The incumbent is responsible for a range of clinical functions in the areas of clinical physical therapy delivery, information, education, and screening/disposition of routine clinical operational matters for evaluation and treatment in direct patient care. Work will be performed in a regional acute care, rapid patient turnover facility serving both acute and chronic, inpatient and outpatient, with the primary focus of this position providing outpatient care. 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. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). Education and/or Experience. The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. -OR- Master's Degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. -OR- Doctorate degree in physical therapy. PLEASE NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university. Foreign Graduates - Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. State Licensure. Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted state license to practice physical therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e. Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia. EXCEPTION: Non-licensed physical therapists (PT's), who otherwise meet the Basic Requirements, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate PT at the GS-11 grade level for a period not-to-exceed two years. 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 Grandfathering Provision. All licensed PTs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-0633 occupational series as PTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation. (2) PTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of this standard. (3) PTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard and must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) If PTs who are grandfathered under this provision leave the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. GRADE REQUIREMENTS - In addition to the Basic Requirements provided in the Physical Therapist Qualification Standard GS-0633 Veterans Health Administration - February 7, 2018, the following are the grade requirements. Grade Determinations for Physical Therapist GS-11: GS-11 Experience, Education, or Licensure: No post-educational experience, education, or licensure is required at the GS-11 level beyond the Basic Requirements. Assignment. PTs at this level are responsible for providing assessment and treatment intervention. PTs plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition. PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required or may serve as the sole PT such as in an outpatient clinic. Licensed PTs may provide oversight and delegate patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant, and/or delegate non-patient care duties to a non-licensed staff. PT's that are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed PT. Grade Determinations for Physical Therapist GS-12: GS-12 Experience, Education, AND Licensure (Submitted): In addition to the Basic Requirements, a Physical Therapist at the full performance GS-12 level MUST be licensed AND possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level directly related to the position being filled. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: 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. 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. See the referenced Qualification Standard for additional information. 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: Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. ["Open to ALL US Citizens - Veterans Preference WILL APPLY. All Federal Employees, Internal Applicants, Department of Veterans Affairs (Agency - VHA, VBA, NCA) Employees, and Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (Facility) Employees, should apply to Job Opportunity Announcement CBTG-12620408-25-JB. Facility Employees will have FIRST consideration. VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY The Physical Therapist is responsible for completing complex evaluations and treatments applying advanced evaluation methodologies and treatment theories in the provision of care to a vast array of function impairments and patients as well as provides clinical practice guidance for other staff Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants. Major Duties include but are not limited to: Plans and implements comprehensive patient treatment programs, immediately involving patient in the goals setting and treatment processes as feasible. Modifies treatment plan according to evaluative findings on an ongoing basis to meet short and long-term goals. Incumbent demonstrates a full professional and current understanding of the theories of orthopedic/neurologic physical therapy treatment and their proper application. Recognizes even subtle responses or adverse reactions to treatment, initiates effective action immediately, and advises other health care team members as indicated. Recognizes even subtle responses or adverse reactions to treatment, initiates effective action immediately, and advises other health care team members as indicated. Involves the patient, family, significant others, and pertinent health care staff in the treatment process by ongoing communication through demonstration, instruction, team conferences, and chart documentation as appropriate to each patient's treatment goals. Assesses patient's learning needs, and plans and implements appropriate patient education programs, involving the patient, family, and significant others in the instructional process. Demonstrates knowledge and skill in a range of interventions and treatment modalities used in the treatment area of physical therapy. They have the ability to serve as a consultant for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within orthopedic/neurologic physical therapy. The ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in the area of orthopedic/neurologic physical therapy is demonstrated. Demonstrates the ability to guide and evaluate the work of a multi-disciplinary team in the area of physical therapy. The incumbent has the necessary skills to perform and interpret evaluative procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned area. Functions as a mentor in the area of medical conditions (such as orthopedics/neurology) and provides specific instruction and training to students and other members of the multidisciplinary team. Incumbent also provides instruction to patient and family in these areas as appropriate to their roles and level of understanding. Exercises a high degree of independence and professional judgment in planning and carrying out treatment programs to meet complex treatment objectives for the orthopedic/neurologic population. Incumbent exercises originality in solving problems not covered by theses guides, making innovative adaptations and modifications of treatment plans and procedures in order to meet the varying needs of patients, and advises all other health care team members and students in this regard for patients with orthopedic/neurologic conditions. Incumbent is responsible for the care, upkeep and sanitation of equipment he/she uses. Work Schedule: 7:30AM - 4:00PM Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 70330-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]

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