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Clinical Specialist - Physical Therapist

Kaiser Permanente

El Cajon, CAJobSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
No compensation found
Location
El Cajon, CA
Work Authorization
Not specified

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Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

California Physical Therapist License Or Applicant License, requiredCalifornia Physical Therapist License Within Four Months, requiredBasic Life Support, requiredBachelor's degree, required

Job overview

The Clinical Specialist provides direct physical therapy care, develops and implements treatment programs, and serves as a clinical resource to staff and students. The role also supports staff development, mentoring, clinical competencies, and educational opportunities for internal and external customers. The specialist may contribute to patient-care improvement programs, department policies, quality assurance, and utilization management across San Diego service area clinics.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Physical Therapy, nice to havePatient Assessment, nice to haveTreatment Planning, nice to haveClinical Reasoning, nice to haveStaff Mentoring, nice to have

Qualifications

Three Years Equivalent Experience or APTA Fellowship or Two Years Plus Specialty Exam, requiredPhysical Therapy Degree, required200 Hours Specialized Education, requiredCalifornia Physical Therapist License or Applicant License, requiredCalifornia Physical Therapist License Within Four Months, requiredBasic Life Support, requiredNational Provider Identifier, requiredLabor-Management Partnership Environment, requiredAPTA Membership, nice to have

Full job description

Job Summary:

The CS provides direct patient care which includes development, assessment, and implementation of treatment programs. Additionally, the CS acts as a clinical resource to staff and students. The CS I will arrange for, plan and deliver educational opportunities for internal and external customers locally and may participate regionally. The CS I reports directly to the Director, the Assistant Director and/or the Clinical Supervisor.

Essential Responsibilities:

  • Evaluates patients and interprets examination findings to determine the nature and extent of dysfunction relative to persons limited by medical problems, birth defects, or health related conditions to restore their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Clinical testing to determine muscle strength, reflexes, sensation, coordination, range of motion, and other sensory motor skills while performing clinical analysis and treatment of postural, gait, and ADL disorders.

  • Establishes treatment goals, and plans treatment to achieve established goals relative to age, medical history and dysfunction.

  • Administers or prescribes modalities and other physical agents.

  • Administers or prescribes exercise programs/development of patient care programs.

  • Demonstrates professional competence and clinical reasoning in assessing patients condition at the onset and through all phases of skilled physical therapy.

  • Routinely takes usual and special precautions relative to the age, medical history and condition of the patient, and the type of treatment being given.

  • Regularly reassesses clinical signs and symptoms to determine effectiveness of treatment, progression towards goals, and the need for modification of treatment and/or goals.

  • Implements the treatment program through direct treatment of the patient.

  • May delegate a portion of the treatment plan to appropriate supportive personnel.

  • Coordinates the treatment plan and participates in discharge planning with other health care personnel as appropriate.

  • May participate in relevant patient care rounds and case management conferences.

  • Provides advice and education to patient and family.

  • Discharges patients from physical therapy services when skilled therapy is no longer medically necessary and when clinically appropriate.

  • Upholds Kaiser Permanentes Policies and Procedures, Principles of Responsibilities and applicable state, federal and local laws.

  • Follows department guidelines on cleanliness of assigned areas and reports non-functioning of patient care equipment by following department equipment maintenance policies and procedures.

  • Provides accurate and timely documentation of physical therapy services provided per State and Federal requirements and relevant medical group policies and guidelines.

  • Works in partnership with Management to complete all mandatory compliance requirements.

  • May be required to be trained to cover a diverse population of patients depending on local medical center need.

  • May be involved in the clinical competency of PT Assistants and PT Aides.

  • Adequately supervises PT assistants and PT aides when patient related and non-patient related tasks are delegated to them.

  • Demonstrates internal and external customer service at all times and behaves in accordance with Principles of Responsibility.

  • Provides input to clinical performance of staff around routine procedures as appropriate.

  • Provides input to management regarding the performance evaluation of staff.

  • Assists department in aligning itself with regional and local goals.

  • Assists in the development and implementation of department policies and procedures.

  • Is involved in staff development and mentoring for both professional growth and/or skills improvement.

  • Is involved in the development of programs to improve patient care

  • Completes and/or oversees in-services for internal staff and/or physician development as needed by the local medical center.

  • Develops and/or oversees clinical competencies at the medical center service area.

  • Is involved in medical center training such as ergonomics, physician training, diversity etc. as needed

  • May be involved in providing clinical input in relation to Quality Assurance and Utilization Management. Clinical Specialist PT- additions

  • Provides input to clinical performance of staff around routine procedures as appropriate.

  • Provides input to management regarding the performance evaluation of staff.

  • Assists department in aligning itself with regional and local goals.

  • Assists in the development and implementation of department policies and procedures.

  • Is involved in staff development and mentoring for both professional growth and/or skills improvement.

  • Is involved in the development of programs to improve patient care

  • Completes and/or oversees in-services for internal staff and/or physician development as needed by the local medical center.

  • Develops and/or oversees clinical competencies at the medical center service area.

  • Is involved in medical center training such as ergonomics, physician education, etc. as needed

  • May be involved in providing clinical input in relation to Quality Assurance and Utilization Management.

  • May mentor another provider deficient in skills, as identified by management, utilizing interpersonal, professional and clinical skills in order to improve performance.

  • May guide staff to the appropriate clinical resources

  • Develops and/or oversees clinical competencies of PT Aides, PT Assistants, and other Physical Therapists at the medical center service area.

Basic Qualifications:

Experience

  • Minimum three (3) years equivalent experience (2080 hours = 1 year) OR Completion of an APTA credentialed fellowship program (management will verify if credentialed is necessary) OR Minimum two (2) years of experience and ; successful passage of a specialty certification exam.

Education

  • Completion of an accredited PT training program with a Bachelors, Masters, or Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy

  • Minimum of 200 hours of specialized education (can be completed via applicable continuing education course work, residency or fellowship hours/course work.)

License, Certification, Registration

  • Physical Therapist License (California) required at hire OR Physical Therapist License - Applicant (California) required at hire

  • Physical Therapist License (California) within 4 months of hire

  • Basic Life Support required at hire

  • National Provider Identifier required at hire

Additional Requirements:

  • Must be able to work in a Labor/Management Partnership environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Member APTA preferred.

Notes:

  • M, T, W, Th, F, Sa, Su. 8- or 10-hour shifts.

  • Potential Clinic weekend commitment.

  • All San Diego service area clinic locations included.

COMPANY: KAISER

TITLE: Clinical Specialist - Physical Therapist

LOCATION: El Cajon, California

REQNUMBER: 1459159

External hires must pass a background check/drug screen. Qualified applicants with arrest and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with Federal, state and local laws, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran, or disability status.

How this job compares

Set against the 10,175 open Physical Therapist jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 13, 2026.

Pay
  • This postingNot listed
  • California median$100–125K/yr120 salary ranges
  • California median$60–70/hr293 hourly ranges
Openings
Olive Jobs lists 749 open Physical Therapist jobs in California and 10,175 across the US. Under 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 3 years of experience; Physical Therapist postings that state a minimum ask for 1 year at the median (2,761 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 3,737 of the 10,175 open Physical Therapist jobs (37%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 13, 2026. Figures based on too few postings are left out.

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