Physical Therapist

U.S Department of Veterans Affairs

(Stephens City, Virginia)
Full Time
Job Posting Details
About U.S Department of Veterans Affairs
VA operates the nation's largest integrated health care system, with more than 1,700 hospitals, clinics, community living centers, domiciliaries, readjustment counseling centers, and other facilities. VA administers a variety of benefits and services that provide financial and other forms of assistance to Service members, Veterans, their dependents and survivors.
Responsibilities
DUTIES: The HBPC Physical Therapist (PT) Specialist holds a degree or certificate in Physical Therapy from an accredited college or university recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The incumbent also holds an unrestricted license in Physical Therapy from any one of the states in the United States of America. Physical Therapy is a referral-based discipline, serving referred HBPC patients in the community in their homes. In serving these patients, the PT participates in Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) conferences, integrates treatment plans with other disciplines, consults referring practitioners, conducts performance improvement activities to include productivity or accountability measures; equipment and material needs; educational and in-service programs; and understands and meets accreditation standards as presented in Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and/or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) manuals as the standards relate to rehabilitation disciplines. The HBPC PT is clinically supervised by the Rehab Supervisor in the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) and also accountable clinically to the Program Director for Home-Based Primary Care. The HBPC PT is administratively and otherwise responsible to the Rehab Supervisor in the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS). - Performs in home patient assessments according to rehabilitation guidelines and JCAHO standards. - Solves, independently, complex problems related to physical therapy, adapting and modifying treatment plans, activities, and procedures to meet the functional need of patients with complex disabilities. - Serves as a subject matter expert in the specialty area. - Serves as a consultant to rehabilitation (physical therapy / occupational therapy) and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the specialty area. - Serves as a mentor to other therapists evaluating and treating patients in the specialty area. - Provides in-service and clinical training programs in the specialty or program area. - Assesses Veteran for appropriate home medical equipment which also includes the assessment of assistive devices. - Teaches students from affiliated college or university programs. - Demonstrates professional knowledge of theories, concepts, and principles of occupational therapy to manage the rehabilitation process by accurately evaluating, treating referred patients, and making necessary referrals as needed. - Provides appropriate treatment, with emphasis on maximizing function, both in the psychosocial and physical restorative, and cognitive areas. Treatment also includes the fabrication of splints and other prosthetic items within the purview of occupational therapy. Assesses effectiveness of treatment daily, and modifies as necessary, always utilizing appropriate graded treatment modalities/activities. - Surveys Physical Therapy areas for safety, adequacy of supplies and proper use of equipment. Reports findings to the Rehabilitation Supervisor. - Provides patient/family education and home treatment programs with instructions for independent therapy, to include safe therapeutic practices. - Compiles and submits statistical data required to document patient attendance, therapist workload, and productivity indicators. - Assists in training program for students and in-service training for physical therapy staff. - Orients CBOC physicians, nurses, and others to the physical therapy program.
Ideal Candidate
KEY REQUIREMENTS - Must pass pre-employment examination - Must be proficient in written and spoken English - Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required - Background and-or Security Investigation required - Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: Basic Requirements: - U.S. citizenship. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. - Education. Graduate from a degree program in physical therapy from an approved college or university approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). 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. - State Licensure/Certification/regristration/Trademark. Current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. - English Language Proficiency. PTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook Part II, chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3j. - Knowledge of Contemporary Professional Physical Therapy Practice. To be creditable, experience must have demonstrated possession of the required knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics associated with the scope of physical therapy practice as outlined in the current Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, American Physical Therapy Association, and the Normative Model of Physical Therapist Education. The experience may have been evidenced by one or more of the following: Active professional practice. (Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional PT as defined by APTA or the appropriate licensing board.) Experience gained after graduation but prior to licensure is creditable provided the candidate was utilized as a graduate PT and subsequently passed the licensure examination. In addition to licensure, applicants must demonstrate completion of a minimum of 15 continuing education units (CEUs) recognized by APTA or the appropriate licensing board. Completion of a post-graduate fellowship or a post-graduate residency program may substitute for creditable experience on a year for year basis. - Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it was earned post degree and meets the following: 1. Work as a graduate PT directly related to the position to be filled; and 2. The work to be credited is at a level comparable to physical therapy experience at the same or next lower grade level than the grade level being considered for placement. 3. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. - Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a graduate PT is credited according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a PT employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. - Board Certification. Board certification means having successfully passed a Board Certification examination administered by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). - Content Specialty. Specialized content areas of physical therapy include, but are not limited to, geriatrics, neurology, cardiopulmonary, orthopedics, electrophysiology, diabetes, sports medicine, spinal cord injury, amputee, wound care, stroke, brain injury and arthritis. - Education, Experience, Licensure. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, completion of 1 year of progressively complex experience and a broader scope of experience equivalent to the next lower grade; or 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a doctoral degree; or doctoral degree in physical therapy or a directly related field. In addition to meeting the KSAOs described at the GS-9 level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the KSAOs in subparagraph (b) below. Demonstrated KSAOs. In addition to the basic requirements, individuals assigned as GS-11 PTs must demonstrate all of the following KSAOs: 1. Knowledge of contemporary and evidence-based PT practice. 2. Ability to interpret clinician prescriptions and referrals. 3. Skill in communicating, both orally and in writing, with patients, families, caregivers, and other health care professions to facilitate the multidisciplinary treatment process. 4. Skill in utilizing appropriate screening and evaluation techniques required to appropriately provide direct patient care. 5. Knowledge of clinical signs and symptoms to make appropriate referrals for further medical attention/assessment as indicated. - Assignments. Candidates must be licensed for assignment at this grade level, and are considered to be at the full performance level. Staff PTs at this level are responsible for providing assessment and treatment intervention. They are assigned to all program areas which are covered by Rehabilitation Services and provide professional, independent physical therapy services in the assigned area. PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any physical therapy program area where the advanced specialized knowledge is not required on a recurring basis due to the patient population served and complexity of the facility and/or treatment area or may serve as the sole PT at a less complex facility. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time). References: VA Handbook 5005/24, Part II, Appendix G12 This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Physical Requirements: This position involves walking, standing, sitting, bending, lifting, climbing and carrying light to heavy equipment/supplies to all areas of the medical center. Must be able to lift up to 50-lbs on consistent basis. - Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds - Pushing (2 1/2 hours) - Use of fingers - Both hands required - Walking (2 hours) - Standing (4 hours) - Climbing, use of legs and arms - Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - Both eyes required - Depth preception - Ability to distinguish basic colors - Ability to distinguish shades of colors - Hearing (aid permitted)
Compensation and Working Conditions
Benefits Benefits included

Additional Notes on Compensation

BENEFITS:VA offers a comprehensive benefits package. This link provides is an overview of the benefits currently offered: http://www.vacareers.va.gov/why-choose-va/benefits/index.asp.

Working Conditions

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

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