Location & Practice Overview

The position is based at a specialized post-acute rehabilitation hospital on South Mulford Road in Rockford. Clinicians practice in a dedicated inpatient environment designed for intensive recovery rather than general acute-care or outpatient clinics.

Facility Type Post-acute rehabilitation hospital
Care Model Hospital-based intensive therapy
Street Address 950 South Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61108
Capacity 65 patient beds
Team Structure Multidisciplinary rehabilitation services

Responsibilities

  • Deliver hands-on physical therapy to individuals admitted for intensive recovery after major illness or injury.
  • Perform clinical evaluations and construct individualized plans that address mobility, strength, and functional goals.
  • Oversee daily treatment sessions and track measurable progress throughout each patient’s stay.
  • Respond to patient and family concerns while adapting interventions to physical, cognitive, and emotional needs.
  • Maintain accurate documentation and communicate findings with the broader care team.

Daily work emphasizes direct treatment, continuous assessment, and coordinated decision-making inside a structured recovery setting.

Qualifications & Requirements

Applicants must satisfy Illinois regulatory standards for physical therapy practice and maintain current emergency certification.

State License
Active Physical Therapist license or certification meeting Illinois requirements
Emergency Certification
Current CPR credential required
Academic Background
Master’s preferred; Bachelor’s degree plus relevant experience accepted
Practice Readiness
Prepared to provide services in a post-acute hospital environment

Compensation & Benefits

Pay is structured on an hourly basis. Eligible full-time and part-time clinicians receive a full benefits package that activates on the first day of employment.

  • Hourly rate: $40.00 – $54.00
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage offered to full-time and part-time employees and their families
  • Accruing paid time off
  • Tuition assistance and ongoing professional education support
  • 401(k) with company match plus employee stock purchase plan
  • Flexible spending and health savings account options

Schedule & Work Environment

Status Options Full-time or PRN / as-needed pool
Primary Shift Daytime hours
Work Location On-site hospital campus
Treatment Spaces Modern gyms equipped for intensive functional training

Patient Population & Clinical Setting

Clinicians serve adults admitted after significant medical events who need concentrated daily therapy to regain independence before returning home or to a lower level of care.

Age Group Primarily adult patients
Typical Diagnoses Neurological events, complex orthopedic injuries, and related functional impairments
Intensity High-acuity post-acute cases requiring daily skilled intervention
Therapy Volume Structured programs delivering multiple hours of therapy most weekdays

Clinical Focus & Key Services

Clinical work concentrates on restoring movement capacity, reducing activity limitations, and preparing patients for safe community reintegration after major health setbacks.

Movement Restoration Interventions targeting strength, balance, gait, and transfer skills
Neurological Recovery Support Therapy tailored to patients recovering from central nervous system events
Orthopedic Functional Retraining Skilled care following complex fractures and joint-related impairments
Independence Preparation Goal-oriented programming that supports discharge to home or community settings

Role Highlights

This opening stands apart from typical outpatient or mixed-setting physical therapy positions through its exclusive focus on intensive hospital-based recovery.

  • Practice occurs entirely within a specialized recovery hospital rather than a general medical floor or clinic
  • Clinicians participate in coordinated, high-intensity daily programming alongside nursing and other therapy disciplines
  • Flexible staffing pathways allow either consistent full-time hours or PRN availability under the same clinical model
  • Caseload centers on complex recovery trajectories instead of routine outpatient or sports-medicine visits

About Van Matre Encompass Health Rehabilitation Institute

Van Matre is a dedicated recovery hospital in Rockford operated within the Encompass Health network. The campus holds Joint Commission accreditation and concentrates on helping adults regain independence after major neurological or orthopedic events. Care includes around-the-clock nursing support and regular physician oversight alongside therapy services.

Parent Organization Encompass Health
Campus Size 65-bed specialty hospital
Quality Recognition Joint Commission accredited
Core Disciplines Physical, occupational, and speech therapy services
Campus Address 950 South Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61108

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I be treating patients on an inpatient unit or in an outpatient clinic?
All care takes place inside the hospital on an inpatient basis. Patients are admitted for concentrated recovery programming rather than scheduled outpatient visits.
Can I apply for either a regular full-time schedule or PRN hours?
Both pathways are open. Full-time and PRN/pool positions share the same daytime clinical structure and patient population.
Which medical conditions appear most often on the caseload?
Most individuals are recovering from neurological events or complex orthopedic injuries that require daily skilled therapy before they can return home or move to a lower level of care.
Is a doctoral degree mandatory for consideration?
A Master’s degree is preferred. Candidates holding a Bachelor’s degree together with sufficient clinical experience remain eligible when they also meet Illinois licensure and CPR requirements.
How quickly do health benefits and retirement options begin?
Eligible full-time and part-time team members gain access to medical, dental, vision, 401(k) matching, and related benefits beginning on their first day.
What kind of treatment spaces will I use each day?
Therapy occurs in modern gyms designed specifically for intensive functional retraining and equipped with contemporary rehabilitation technology.

Physical Therapy Careers in Rockford, IL

Rockford offers a distinctive environment for physical therapy professionals who prefer hospital-based and post-acute practice settings. The local healthcare landscape includes specialized recovery hospitals, acute-care systems, and outpatient clinics, giving therapists multiple pathways to apply their skills. Inpatient rehabilitation roles in particular attract clinicians interested in neurological recovery, complex orthopedic care, and intensive functional retraining. These positions typically involve daily collaboration with nursing, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and physician teams focused on helping adults regain independence after major health events. Daytime schedules are common, and many facilities support both full-time employment and flexible PRN arrangements. The cost of living in the Rockford area remains moderate relative to larger Illinois metros, which can improve overall compensation value for therapists. Clinicians seeking concentrated caseloads in mobility restoration, gait training, and discharge preparation often find the region’s post-acute hospitals well aligned with those interests. Overall, Rockford provides a practical and clinically rich market for physical therapists who want to focus on meaningful functional outcomes in a mid-sized community setting.

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