Manager, Rehabilitation Services

Manager, Rehabilitation Services

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is seeking an experienced Manager, Rehabilitation Services to provide operational, clinical, and strategic leadership for an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team at the Pi Beta Phi Rehabilitation Institute within the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center. This role oversees occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, assistants, and technicians delivering evidence-based care to pediatric and adult patients with complex neurologic conditions.

This position is approximately 70% management and operations and 30% direct patient care, and oversees a team of 23 clinicians. The Manager, Rehabilitation Services plays a critical role in advancing clinical excellence, team performance, quality improvement initiatives, and patient outcomes while supporting education programs, including physical therapy residencies and student clinical experiences.

The Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center serves adults and children diagnosed with central nervous system disorders, including brain injury, stroke, balance disorders, and aphasia. Through interdisciplinary care, innovative programs, and specialized clinics, the team supports patients in achieving maximal independence and improved quality of life.

Key programs and clinics include Adult Speech and Language Services, Hearing and Speech Services, the Aphasia Program, Balance Disorders Clinic, Driver Rehabilitation Program, and the Seating and Mobility Clinic.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of the rehabilitation team, including staffing, scheduling, and coverage to meet patient volume demands.
• Measure and monitor staff productivity, patient volumes, referral trends, and access metrics.
• Address personnel issues in compliance with VUMC and departmental policies and procedures.
• Review clinical documentation to ensure compliance with VUMC, departmental, and regulatory standards.
• Troubleshoot and resolve operational issues to ensure efficient and high-quality service delivery.
• Oversee expense and revenue budgets and provide input into the annual budget planning process.

Leadership, Communication, and Collaboration

• Communicate departmental, organizational, and team policies, procedures, and initiatives.
• Facilitate regular forums for staff communication, education, and feedback.
• Update team policies and procedures and ensure consistent implementation across the team.
• Collect staff feedback and escalate themes and recommendations to department leadership.
• Participate actively in leadership meetings, workgroups, and interdisciplinary committees.
• Collaborate with other rehabilitation teams and departments to maximize shared resources.

Quality Improvement and Outcomes

• Promote continuous improvement of clinical processes and patient outcomes using quality improvement tools and methodologies.
• Monitor trends in referrals, patient populations, and service utilization.
• Measure patient and customer satisfaction and develop action plans as appropriate.
• Select and lead at least one annual project focused on measuring patient outcomes related to a specific treatment protocol or pathway.

Staff Development and Performance Management

• Support ongoing staff development and continuing education opportunities.
• Review and approve continuing education requests aligned with clinical practice needs.
• Conduct regular performance discussions and annual performance evaluations.
• Determine annual staff competencies specific to job function and scope of practice.
• Provide onboarding, orientation, and probationary evaluations for new team members.
• Review professional portfolios and applicable CAP points.
• Support and contribute to physical therapy residency programs and student clinical experiences.

Direct Patient Care

• Provide direct patient care to selected populations within licensed scope of practice.
• Conduct patient evaluations and develop comprehensive treatment plans.
• Implement evidence-based interventions and assess treatment effectiveness.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, caregivers, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Document patient care accurately and in a timely manner.
• Meet productivity standards as established by departmental leadership.

Required Qualifications

• Current licensure as an Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, or Speech-Language Pathologist.
• Minimum of five years of progressive leadership experience in a rehabilitation or healthcare setting.
• Demonstrated experience in team leadership, operations management, budgeting, productivity monitoring, and conflict resolution.
• Strong interdisciplinary collaboration and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Leadership experience in an academic medical center or complex rehabilitation environment.
• Experience supporting residency programs, student education, or clinical training programs.
• Knowledge of quality improvement methodologies and performance metrics.