The Physical Therapist is a member of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services staff within the Tennessee Valley VA Healthcare System (TVHS). The incumbent is charged with responsibility for a range of clinical functions in the areas of clinical physical therapy delivery, information, education, and screening/disposition of routine clinical operational matters for evaluation and treatment in direct patient care.

Duties

The Physical Therapist is responsible for completing complex evaluations and treatments applying advanced evaluation methodologies and treatment theories in the provision of care to a vast array of function impairments and patients as well as provides clinical practice guidance for other staff Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants. Plan and implement comprehensive patient treatment programs, immediately involving patient in the goals setting and treatment processes as feasible. Modify treatment plan according to evaluative findings on an ongoing basis to meet short and long-term goals. Incumbent demonstrates a full professional and current understanding of the theories of orthopedic/neurologic physical therapy treatment and their proper application. Recognizes even subtle responses or adverse reactions to treatment, initiates effective action immediately, and advises other health care team members as indicated. 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. Demonstrates knowledge and skill in a range of interventions and treatment modalities used in the treatment area of physical therapy. He/She has the ability to serve as a consultant for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within orthopedic/neurologic physical therapy. The ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in the area of orthopedic/neurologic physical therapy is demonstrated. Function as a mentor in the area of medical conditions (such as orthopedics/neurology) and provides specific instruction and training to students and other members of the multidisciplinary team. Incumbent also provides instruction to patient and family in these areas as appropriate to their roles and level of understanding. Exercise a high degree of independence and professional judgment in planning and carrying out treatment programs to meet complex treatment objectives for the orthopedic/neurologic population. Incumbent exercises originality in solving problems not covered by theses guides, making innovative adaptations and modifications of treatment plans and procedures in order to meet the varying needs of patients, and advises all other health care team members and students in this regard for patients with orthopedic/neurologic conditions. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am to 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 201363-Physical Therapist 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: 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. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. 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. 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. 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. 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) Grade Determinations: GS-11 Physical Therapist (Entry Level): Education, Experience, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment. PTs at this level are responsible for 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. PTs that are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed PT. 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 specialized experience include, but are not limited to: responsible for providing assessment and treatment intervention; plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition. 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. Also, must 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. Assignment. At the full performance level, PTs are responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals. Guided by differential and movement diagnoses, PTs perform 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. PTs interpret findings from examination, diagnostic studies/medical tests and, during evaluation, select appropriate clinical tests and measures, and then integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations. PTs establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed. They determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences for meaningful level of function in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes. Physical therapists select appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals they treat. Staff PTs at this level practice autonomously, making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care. The staff PT may also develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for physical therapy students in facilities with established clinical experience rotations. PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any/all areas where physical therapy services are deemed necessary, and/or may serve as the sole PT at a less complex facility. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments as deemed appropriate given the needs of a facility on an occasional basis, where the amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time). References: VA Handbook 5005/99 Part II Appendix G12 Dated February 7, 2018. Physical Requirements: Work includes regular and demanding physical exertion in standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, gripping, and walking. Moderate to heavy lifting is required to assist patients and operate equipment. Sitting is required in meetings and for conducting administrative work. Above average agility may be desirable in defending oneself (or others) against physical attack/abuse. Work requires physical health, normal use of arms and legs, and good visual and auditory acuity. Incumbent must be licensed to operate a motor vehicle.

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 Tennessee Valley HCS - Nashville 1310 24th Avenue South Nashville, TN 37212 US
• Name: Sherrie Taylor
• Phone: 502-910-5327
• Email: [email protected]