This position is within Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) under Medicine Service Line of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) in Pittsburgh, PA, which is a Complexity Level 1a facility as defined by the Complexity Report 2008. The incumbent primary duty station is University Drive and functions as Staff Acute care Physical Therapist for the PM&R of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

Duties

Incumbent functions as a Physical Therapist in Acute Care hospital setting with planned and spontaneous assignments across all rehab areas within the V APHS catchment area including outpatient, acute care, skilled nursing, Community Based Outpatient Care, in-home/in-community care, and tele-rehabilitation in conjunction with Rapid/Open Access clinics. Incumbent practices the specialty at all catchment areas including outpatient care and Rapid Access clinic. Duties include, but are not limited to: Providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals. Traveling to other VA Pittsburgh Medical Centers and Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOCS). 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 personal and environmental factors. Selecting appropriate clinical tests and measures and integrating findings into the physical therapy plan of care. Selecting appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals they treat. Making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care. Developing and providing individualized clinical training experiences for physical therapy students in facilities with established clinical experience rotations. Completing assignments in any/all areas where physical therapy services are deemed necessary including, but not limited to, Rehab Clinical Education Day, My Home Functional Rehab Lab, Balance Center, functional capacity, hand therapy, edema/wound, pre-driver's screening, geriatric evaluations, spinal cord injury, amputee, and polytrauma, and/or may serve as the sole PT at a less complex facility. Maintaining professional development, keeping current with treatment techniques as well as an active and discipline-free license. Achieving a passing level for all competencies. Perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis. Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm Monday - Friday, Weekend and Holiday Coverage on a rotational basis Telework: Available, as determined by the Supervisor. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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. Education and experience: You must meet at least one of the requirements below NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university. 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. 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. 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. 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: GS-12 Physical Therapist 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: Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 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 Preferred Experience: Acute Care setting with preferred licensed independent practitioner with active direct access licensure. References: VA Handbook 5005/99, Park II, Appendix G12, Physical Therapist Qualifications 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-12. Physical Requirements: Standing, walking, squatting, bending, and sitting, and changing from one position to the other frequently throughout the day. Sitting at a desk and using upper extremities to reach, grasp and place papers, charts, computers, phones, and reference materials. Many of the patients are bariatric. Incumbent must employ safe lifting techniques including the use of mechanical devices and avoid awkward postures while working with the veterans. Reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling: 1-10 pounds constantly, 10-25 frequently, and 20-35 pounds occasionally. Specific examples include: Picking up, carrying, and placing folders, charts, books, and binders. Setting up equipment for patients such as weights or durable medical equipment. Lifting and carrying adaptive equipment ranging in weight from negligible to 50 pounds. Pushing and rolling equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, and supply cans. Assisting patients in mobility such as ambulation and transfers, from minimal assistance to dependent transfers. Defending oneself from a confused, combative, or otherwise aggressive patient. Performing passive range of motion exercises that require the movement of patients' extremities in all planes of motion. Repositioning and transferring patients with manual and mechanical assistance. Operating all aspects of a computer & telecommunication- keyboard, mouse, control buttons, faxes, and telephones. Demonstrating the use of all aspects of adaptive equipment for patient teaching. Assembling equipment with the use of hand tools such as screwdrivers and pliers.

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 Pittsburgh VA Medical Center 1010 Delafield Road Pittsburgh, PA 15215 US
• Name: Carletta Sligh
• Phone: (412) 822-2185
• Email: [email protected]