The staff physical therapist is an independent health care professional who is responsible for evaluating referred patients and establishing and executing treatment plans that include a full range of treatment procedures and modalities to restore individual patients to their highest possible functional level and to enhance their adaptive capacities through the use of physical measures, activities, prostheses, or assistive devices.

Duties

The different aspects of the role of Physical Therapist include Clinical, Educational and Professional/Administrative. The duties of this occupation include but are not limited to the following: 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. Consultation with more experienced therapists on very complex patients is expected and appropriate. Documents treatment progression and/or modifications according to departmental and Medical Center standards. 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. Recognizes adverse reaction to treatment and initiates effective action immediately. Independently develops and implements PT treatment programs including modifying programs as necessitated by changes in the patient's medical condition. Develops treatment programs for physical therapy assistants for appropriate patients and oversees their treatments. Participates as the PT representative on interdisciplinary teams Completes home evaluations as indicated to maintain safety and independence in the home setting. Supervises clinical operations as developed treatment plans are carried out by on the job trained PTAs and progression level physical therapy interns. Works in areas as assigned based on patient need (inpatient vs outpatient vs embedding in primary and urgent care) Works with vendors in attaining needed bracing and equipment to maximize functional outcomes. Provides orientation/training to medical staff to the physical therapy program. Keeps current of principles and techniques of physical therapy assessment and interventions through professional literature, in-service programs, and continuing education. Provides in-services and patient education programs as indicated. 5) Completes the annual training/education required by the facility as mandatory. 6) Attends continuing education training courses and does independent study, as required, to retain PM&RS clinical scope of practice as well as stay abreast of current best-practices. Participates in developing guidelines/protocols in treatment of various diagnoses and in developing new patient programs and evaluating existing programs. Maintains patient records and submits other data (i.e. FIM, billing/coding, MDS) as required by section, service, and medical center. Submits requests for expendable supplies, additional equipment, and maintenance items to the PT/OT supervisor. Ensures proper supply inventory levels are maintained for efficient clinical operations. May be requested to serve on service level committee or as a PM&RS Representative on a medical center committee. Participates in Rehab section and hospital Continuous Quality Improvement activities and utilization review activities. Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm Compressed/Flexible:Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Physical Therapist: F03637 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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: The basic requirements for employment as a VHA physical therapist are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C. ? 7402. To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of physical therapist in VHA must meet the following: 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. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Education and Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: (TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION) (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR, (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR, (3) 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. 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. Grandfathering Provision: 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). Knowledge of Contemporary Professional Physical Therapy Practice: To be creditable, a candidate must have demonstrated possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the scope of physical therapy practice. The candidate's experience may be evidenced by one or more of the following: (a) 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. (b) Completion of a post-graduate fellowship or a post-graduate residency program may be substituted for creditable experience on a year for year basis. Quality of Experience: Experience is only creditable if it was post degree experience as a professional PT and is directly related to the duties to be performed. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding the professional PT experience at the next lower grade level. Grade Determinations:GS-11 Physical Therapist (Entry Level) Education, Experience, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements as outlined above. Grade Determinations: GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level) Education, Experience and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements for education, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, examples of this experience include but are not limited to : provide assessment and treatment intervention; plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition; serve as the sole PT such as in an outpatient clinic ; provide oversight and delegate patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant, and/or delegate non-patient care duties to non-licensed staff. Must hold a valid unrestricted state license and demonstrate all the KSAs below: Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 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. Preferred Experience: Experience equivalent to GS-12 full performing Physical Therapist duties and possessing a professional Physical Therapy license for at least 1 year. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/99 PART II APPENDIX G12 PHYSICAL THERAPIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0633 Veterans Health Administration Promotion Potential: 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: See VA 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 Northampton VA Medical Center 421 North Main Street Leeds, MA 01053 US
• Name: Karen Terebesi
• Phone: (203) 951-9651
• Email: [email protected]