Career Center

Summary

This position is aligned under the Physical Therapy section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services (PM&RS) at the Memphis VA Medical Center. The Physical Therapist utilizes the application of scientific principles for the identification - prevention - remediation and rehabilitation of acute - sub-acute - and chronic physical dysfunction - thereby promoting optimal health and function.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency
• Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74 - to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English
• See Chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• Education and experience
• The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist
• (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist
• (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy
• NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university
• The CAPTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit entry-level physical therapy programs
• Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at www.apta.org
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Licensure
• Individuals hold a full - current - and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State - Territory or Commonwealth of the United States - or in the District of Columbia
• Non-licensed PTs - who otherwise meet the basic requirements in this standard - may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate PT at the GS-11 grade level under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (a)(1)(D) for a period not-to-exceed two years from the date of employment on the condition that such PT provide care only under the supervision of a PT who is licensed
• Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment
• NOTE
• Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct - professional incompetency or substandard care - or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the state for professional misconduct - professional incompetence - or substandard care - are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C 7402(f))
• Grade Determinations: GS-12 Physical Therapist Education - Experience and Licensure
• In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level - hold a valid unrestricted state license and demonstrate all the KSAs below: 1
• Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment
• This includes ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services
• 2
• Skill in performing examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments - activity limitations - and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal - neuromuscular - cardiovascular - pulmonary - and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique psychosocial and environmental factors
• 3
• Ability to interpret findings from examination and evaluation - select appropriate test and measures - and integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations
• 4
• Ability to establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate rehabilitation intervention - including referral to another provider for further consultation as clinically indicated
• 5
• Ability to determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals - optimize outcomes and maximize functional independence
• 6
• Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Preferred Experience: Spinal Cord Injury rehabilitation
• Outpatient Clinical experience and Acute Care Clinical experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: Work includes regular and demanding physical exertion in standing - bending - kneeling - reaching - gripping - and walking
• Moderate to heavy lifting is required to assist patients and operate equipment
• Sitting is required in meetings and for conducting administrative work
• Above average agility may be desirable in defending oneself (or others) against physical attack/abuse
• Work requires physical health - normal use of arms and legs - and good visual and auditory acuity
• Incumbent must be licensed to operate a motor vehicle.

Duties

• Physical Therapy is a medically based health service administered by a licensed physical therapist
• The Physical Therapist utilizes the application of scientific principles for the identification - prevention - remediation and rehabilitation of acute - sub-acute - and chronic physical dysfunction - thereby promoting optimal health and function
• Physical therapy's primary focus is on those individuals with neuromuscular - skeletal - pulmonary and cardiovascular disorders and evaluating the level of function related to these disorders
• Major duties and responsibilities include: Performs appropriate cleansing and re-processing of reusable medical equipment incompliance with VHA directives and SOPs
• Keeps up-to-date with current trends in rehabilitation medicine/therapy through scheduled in-services - library resources - continuing education courses and hospital training and development workshops scheduled by the facility
• Completes other administrative duties as assigned (work orders - FSOD - information processing - program development - etc.) for the PM&R Service or Medical Center
• Plans and facilitates treatment programs for patients with complex impairments and providing therapeutic interventions to meet functional goals
• Maintains timely and appropriate documentation of all consults - initial evaluations - progress notes - discharge notes - patient/family education - workload statistics - QA monitors - patient attendance records and other clinical activities
• Follows appropriate billing and coding practices
• Inputs scheduling data into VISTA computer system or through approved charting methods and updates daily to reflect current status of patients
• This is to be done in concert and accordance with Medical Center policies on scheduling - consult management - and electronic wait list entry
• Completes all employee/patient incident documentation in a timely manner as required by hospital or Service policy
• Uses department resources wisely and effectively to render care in a cost effective - efficient manner
• Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions
• Maintains treatments area in a safe - orderly manner
• Assesses equipment needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials
• Recognizes potentially hazardous situations (e.g
• frayed cords or cables - water on floor - malfunctioning equipment) and takes corrective action
• Supervises and trains students - volunteers - therapy assistants - therapists and non-PT students and support personnel
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:30am to 4:00pm
• Holiday work rotation required
• Telework: Not eligible Functional Statement #: 50068-F