Position Overview

Understanding the Role

St. John’s Health Physical Rehabilitation helps patients recover from a variety of physical impairments and traumas. Our comprehensive multi-disciplinary rehab team provides clinical services in a new state-of-the-art facility on the main campus of St. John’s Health. Our center features a state-of the-art rehab gym, award-winning staff, and inspiring views of the Jackson Hole landscape that promote health and wellness. This position is going to be a full spectrum PMR position, with a low volume and moderate patient acuity.

Our Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) offers 24-hour nursing for patients 18 years or older, intensive therapy three hours a day, and a dedicated Medical Director leading the treatment team and overseeing the patient’s care. With a focus on getting back to independence, we evaluate patient goals and measure improvement upon discharge. The facility has a15 bed inpatient rehab facility which will be transitioning to 7 in-patient beds and creating an 8 bed transitional care unit. We would love to have someone that can manage both aspects.

The Average Daily Census on the inpatient floor is 1.2 and the goal is to get that up to 4 by having a consistent provider that can also get into the community to help build the program. The inpatient team is outstanding and includes 2 experienced nurses, 2 physical therapists, speech therapist, occupational therapist, Dietitian, Social workers, psychologists and more. Patients need to be seen 3 times a week (as is compliant with rules and regulations), but the provider has control over when they are seen.  

IRF treatment team includes: 

  • Medical Director
  • Rehab Nurses
  • Psychologist
  • Social Worker
  • Dietitian
  • Family/Loved Ones
  • Physical Therapist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Speech/Language Pathologist 
St. John’s Physical Rehabilitation allows for local and regional residents requiring intensive rehab the ability to stay and recover close to home. Our skilled and dedicated staff cater to a guest’s needs around the clock. Guests of the IRF are treated as individuals working towards a life enrichment goal, regardless of the impairment, injury, or trauma. 

St. John’s Health Inpatient Rehabilitation treats: 

  • Strokes
  • Amputations
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Hip fractures
  • Brain injuries
  • Neurological disorders
  • Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
  • Systematic Vasculidities
  • Major medical traumas
  • Knee or hip joint replacement meeting specific criteria
  • Fracture of Femur
  • Severe or advanced osteoarthritis (osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint disease) involving two or more major weight bearing joints 
St. John’s Health Physical Rehabilitation is the premiere location for inpatient recovery. Our award-winning staff and modern facility inspire patients during their time with us. With specific goals and aspirations set for every individual, receiving care at St. John’s IRF sets patients on the path to recovery. 

The pain clinic is next door and is currently co-managed by the Anesthesiologists currently. They see an average of 4-5 patients a day and are doing injections and nerve blocks. The incoming provider would work in collaboration with the Anesthesiologist for all interventional pain and can expect to do up to 50% of injections and blocks (though this is not a requirement if an incoming provider needs additional training).  

The PMR provider would be expected to be the point person for all Medication Management and would consult with the Hospitalist team for Medically Complex patients, when necessary.  

And then the goal would be, since this is a single provider coverage, we would maintain our relationship and affiliation with the University of Utah and work with them to provide cross coverage and support. While this physician would be out of town or on vacation. And over the last we've been open about three years, the last three years, we've had those physicians traveling to us from the university. 

Schedule 

The basic schedule is going to be Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5pm, though they are open to a 4-day work week. Monday morning the clinic coordinator and case manager look over referrals that came in over the weekend, they then get sent to the Medical Director for review and discussion.

After that, they will round on patients on the floor, then go to the pain clinic. The provider should also be available for the nurses if something comes up throughout the day.

Medical Director

This provider would also be the Inpatient Rehab Facility Medical Director. Traditionally the PMR provider spends about 20 hours a week in the hospital rounding on patients and with Medical Director duties, then another 20 hours in the pain clinic. There are two team meetings each week (Tues & Thur) that the Medical Director is required to attend and other duties will be identified throughout the process.

One of the bigger components of being the Medical Directo is to lean into our local community through outreach and community meeting. We need someone that is comfortable getting their face in front of people, doing community talks, attending community events and helping to grow the program. We need somebody who has that personality and willingness and ability to connect to help us to continue to grow the program. 

IRF Thrive 

The IRF encompasses Thrive, a program designed for patients with complex neurological issues, including spinal cord injuries. It will include activities that pertain to the key components of rehabilitation: recovery, wellness, and prevention. The specialized rehabilitative equipment helps patients target functional goals and offers a variety of therapies, such as standing, gait training, functional electrical stimulation, and pressure mapping. We also provide patient education on wheelchair maintenance and repairs.

We aim to be the vanguard for rural areas in making advancements in the ways we serve this specialized population. Not all individuals with spinal cord injuries can afford to make frequent trips to urban areas for health care treatment. Our therapy team helps these individuals lead their best lives

Boosting Neurological Rehab with the Thrive Initiative
Specialized Rehabilitation for Neurological Conditions in Jackson, WY
Neurological trauma is among the most complicated injuries to rehabilitate. Damage to the brain, spinal cord or nerves can impact a multitude of body systems – vision, sensation, motor control, and vestibular (balance) – and require highly skilled and targeted rehabilitation.
At St. John’s Health, we are proud to introduce Thrive, a comprehensive, rehab-driven initiative using advanced equipment and rehabilitative techniques specifically designed to address the unique challenges facing patients with neurological conditions. 

Pathway to Thrive Utilizes State-Of-The-Art Equipment
At St. John’s Health Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility, our goal is to help our patients become stronger and develop greater independence. Through Thrive, we meet each patient where they are, and design protocols based on their individual goals and lifestyle. Thrive looks at the total person, addressing recovery, wellness, and prevention. 

Our award-winning team utilizes specialized rehabilitative equipment, purchased in part thanks to a Craig H. Neilsen Foundation grant. This equipment helps patients target functional goals and supports a variety of therapies. 

  • Xcite:Xcite uses functional electrical stimulation (FES), to recover loss of movement when someone is fully or partially paralyzed. Xcite can help patients recover the ability to move their legs, arms, or core. Pre-programmed sequences take the patient through a variety of tasks, such as grasping, feeding, and standing from a seated position. Why this is important: Specific functional practice can make a marked difference in recovery for stroke or traumatic brain injury patients. The greatest mobility gains after a stroke happen within the first six months. Xcite promotes re-learning and optimizes neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to make new pathways).
  • Allard Toe Off Ground Reaction AFO Fit Kit:The Fit Kit is an ultra-light, high-performance orthotic that can be used during gait-training with therapy. This custom-built brace is worn on the foot or lower leg, providing support and proper joint alignment of the foot and ankle. Why this is important: These ankle braces help improve walking when someone has leg weakness or partial paralysis. Ankle-foot orthotics are used by people with foot drop, which can be caused by stroke, multiple sclerosis, or spinal cord injury. AFOs can also be used to improve walking after an orthopedic spine condition that caused nerve damage. Our staff can assess your need and begin the buying process for your AFO Fit Kit.
  • LiteGait Bodyweight Supported Treadmill training, LG 400:This harness and treadmill system minimizes the weight bearing of the patient while still achieving high-intensity gait training sessions. This harness can allow a patient to practice walking and other challenging balance tasks while eliminating the risk of falls. Why this is important: Current research supports high repetition, faster speed, and increased intensity during walking to improve gait function. This system is adaptable. It can be used on the treadmill, detached from the treadmill to be used in the hallways, and even used outdoors on slightly uneven surfaces.
  • BodiTrak2 Pressure Mapping System:This integrated computer system and biofeedback plate is used for pressure mapping. Why this is important: This technology is an educational tool for performing pressure relief maneuvers to reduce pressure sores and keep skin healthy. The mapping system also aides in wheelchair cushion selection. 
In addition to our modern equipment, St. John’s Health has a collaborative partnership with local sports nonprofit Teton Adaptive. Our patients benefit from adaptive biking and skiing introductions and fittings, thanks to this collaboration. 

Modern Rehabilitation Facility 

A dedicated Medical Director oversees a multi-disciplinary team and every aspect of patient care at our facility on the main campus of St. John’s Health. We continuously measure patient progress with a focus on helping each patient gain a sense of independence. Our patients benefit from three hours of therapy daily and around-the-clock nursing care.

Not everyone has the financial resources to make frequent trips to large urban areas for their rehabilitation. We will continue to be on the cutting edge for treating patients needing highly specialized care, here in rural Jackson. Local and regional residents requiring intensive rehab for neurological conditions can now recover close to home. The beautiful landscape, and having supportive family and friends nearby, aids recovery. 

Defining Neurological Injuries 

Almost 18,000 people each year suffer a spinal cord injury and about 300,000 Americans live with spinal cord injuries. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, car crashes are the No. 1 cause, yet sports and recreational accidents are also common, especially in Jackson with its world-famous outdoor activities.

Our skilled team treats a range of neurological conditions, including but not limited to the following: 

  • Spinal Cord
  • Stroke
  • Brain Aneurysm
  • Skull Fractures
  • Cerebral Contusions
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Vestibular Disorders
  • Multiple Sclerosis 

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