Summary

Serves as a staff physical therapist with evaluation and treatment responsibilities in outpatient - inpatient - and acute rehabilitation despite primary focus in home setting. Communicates effectively within a multidisciplinary service to provide quality care with compassion and a commitment to excellence.

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:

• Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written 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: 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: 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
• NOTE: 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
• In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above - you must meet the requirements list for the grade levels below
• GS-11 Physical Therapist (Entry) None beyond the basic requirements
• Education - Experience - and Licensure
• 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: 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
• Assignment: At the full performance level - PTs are responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals
• Guided by differential and movement diagnoses - PTs perform 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 personal and environmental factors
• PTs interpret findings from examination - diagnostic studies/medical tests and - during evaluation - select appropriate clinical tests and measures - and then integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations
• PTs establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed
• They determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences for meaningful level of function in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes
• Physical therapists select appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals they treat
• Staff PTs at this level practice autonomously - making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care
• The staff PT may also develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for physical therapy students in facilities with established clinical experience rotations
• PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any/all areas where physical therapy services are deemed necessary - and/or may serve as the sole PT at a less complex facility
• Individuals may perform ancillary assignments as deemed appropriate given the needs of a facility on an occasional basis - where the amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time)
• References: https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/ The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• Physical Requirements: This position frequently requires moderate to heavy lifting
• Normally such lifting will involve - but is not limited to - assisting with transfers or gait training of the client in the physical therapy clinic.

Duties

• SCOPE OF ASSIGNED RESPONSIBILITIES: A
• CLINICAL: Independently develops - implements - and evaluates therapeutic rehabilitation programs within the framework of HBPC or in the inpatient/outpatient setting at OGJVAMC
• Considers the populations served by the medical center when assessing and validating the knowledge - skills - and ability of clients to fulfill therapy goals and interventions
• Assesses the goals - living skills - physical abilities - and related needs for each patient referred for in-home assessment and assessment at the facility
• Completes safety assessments after falls to include recommendations relevant to the Veteran's home environment - health/disease status and available resources
• Performs a comprehensive in-home environmental and functional assessment initially and follow-up assessments when clinically indicated or at minimum annually - that will include identifying functional deficits (Barthel Index - Katz - FIM - or other functional assessment tool) - fall risk - home safety risks - assessing and planning for emergency preparedness - planning and implementing intervention using evidence based practice guidelines - and monitoring and evaluating a patient's progress - preferable in person
• Performs evaluation and ongoing patient management for patients are OGJVAMC
• Evaluates the patient's home - on admission and annually and as clinically indicated - to identify the need for structural modification and adaptive equipment to improve the safety and accessibility of the home environment
• Develops a treatment plan directed toward achieving maximum level of functioning within the home - consulting with other clinicians as indicated - and developing the plan in collaboration with the patient - caregiver and other involved HBPC disciplines
• Implements the treatment plan by providing direct patient care
• procuring necessary equipment/ adaptive devices
• instructing and training the client and caregiver concerning exercises - activities of daily living - rehabilitation techniques - and equipment/adaptive devices
• and recommending community referrals
• Provides follow-up assessments after equipment has been provided to assure correct use and understanding of the equipment
• Reassess patients' levels of functioning and home environment - revising the treatment plan as indicated
• Evaluates the need for additional services and uses professional judgment to initiate consultation with other professionals to provide such services
• Evaluates the home for positional changes to promote the patient's safety and independence
• Participates in the HBPC Performance Improvement Program - including completing assessment and documentation required by performance measures applicable to the PT's role
• Is an active participant in 4 East - Community Living Center (CLC) or HBPC interdisciplinary team meetings
• This involves providing up-to-date assessments and progress toward functional goals
• Serves as content expert in ordering complex and specialized medical equipment
• Practices safe home care - recognizing the potential risks associated with various home and communities and adjusts visit times to assure to personal and client safety
• Provides the team with weekly visit schedule
• Participates in HBPC disaster and emergency planning
• Incorporates plan into home therapy visits - re-enforcing the plan developed for management of disasters
• Shall follow all policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all applicable environmental regulations and requirements and be good stewards of the environment through pollution prevention - waste minimization and resource conservation
• When applicable - shall consider environmentally preferable and recycled products in all purchasing
• 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
• Other duties assigned Work Schedule: Full Time Mon-Fri -08:00am- 4:30pm
• Telework: This is not a telework position
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #:08579F - 08577F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Relocation/Recruitment Incentives are not authorized.