Career Center

Summary

Incumbent is a Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) who is responsible for providing treatment that promotes the prevention - remediation - and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction in the specialty of spinal mechanical therapy. The PTA administers and monitors therapeutic interventions based on goals formulated by a Physical Therapist but must be able to carry out a general treatment plan without the direct involvement of a Physical Therapist.

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
• PTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).] Education: Applicants must meet at least one of the requirements below: 1
• Associate degree from an accredited community college - junior college - college - or university in a physical therapy assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) OR 2
• Graduate of foreign physical therapy assistant degree programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs OR 3
• Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs
• Licensure
• Current - full - active and unrestricted license as a PTA in a State - Territory or Commonwealth (i.e
• Puerto Rico) of the United States - or District of Columbia
• Creditable Experience
• To be creditable - the experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) associated with the current scope of PTA practice
• Experience must have been gained as a licensed PTA
• 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 - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Physical Therapy Assistant GS-9 Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate one of the following: (a) A minimum of 2000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area - and completion of 60 contact hours of selected continuing education coursework
• This time must be within the past five years
• or (b )Advanced Practice Proficiency (APP) in the specialty area recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
• or (c) An additional academic degree related to the health care mission
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the basic requirements - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) Ability to mentor other staff in advanced clinical guidelines and best practices
• (b) Ability to serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for healthcare providers in specialty practice areas regarding physical therapy care
• (c) Ability to present] advanced knowledge in the therapeutic interventions and clinical practice guidelines with the healthcare team
• (d) Ability to interpret and apply clinical practice guidelines
• Assignment
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty)and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• PTAs at this level apply advanced practice skills to treat complex patients
• PTAs possess an advanced level of clinical competence and serve as a SME n specialty practice areas
• They serve as a subject matter expert in a rehabilitation program such as - but not limited to - geriatrics - amputee - brain injury - cardiac rehabilitation - orthopedics - neurological - safe patient handing - or any other functional debilitative conditions
• They possess advanced practice skills and experience with a wide range of patient complexity
• They apply advanced methodologies to a vast array of functional impairments and patients
• They independently recommend and apply evidence-based treatment approaches within the plan of care
• References: VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G23- Physical Therapy Assistant Qualification Standard
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting and carrying (45+ lbs.)
• Moderate carrying (15-44 lbs.)
• straight pulling ( <1 hour)
• pushing (_<1 hour)
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking ( 2 hours)
• standing (3 hours)
• kneeling (<1 hour)
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to the following: Receives and interprets requests or instructions for procedures from the physical therapist or physician
• Able to independently provide carried and multifaceted physical therapy interventions based on the established care plan
• Plans and implements specialized treatment programs and applies physical therapy procedures to patients under the general supervision of a physical therapist
• Employee may carry out or oversee the work of lower graded assistants to accommodate requests
• The PTA independently selects and adapts the procedures and techniques to be used - while including complimentary techniques as indicated - documents process and outcome in the patient's medical record and modifies programming based on the findings of the reassessment in accordance with previous training or accepted practices
• The PTA independently makes recommendations regarding treatment or modifications to treatment plans and actively participates with physicians and nurses in planning rehabilitative treatment procedures
• Ability to mentor other staff in advanced clinical guidelines and best practices in the specialty of orthopedic physical therapy
• Ability to serve as subject matter expert (SME) for healthcare providers in orthopedic practice areas regarding physical therapy care
• Ability to present advanced knowledge in the therapeutic interventions and clinical practice guidelines with the healthcare team for orthopedic physical therapy
• Ability to interpret and apply clinical practice guidelines in keeping with VA - PT - and CARF standards
• Able to apply advanced methodologies to a vast array of functional impairments associated with orthopedic dysfunction
• Independently recommend and apply evidence-based treatment approaches within the plan of care
• Ability to undependably implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patient disability and needs (e.g. - therapeutic exercise - balance - body mechanics - flexibility - strength - gait training - neuromuscular development - physical agents - functional training - etc.) Completes a preliminary review/examination of patient data (including medical history) - compiles and organizes pertinent information - and develops/presents a patient profile to be used in assessing patient's status
• Assists with or renders a course of treatment based on the assessed needs of the patient - developing progressive types of physical therapy treatment programs as related to physical therapy and other physical therapy musculoskeletal conditions
• This is done in consultation with a physical therapist or physician
• Has advanced knowledge of treatment techniques to assess changes in physical - mental - and/or medical status - as well as in data collection and assessment techniques to perform specified aspects of patient evaluations and interventions with a focus on orthopedic physical therapy
• Assists therapist in development of a comprehensive specialized treatment plan that includes long- and short-term goals
• Persuades and motivates veterans and family members to participate in treatment plans and comply with indicated regimens and post-discharge activities
• Interacts with the patient and family regarding goals for treatment
• Assists in the performance of - or independently performs - highly specialized and diversified treatment procedures
• Utilizes the full range of modalities including heat - cold - sound - electricity - and massage
• Administers non-complex active and passive therapeutic exercise
• Fits - adjusts - and instructs patients in use of orthoses - prostheses - and mobility appliances
• Instructs motivates and assists patients to learn activities of daily living and improve functional activities
• Prepares and maintains appropriate equipment and supplies required for these treatments
• Specialized knowledge in orthopedic procedures - advancement - and treatment is necessary
• Varies procedures or positions to adjust for veterans' medical conditions
• Modifies intervention environment - tools - materials - and activities in response to each veteran's response to treatment
• With prior approval of the therapist - adapts the technical procedures and approaches involving new and unusual treatment and rehabilitation objectives to meet the individual veteran's needs
• Modifies or adapts specialized treatment approaches within the scope of the established treatment plan to reflect the changing needs of the veteran
• Completes documentation and event capture/encounters in keeping with John D
• Dingell's policies
• Weekend and Holiday work schedule rotation for inpatient rehab
• Work Schedule: Full Time - Monday- Friday
• 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: FS# 91801-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required