate, their legs are unable to get them from one class to the next. Physical therapists who work in school settings can only address any rehabilitation that directly effects the child's learning and education since the therapy is provided through the state.
Physical therapists are also employed in home health where they travel to patients’ homes. Home health care is usually provided temporarily after someone is released from hospital care but before they are able to travel to an outpatient PT clinic. The goal for the home health care physical therapist is to help the patient be able to make the necessary improvements so they are able to get to the outpatient clinic for therapy where they can work towards further health care goals.
Learn more about physical therapy license.
Other employment settings for physical therapists include pediatric specialty clinics, sports enhancement clinics, fitness facilities, and sometimes physicians or chiropractors’ offices. Each state has separate rules and legislation as to whether a physical therapist can work directly with a doctor or chiropractor.