The Physical Therapist at this level is a direct access independent practice professional who is responsible for evaluating patients and establishing and executing interventional treatment plans that include a full range of treatment procedures and modalities. 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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education: 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. 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 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. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction, foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US. Grade Determinations: Physical Therapist, GS-0633-11 Education, Experience, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. Physical Therapist, GS-0633-12 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: Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 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: Home Health Care Service is seeking the best qualified physical therapist with preferred experience in the outpatient setting with the following responsibilities: 2 years of PT experience with an adult/geriatric population Experience with patient/family and professional health education Experience with interdisciplinary health care teams Home health experience Advanced computer skills References: VA Handbook 5005/99 Part II Appendix G12, Physical Therapist, GS-0633, Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. 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: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), straight pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, crawling, kneeling, repeated bending, climbing, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/50and to 20/100 in the other, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid permitted), mental and emotional stability, far vision correctable in one to 20/50 and to 20/100 in the other. Operation of motor vehicle. (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services). ["Current, permanent VA employees or Federal employees from another agency should apply under CBST-12414924-24-SA This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 09/30/2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 6/1/2024. with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY The duties of the Physical Therapist in Home Health Care Service include, but not limited to: Physical Therapists at this level can make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment. This includes abilities to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services and responsibility for providing assessment and treatment intervention. Physical Therapists plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition. A. CLINICAL 1. Evaluates patients using standard and non-standard techniques to identify specific Physical Therapy treatment problems. 2. Develops and implements therapeutic rehabilitation programs within the framework of HBPC, in the GEC/R service line. Considers the populations served by the medical center and independently performs tests and measurements of the patient's condition and interprets results of tests and measurements of the patient's condition for use in establishing a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy, developing the treatment plan, modifying the treatment plan, and evaluating results of treatment. 3. Assesses the goals, living skills, physical abilities, and related needs for each patient referred for in- home assessment and assessment at the facility. Establish short term and long term clinically appropriate patient treatment goals and implement treatment program to meet these goals. 4. Completes safety assessments after falls to include recommendations relevant to the veteran's home environment, health/ disease status, and available resources. 5. Performs a yearly home assessment with each enrolled veteran per HBPC directive. 6. Actively participates in interdisciplinary meetings for patient planning, coordination of care, or discharge planning. 7. Frequently assesses treatment plan directed toward achieving maximum level of functioning within the home, consulting with other clinicians as indicated, and modifying the plan as indicated. Incumbent terminates treatment objectives when met and/or the patient has achieved maximum benefit or has moved to a higher level of need not amenable to HBPC criteria and purpose. 8. Provides direct patient care, orders equipment, provides education to patient and caregiver on equipment and exercises, and refers patient to other disciplines as needed. 9. Completes HISA grant and/or other home modification paperwork when requested efficiently and in a timely manner. 10. Evaluates the need for additional services and use professional judgment to initiate consultation with other professionals to provide such service. Collaborates with the patient, caregiver, and other involved HBPC disciplines as needed. 11. Provides patient care/support that is appropriate to the cognitive, physical and emotional needs of the patient group served. Interacts with people at all age levels ranging from adolescent through geriatric and must be aware of and respond appropriately to the physical, social, and psychological differences among these groups. 12. Evaluates the home for positional changes to promote the patient's safety and independence. B. EDUCATION 1. Attends and participates in seminars, workshops, in-service training meetings, departmental meetings, and lectures to increase and maintain personal knowledge and job-related skills. Attends mandatory in-services as required by VA, GEC, and PT Scope and policy. 2. Is a resource person and provides training for other health care professionals, or student affiliates in the department. 3. Provides clinical oversight of Physical Therapy students. 4. Serves on committees at the facility, in the community, or in professional associations. 5. Instructs professional medical residents and health care students as requested. C. ADMINISTRATIVE 1. Physical Therapist will provide appropriate documentation of all patient encounters within documentation guidelines. 2. Physical Therapist will make timely visits in accordance with station policy, the national directive and PT professional standards. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available (Ad-hoc) Virtual: Not available Functional Statement #: 598-00094-F and 598-000093-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
