This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Major duties include, but are not limited to: Based on the Primary Care Provider's referral or Direct Access, initiates treatment programs aimed at specific goals and objectives. Due to the severity of the unusual and multiple complications often incurred, several procedures may be required for each patient. This necessitates special assessment goals and the institution of sophisticated and varied programs where often, existing procedures fail to attain any degree of success in rehabilitation. Works effectively with treatment team members, patients, patients' family/significant others, and other health care providers in coordinating the patient's total care. Uses standard and non-standard methods and techniques for evaluating and interpreting a wide variety of patient physical and psychosocial functional levels and for providing progressive treatment. Knowledgeable about research in the practitioner's areas of practice. The Physical Therapist applies timely research findings ethically and appropriately to evaluation and intervention processes and discusses applicable research findings with the PTA's and related physical therapy personnel to assure high quality of care to patients with single and multiple diagnoses. Develops and implements individualized physical therapy treatment programs for patients when clients may have a functional limitation or disability or may be at risk for a disabling condition. Develops and initiates new treatment programs which apply current research findings. Applies timely research findings ethically and appropriately to evaluation and intervention processes and discusses applicable research findings with the PTA's and related physical therapy personnel to assure high quality of care to patients with single and multiple diagnoses. Develops and documents an intervention plan that is based on the results of the physical therapy evaluation and the desires and expectations of the client and appropriate others about the outcome of service. Practice physical therapy autonomously and refers clients to appropriate resources when the needs of the client can best be served by the expertise of other professionals or services. Educates current and potential referral sources about the scope of physical therapy services and the process of initiating physical therapy services. Independently utilizes different and unrelated methods to evaluate and interpret specific physical and psychosocial problems of clients and carries out the appropriate therapy necessary to teach new or compensating skills to restore patient performance. Systematically assesses the efficiency and effectiveness of Physical Therapy services and designs and implements processes to support quality service delivery. Ensure an effective quality management program consistent with facility policy is established, maintained, and meets JCAHO standards. Deficiencies of external reviews are corrected and completed with no unresolved details. Complies with risk management program requirements to ensure those factors which impact negatively on the facility are monitored, evaluated, and corrected, such as patient/employee incidents, tort claim outcomes, and other adverse patient occurrences. Implements the intervention plan through the use of specified purposeful activities or therapeutic methods that are meaningful to the client and are effective methods for enhancing physical performance. Informs clients and appropriate others regarding the relative benefits and risks of the intervention. Maintains or seeks current information on resources relevant to the client's needs. Re-evaluates during the intervention process and documents progress in the client's goals, performance and needs. Modifies intervention to reflect changes in client status, desires, and response to intervention. Discontinues services when the client has achieved predetermined goals, has achieved maximum benefit from physical therapy services, or does not desire to continue services. Prepares and implements a discharge plan that addresses follow-up resources and identifies status between initial evaluation and discontinuance of services. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Ad hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: (a) Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) (b) 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: 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. (c) Licensure: Individuals 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. 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. GS-11 (Entry Level) Grade Determinations: (a) Education, Experience, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 (Full Performance Level) Grade Determinations: (a) 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: 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G12. 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-11 or GS-12.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Black Hills Health Care System 113 Comanche Road Fort Meade, SD 57741 US
• Name: Megan Noe
• Phone: (724) 285-2259
• Email: [email protected]