JobsAdvocate Health

Physical Therapist- FLOAT

Advocate Health · Oak Lawn, IL

Posted Aug 25, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you had to walk into a clinic you don't normally work in and get up to speed fast. How did you handle not knowing the layout, the staff, or the systems that day?

whether the candidate can actually function as a float without a ramp-up period

Tell me about a time a patient wasn't progressing the way you expected. What did you do?

problem-solving skill and willingness to escalate or change approach rather than coast

Tell me about a time you had to explain a home exercise program to a patient or caregiver who was struggling to understand or follow it. What did you change?

patient education skills and adaptability to different learning styles

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a physician's referral or a plan of care that had already been set. How did you handle raising that?

professional communication and confidence advocating for the patient across disciplines

Technical

Walk me through how you'd evaluate a new outpatient referral for, say, a shoulder impingement, from chart review to setting the first goals with the patient.

depth of clinical evaluation process and evidence-based reasoning

How do you decide when a patient's plan of care needs a treatment change versus when they just need more time with the current plan?

clinical judgment and comfort adjusting plans based on reassessment

How do you keep insurance authorization limits and visit caps in mind while you're building a treatment plan, so you're not caught off guard mid-treatment?

working knowledge of billing rules and documentation compliance

Situational

You show up at Advocate Trinity for the first time and the EMR workflow is slightly different from what you're used to at Oak Lawn. How do you make sure your documentation and billing are still accurate that day?

attention to compliance detail under unfamiliar conditions rather than assuming things carry over between sites

Since you'll be supervising PTAs and support staff at multiple locations, how do you get a support team you don't know well to follow your plan of care confidently on day one?

leadership and delegation skills that hold up without an established working relationship

What's your approach to keeping your caseload and productivity numbers on track when you're bouncing between two sites with different schedules and patient volumes?

time management and productivity awareness across variable environments

Say you notice a site you're floating into has a workflow or safety habit that doesn't match what you were trained on. What do you do in the moment, and what do you do afterward?

judgment on speaking up about quality or safety issues without overstepping as a temporary team member

With some driving between sites and occasional evening or weekend hours, how do you keep yourself organized so nothing about a patient's care gets lost in the shuffle?

reliability and personal systems for managing a fragmented schedule

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Pay Range: $41.10 - $61.65 • OUTPATIENT Physical Therapy! Float between Advocate Oak Lawn and Advocate Trinity sites! • OFFERING A $5000 SIGN-ON BONUS PAYABLE IN TWO INSTALLMENTS - 50% AFTER 90 DAYS - 50% AFTER ONE YEAR Major Responsibilities Age-Appropriate Patient Care: 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, and to provide the care needed as described in the department’s policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards. Patient Evaluation and Care Planning: Interprets medical records and provider referrals as appropriate, and completes musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and/or integumentary evaluations utilizing appropriate methods. Establishes an appropriate patient care plan utilizing evidence-based intervention in accordance with state(s) Physical Therapy Practice Act to include necessary modalities, procedures, exercise programs, and patient/caregiver education as warranted by clinical diagnosis. Recommends next level of care, directs support staff, supervises physical therapy assistants, and ensures quality outcomes. Treatments may include but are not limited to: education, exercise, therapeutic groups, modalities, gait, balance, coordination activities, sensory motor development, functional mobility, and transfer skills. Identifies the need for and utilizes appropriate assistive orthotic devices and adaptive strategies. Demonstrates knowledge of indications and contraindications to all therapeutic interventions utilized. Goal Setting and Outcome Monitoring: Establishes functional goals in conjunction with the patient/caregiver and monitors outcomes to enhance physical and functional abilities. Provides individualized adjustments based on the patient’s response to treatment and continuous reassessment. Identifies factors affecting a patient's physical and psychosocial comfort and attends to these needs. Communicates with providers, clinical staff, referral sources, and other disciplines to keep all stakeholders informed on the patient’s progress and plan of care. Collaborates with other disciplines to coordinate the patient’s schedule Patient and Caregiver Education: Provides education to the patient and caregivers based on patient needs. Identifies and addresses preferences and learning barriers. Provides patient and caregiver education regarding diagnosis, progress toward goals, treatment intervention, and home instruction. Supports patient discharge by providing written home programs, education, and recommending necessary equipment to promote functionality. Professional Communication: Communicates in a professional and timely manner with patient/caregivers, providers, staff, and all external customers. Responds to questions by staff. Promotes an open atmosphere of communication. Informs supervisor of issues and resolutions to potential problems. Communicates information with patients and caregivers and ensures understanding. May attend patient care meetings and participate in multi-disciplinary meetings to integrate care and coordinate schedules with other disciplines. Documentation and Compliance: Completes all required documentation including patient evaluations, progress notes, patient education, team conference reports, discharge summaries, and billing charges. Complies with insurance guidelines regarding authorization and visit limitations. Ensure accurate and timely documentation of patient/caregiver education, charges and departmental statistics, and ICD codes as appropriate. Responsible for maintaining site/department established productivity standards. Responsible for understanding and adhering to all billing and documentation policies, procedures, and timelines. Environment: Shares responsibility in maintaining a clean and orderly department by cleaning up after patient treatment and ensuring all equipment is placed correctly and maintained in good working order. Professional Development: Pursues professional growth by participating in continuing education initiatives, department in-services, and reviewing professional literature implementing evidence-based practices into daily operations. Operational Improvement: Actively engages in performance improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient care outcomes and overall quality of services. Demonstrates clinical responsibility by identifying opportunities for both quality and operational improvement within daily practice. Participates in process review and development, consistently bringing forward questions, concerns, and potential solutions.  Manages assigned caseload, informing site leadership of coverage needs and ability to cover; assists with coverage, based on department needs and regional needs. Float: Meets all requirements for Level 1 outlined in the Enterprise Float Program and applicable Human Resources policies. Must demonstrate the ability to practice competently across assigned departments and/or locations and adapt to varying clinical or operational environments based on organizational need.   Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required Physical Therapy License administered in the state(s) of employment. Possesses and maintains Basic Life Support (BLS) certification for Healthcare Providers Maintains continuing education requirements as mandated by applicable state(s) professional standards . Education Required Obtained degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited institution. Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) preferred or educational requirements commensurate with the date of graduation. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required Intermediate computer skills Demonstrates excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational skills to promote effective decision-making, and problem-solving. Ability to perform basic office functions Complies with HIPAA guidelines. Accesses protected health information (PHI) reasonably and shares information on a need-to-know basis. Successfully completes all competency assessments/requirements pertaining to provision of patient care and consistent with site standards. 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 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 Must have intelligible speech and adequate language skills to perform job duties Must be able to demonstrate any appropriate exercise and activities to patients/caregivers May be exposed to electrical and chemical hazards as well as blood and body fluids. Must have ability to wear protective clothing and equipment as needed Work environment is primarily indoors but occasionally outdoors Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job May make home visits   • Position may require travel; therefore, may be exposed to road and weather hazards Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job #LI- FLOAT #LI- PT #LI- REHAB #LI- PHYSICALTHERAPY #LI- DPT #LI- Outpatient • Schedule Details/Additional Information • Includes $5.00 per hour differential. • Includes travel up to 45 min radius • Some evening and weekend hours may be required This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities. Employees may be required to perform other related duties as assigned and responsibilities may be modified to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. 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 • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. 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.

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