Career Center

Summary

The incumbent is a licensed Physical Therapist who is responsible for administering physical therapy programs to adult and geriatric adult patients referred from all areas of the Medical Center - either directly or through the Clinical Director - either directly or through the Clinical Director - Rehabilitation Services - or staff Physiatrist.

Qualifications

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
• 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: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PT's was either a bachelors or master's degree
• In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate - master's - and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs
• Effective 2002 - CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in post- baccalaureate degrees (eliminating the baccalaureate degree)
• Effective 2015 - professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students
• 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
• Licensure: Applicants must 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
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment - the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• GS-11 Physical Therapist (Entry)
• Education - Experience - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level)
• 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: 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Preferred to have some experience with power mobility assessments and/or pelvic health
• Experience with diagnoses that are primarily orthopedic in nature but able to treat a range of neurological and vestibular diagnoses as well
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12
• Physical Requirements: This work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing - bending - reaching - crouching - stooping - stretching - and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals - record boxes - equipment or assisting patients
• See https://dvagov.sharepoint.com/sites/OCHCO/SitePages/D5019.aspx VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

• Incumbent plans and carries out the full range of treatment where therapeutic objectives are complex - and procedures involved require the application of highly specialized skills and knowledge
• Established treatment procedures are not always applicable and - at times - must be substantially adapted and applied with critical concern for patients who are acutely ill - or who have a combination of severe mental or physical disabilities with secondary complications
• Treatment plans require frequent modifications in response to subtle but significant changes in the condition of the patient
• The employment of unusual motivational techniques is often necessary to obtain the participation of the patient in his rehabilitation
• Incumbent must coordinate and employ several treatment approaches simultaneously to accomplish complex treatment objectives
• Major duties and responsibilities include - but not limited to: Incumbent completes the evaluation and treatment in a timely fashion
• chart review will allow the incumbent an opportunity to assess appropriateness of the referral and possible contraindications for treatment
• Incumbent's evaluation includes a medical history and results and interpretation of the appropriate tests and measurements performed
• Tests are frequently complex and may need to be adapted because of multiple physical disabilities or present medical condition
• Incumbent utilizes evaluation data to implement comprehensive patient treatment plans - involving patient in a goal-setting process - if feasible
• Incumbent modifies treatment plan according to evaluative findings on an ongoing basis to meet short and long-term goals
• Incumbent demonstrates a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment of physical therapy and their proper application through which the use of therapeutic physical rehabilitation and reconditioning procedures are implemented
• Incumbent recognizes adverse reaction to treatment and initiates effective action immediately
• Incumbent employs unusual motivational techniques to enlist patient participation and adapts equipment and procedures to carry out a full range of complex treatment activities
• Incumbent involves the patient - family members - caregivers - and pertinent health care staff in the treatment process by maintaining effective communications
• Incumbent communicates readily with the multidisciplinary treatment team - advising the team of patient's needs and progress - exchanging discharge planning information with them
• This communication occurs through team meetings - written reports - and informal communication - such as personal and telephone conversations
• Written communication is accomplished in a timely fashion
• Incumbent plans and implements appropriate patient education programs - involving the patient - family members and caregivers in the instructional process
• Incumbent works with a high degree of independence - exercising independent professional judgment in planning and carrying out treatment programs to meet complex treatment objectives
• Incumbent exercises originality in solving problems not covered by these guides - making adaptations and modifications of treatment plans and procedures without supervisory guidance - in order to meet the complex and highly varying needs of patients
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm
• Work Schedule is subject to change based on agency need
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 55884F - 55225F
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.