Director, Rehab Therapy

Day - 8 Hour (United States of America)The Director of Rehab Therapy provides strategic, administrative, and operational leadership for all Rehabilitation Therapy Services, including Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, and Recreation Therapy across inpatient and outpatient settings. Accountable for planning, implementing, and monitoring all departmental functions, programs, and staff to ensure delivery of high-quality, cost-effective, and regulatory-compliant patient care. Oversee the development, management, and evaluation of the department's master budget; conduct financial and productivity analyses; and implement corrective actions to meet organizational performance targets. Leads the creation, revision, and communication of departmental and system-level policies, procedures, and service standards in alignment with state, federal, and accreditation requirements. Develops long-range strategies and programmatic goals that support system priorities, drives service integration across therapy disciplines, and ensures the adoption of evidence-based and contemporary rehabilitation practices. Provides direct leadership for quality improvement initiatives, operational planning, and market analyses to ensure programs remain responsive to patient and community needs. Manages employee performance for assigned leaders and staff, including hiring, coaching, evaluation, and disciplinary actions, and collaborates closely with Human Resources on staffing structures, job classifications, and workforce needs. Maintains oversight of departmental records, student clinical rotation contracts, system career ladders, and the implementation of cross-organizational rehabilitation initiatives. Represents the department during regulatory surveys, serves as a consultant to medical and administrative leaders, and fosters effective communication and collaboration across operating units, system leadership, and interdisciplinary teams. Ensures optimal operations, service integration, and high-quality rehabilitation services consistent with system goals and healthcare standards.

Primary duties and responsibilities

Operational Management

1. Plans, directs, and monitors all functions, operations, and staff of Rehabilitation Therapy (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Recreation Therapy and Speech Language Pathology) Services.
2. Plans, administers, implements, and monitors the department's capital, operational and personnel budgets, regularly reviews year-to-date and prior year expenditures, analyzes variances, and takes corrective action as required.
3. Analyzes departmental strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and constraints.
4. Establishes, revises, administers and communicates therapy services policies, procedures, and related forms in accordance with state, federal, and organizational guidelines.
5. Develops, evaluates, coordinates, and executes programs and plans for the integration of multiple rehabilitation services and interdisciplinary teams of allied health professionals into the various programs to maintain state-of the-art, cost effective quality patient care.
6. Oversee Operating Unit's inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services.
7. Develops and implements strategic goals and objectives in alignment with EHC system to maintain high-quality services.
8. Direct leadership responsibility for consolidation and integration of systems, policies and procedures and related programmatic goals and objectives among rehabilitation disciplines.
9. Administers a quality improvement program; monitors and evaluates quality improvement and productivity activities to meet the regulatory and legal standards governing rehabilitation services.
10. Prepares operational and statistical reports for management and regulatory agencies, as required.
11. Resolves employee relations related issues, determines discipline, and termination, in collaboration with Human Resources; and works with Talent Acquisition on staffing needs.
12. Collaborate with Compensation for maintaining accurate job classifications, salary actions, and market reviews across Rehabilitation Therapy.
13. Monitors and re-directs activities, as necessary, to maintain acceptable levels of productivity.
14. Conducts on-going market analyses of the needs for therapy services, as identified by referral sources.
15. Participates and coordinates system level interdisciplinary and Rehabilitation Therapy projects, processes, and quality improvement activities.
16. Maintains program records pertaining to operations and procedures to ensure compliance with established standards and regulations.
17. Maintains oversight of student clinical rotations for Rehabilitation Therapy including contracts.
18. Management and review of system career ladder and needed roles across system Rehabilitation Therapy.
19. Represent and advocate for rehabilitation services in system level initiatives.
20. Manages employee performance of direct reports:

• a. Completes performance evaluations, and competency verification.
• b. Staff interviews, hiring, and orientation.
• c. On-going performance feedback, problem resolution, and staff development.

Collaboration and Communication

1. Collaboration for system level Rehabilitation Therapy policy and procedure creation, review, and implementation.
2. Communicates and monitors compliance with regulatory, licensing and accreditation standards.
3. Represents Department during external regulatory surveys.
4. Serve as a resource and consultant to other Operating Unit departments and medical staff for rehabilitation services related issues.
5. Regularly meets with the Operating Unit Rehabilitation Therapy leadership and staff to communicate operational initiatives, system communication, goals, and other needs.
6. Delegates tasks effectively, resolves complaints, grievances and other issues affecting operations.
7. Collaborates with EHC and Operating Unit leadership to:

• a. Identify and resolve administrative or operations issues.
• b. Identify project and goal metrics.
• c. Developing action plans to meet identified targets.

Professional Development & Compliance

1. Works with Leader to formulate plans for professional development.
2. Participates in professional activities and organizations to maintain knowledge of current trends, practices, and developments.
3. Attends educational in-services as appropriate.
4. Plans, organizes, and directs the routine operations of clinic/patient care and administrative activities of Rehabilitation Therapy services.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Required Education: Graduate from an accredited program for physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech language pathology. Experience: Seven years of clinical experience, including three years in a management/supervisory role.

Licensure: Current licensure as a Speech Language Pathologist, Physical Therapist or Occupational Therapist in the State of Georgia.

Certification: Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification in accordance with the American Heart Association.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities (required)

This role requires an initiative-taking approach in developing innovative solutions to improve processes, enhance patient satisfaction, and streamline communication across diverse teams.

Preferred Qualifications Education: Advanced continuing education; Advanced degree in administration

Experience: 5+ years of management/supervisory experience

Knowledge, skills, and ability requirements (preferred): Proficient in Microsoft applications and data analysis; financial software management

Work Conditions

• Travel: Less than 10% of the time may be required
• Work Type: Hybrid employee - may split time between working remotely and working in the office

Physical Requirements

(Medium Max 25lbs): up to 25 lbs., 0-33% of the work day (occasionally) Lifting 25 lbs. max; Carrying of objects up to 25 lbs.; Occasional to frequent standing & walking, Occasional sitting, Close eye work (computers, typing, reading, writing), Physical demands may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.

Environmental Factors

Factors affecting environmental conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks. Environmental exposures include but are not limited to: Blood-borne pathogen exposure, Bio-hazardous waste chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors, Communicable diseases, Electrical shock, Floor Surfaces, Hot/Cold Temperatures, Indoor/Outdoor conditions, Latex, Lighting, Patient care/handling injuries, Radiation, Shift work, Travel may be required. Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators, and environmental conditions may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.

Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.

Emory Healthcare is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please contact Emory Healthcare’s Human Resources at careers@emoryhealthcare.org . Please note that one week's advance notice is preferred.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40 FTE

1 Expanded Work Shift

On Call