Travel Physical Therapist (PT) – Acute Care Hospital Contract in Mission Viejo, CA

Travel Physical Therapist needed for a 13-week acute care hospital contract in Mission Viejo, California, supporting adult and geriatric patients.

Join a collaborative inpatient rehabilitation team as an acute care Physical Therapist in a Level II Trauma Center with stroke certification. This travel Physical Therapy assignment supports a diverse hospital population, including cardiac, neurological, orthopedic, oncology, spine, open-heart, trauma, and general medical cases. Mission Viejo is a welcoming Orange County community known for its scenic parks, pleasant climate, and convenient access to Southern California beaches, cultural attractions, and outdoor recreation.

Travel Physical Therapist Job Details

• Weekly Estimated Pay: $1,820-$1,960
• Assignment Length: 13 weeks
• Start Date: November 3, 2026
• Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8-hour day shifts, approximately 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Hours: 40 hours per week
• Weekend Coverage: Three weekend shifts per six-week period, on Saturday or Sunday
• Setting: Acute care inpatient hospital rehabilitation
• Patient Population: Adult and geriatric patients
• Documentation System: Epic
• On-Call: Not required
• Orientation: Limited orientation provided
• Additional Flexibility: May be asked to support a nearby affiliated facility based on operational needs

Physical Therapist Job Requirements

• Active California Physical Therapist license, or proof of license application submission where permitted
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• At least 1 year of professional Physical Therapy experience required; 2 years of experience highly preferred
• Recent acute care inpatient Physical Therapy experience required
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced hospital environment
• Level II Trauma Center experience strongly preferred; candidates without direct trauma experience must demonstrate comfort working with complex patients in a Level II trauma setting
• Strong patient evaluation, clinical reasoning, treatment planning, documentation, and patient education skills
• Experience treating adult and geriatric patients, post-operative recovery, neurological conditions, cardiac conditions, orthopedic cases, and medically complex patients
• First-time travel Physical Therapists are welcome with qualifying acute care experience

Acute Care Physical Therapist Responsibilities

• Evaluate patients and develop individualized plans of care for acute and chronic diagnoses
• Provide inpatient Physical Therapy interventions for cardiac, neurological, orthopedic, trauma, oncology, spine, open-heart, general medical, and post-surgical patients
• Assess mobility, strength, balance, gait, endurance, functional status, safety, and discharge needs
• Provide gait training, transfer training, therapeutic exercise, functional activities, and mobility progression
• Assist patients recovering from stroke, joint replacement, spinal procedures, fractures, cardiopulmonary conditions, and other complex medical events
• Use appropriate mobility and adaptive equipment, including walkers, crutches, wheelchairs, lifts, and transfer devices
• Educate patients and families on home exercise programs, safe mobility, body mechanics, fall prevention, and discharge recommendations
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, case management, therapy colleagues, and other members of the interdisciplinary care team
• Document assessments, treatments, reassessments, progress, goals, and discharge planning accurately in Epic
• Follow hospital safety practices, patient care standards, and applicable clinical guidelines

Apply now for this California Physical Therapist travel contract and join an experienced acute care rehabilitation team in Mission Viejo, Orange County.

Benefits

401K with Matching, Healthcare, Dental and Vision

Equal Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity across our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.