The Physical Therapist (PT) is a member of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service staff. The incumbent is responsible for providing evaluations, as well as planning and administration/management of rehabilitation services for patients enrolled in Physical Therapy at the James H. Quillen VAMC, Mountain Home, Tennessee.

Duties

The Physical Therapist has the direct responsibility for physical therapy services in acute care, outpatient, Community Living Center (CLC), and Primary Care/Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) settings as assigned. In addition, the PT is also expected to provide patient care duties and develop and participate in specialized treatment programs. The PT will provide these services to patients with a wide variety of multiple, complex illnesses and/or profound disabilities. The Physical Therapist will hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited school of physical therapy and 5 years of experience or an advance degree (Masters or Doctorate) with no work experience. The therapist maintains a valid state license in good standing. This position exists at the James H. Quillen VAMC and involves caring for Veterans in the full range of patient care settings to include Primary Care/PACT. Physical Therapy functions include be not limited to, plans and carries out the full range of treatment where therapeutic objectives are complex and procedures involved require the application of highly specialized skills and knowledge, particularly as related to orthopedic/neurologic patients. Established treatment procedures are not always applicable and, at times, must be substantially adapted and applied with critical concern for patients who are acutely ill, or who have a combination of severe mental or physical disabilities with secondary complications.

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. Education and experience: 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. 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. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. *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. Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education | Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (capteonline.org). Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at www.apta.org. Grade Determinations:GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level): Experience: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Examples of experience include, but are not limited to: providing assessment and treatment intervention. PTs plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition. PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required or may serve as the sole PT such as in an outpatient clinic. Licensed PTs may provide oversight and delegate patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant, and/or delegate non-patient care duties to non-licensed staff. Also, hold a valid unrestricted state license and demonstrate all the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA)s below: 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/99 Part II Appendix G12 Dated February 7, 2018. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: : Regular and recurring physical exertion in standing, walking, bending, reaching, and sitting should be anticipated routinely. Light to heavy lifting may be required at times. Work discharge may require physical health, unhindered use of arms and legs, and good visual and auditory acuity.

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 James H Quillen VA Medical Center Corner of Lamont Street and Veterans Way Mountain Home, TN 37684 US
• Name: Julissa Jimenez
• Phone: (407) 579-4973
• Email: [email protected]