Career Center

Summary

This position is within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - Southeast Network (VISN 7) - at the VA Augusta Health Care System (VAAHCS) located in Augusta - Georgia - specifically in the Physical Therapy Department of the Medical Rehabilitation Service. Candidates must meet the basic educational and licensure requirements for this level.

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: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• 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
• Education and experience: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist
• Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist
• 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 post­baccalaureate 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
• 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: GS-12 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
• Examples of experience related to the GS-11 grade level includes but not limited to providing assessment and treatment intervention
• plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition
• provide oversight and delegate patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant - and/or delegate non-patient care duties to non-licensed staff
• GS-12 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities - that must be clearly demonstrated in your resume: 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
• Preferred Experience: Experience in outpatient physical therapy
• 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 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
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Staff Physical Therapists (PTs) at this level practice autonomously - making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during the ongoing assessment of patients under their care
• They are responsible for providing assessment and treatment interventions and may be assigned to various program areas covered by Rehabilitation Services - including the Community Living Center (CLC) - acute care - outpatient care - home-based care - inpatient rehabilitation - and more
• In their assigned areas - they deliver professional - independent physical therapy services
• Staff PTs may receive general assignments across different areas where physical therapy services are deemed necessary
• They may also undertake ancillary assignments - provided that the complexity and workload do not exceed 25% of their duty time
• The incumbent functions as a member of the PM&RS Team and is responsible for administering physical therapy programs to adult and geriatric patients from all areas of the medical center
• The incumbent must adhere to the facility's rules - policies - and procedures - as well as the standards of practice and ethics set by the American Physical Therapy Association - to ensure high-quality patient care
• Assigned responsibilities primarily include Screening - Evaluation - Education - Performance Interpretation - Treatment Design and Implementation - Report Creation - and Administrative Organization
• As a staff member assigned to the Rehabilitation Service Line - the incumbent will assume a caseload of PT duties as assigned by the Physical Therapy Supervisor(s)
• While program oversight is provided by the Physical Therapy Supervisor - the incumbent must be comfortable making independent decisions regarding patient scheduling - patient care - and the interpretation of diagnostic results
• VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Duties include - but not limited to: Independently provides assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals
• Demonstrates a current understanding of the theories of physical therapy treatment and their proper application
• Proficient in assessing - planning - implementing - and evaluating treatment plans for adult patients
• Develops and provides individualized clinical training experiences for physical therapy students in facilities with established clinical rotations
• Can provide guidance - training - and mentorship to entry-level Physical Therapy staff
• Assists with chart reviews - as directed by supervisor
• Able to represent Medical Rehab Service and Physical Therapy Department on care setting specific service and facility committees
• Providing insight into patient care - administrative needs - and other pertinent information related to Physical Therapy
• Maintains a safe - clean - and pleasant work area according to CARF - JCAHO - VACO - OSHA - Medical Center and RMS guidelines Maintains physical therapy licensure and abides by state practice act and guidelines
• Work Schedule: Monday -Friday 8AM-4:30PM - occasional weekend coverage Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: 60018F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized