Position is located in the Physical Therapy Department of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) in the VA Caribbean Healthcare System. The PT performs comprehensive assessments and provides treatment that promotes the prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction.

Duties

The duties and responsibilities of this position are carried out within the medical center including various clinical, administrative and patient care areas associated with PM&RS. FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES: Clinical: Incumbent will demonstrate 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. Incumbent performs a chart review to assess appropriateness of the referral and possible contraindications for treatment. Incumbent completes evaluation and treatment according to service policies. Referrals are scheduled considering priority and frequency of care, and coordination of schedules with other members of the treatment team. Flexibility of schedule must be maintained to allow for unscheduled patients and for mentoring and consultation. Incumbent will demonstrate skills 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. Incumbent's evaluation includes a medical history and results and interpretation of the appropriate tests and measurements performed. Tests may need to be adapted because of multiple physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities. Will demonstrate 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. Incumbent will demonstrate 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. Incumbent has full knowledge of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) terminology and implements it in the daily practice of physical therapy. Incumbent utilizes evaluation data to determine physical therapy prognosis, to develop a care plan and to implement comprehensive patient treatment programs, immediately involving patient in the goals setting, and treatment processes as feasible taking into consideration patient's preferences. Incumbent modifies treatment plan according to evaluative findings on an ongoing basis to meet short and long term goals. Uses judgment and special skills in the application of specific treatment modalities to meet the previously assessed needs of patients assigned. These may include, but are not be limited to: heat, cold, light, water, sound, electricity, and mobilization. Incumbent must coordinate and employ multiple treatment approaches simultaneously to accomplish treatment objectives. Compliments treatment program with carefully developed therapeutic exercise routines with or without assistive devices, sensory integration, and neurodevelopmental techniques, as applicable. Trains patients in locomotion correcting gait patterns and including, as appropriate, the use of prosthetic, orthotic or assistive devices. Incumbent demonstrates a full professional and current understanding of the theories of physical therapy treatment and their proper application, particularly those techniques related to adult and geriatric patients. Incumbent recognizes even subtle responses or adverse reactions to treatment, initiates effective action immediately, and advises other health care team members as indicated. Incumbent involves the patient, family, significant others, and pertinent health care staff in the treatment process by ongoing communication through demonstration, instruction, team conferences, and chart documentation as appropriate to each patient's treatment goals. Incumbent assesses patient's learning needs, and plans and implements appropriate patient education programs, involving the patient, family, and significant others in the instructional process. The incumbent demonstrates knowledge and skill in a range of interventions and treatment modalities used in a variety of treatment areas of physical therapy. The ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in the area of physical therapy is demonstrated. Conducts home evaluations and visits as applicable depending on assignment. He/she will have an active relationship with the Physical Therapy Supervisor and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation attending physicians to include open communication and participation in case discussions. Work Schedule: 8:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday, including Weekends, Holidays, and rotating shifts Telework: Yes - Position Suitable Functional Statement #: 61505F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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: Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. Education (Transcripts Submitted): This position requires a Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist; ~OR~ Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist; ~OR~ 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. Licensure (If Applicable Supply) : 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. Loss of Credential. A PT who fails to maintain the required license must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation, if qualified, and if a placement opportunity exists. Grandfathering Provision: All licensed PTs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, you must also meet one of the following grade requirements for a specific grade level. GS-11 (Entry Level): None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 (Full Performance Level): Must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Examples of qualifying experience includes, but is not limited to: providing assessment and treatment intervention to patients; planning and modifying treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition; and providing oversight and delegation of patient care responsibilities to Physical Therapist Assistants. In addition, applicants must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs): 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 5005/99, 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 in the range of GS-11 to GS-12. Physical Requirements: Must be able to pass a pre-placement physical examination administered by the VA Occupational Health Office. This position requires the incumbent to be able to function effectively under rapidly changing conditions; be able to walk/stand for prolonged periods of time while on duty; be able to use proper body mechanics while moving/lifting patients or objects; Frequently be required to do medium to heavy work consisting of lifting, pulling and/or pushing up to 100 pounds; be able to safely push wheeled objects weighing in excess of 200 pounds; be exposed to repetitive activity approximately 40% of time with keyboard and mouse use; and may be exposed to persons with infectious diseases. 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.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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 San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: Manuel Colon
• Phone: 321-370-3040
• Email: [email protected]