As a Clinical Specialists assigned to the Primary Care Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT), the Physical Therapist allows for direct Veteran access to musculoskeletal care in Primary Care and serves as a subject matter expert and role model for other members of the health care team by coordinating and triaging care for Veterans who present to Primary Care with musculoskeletal complaints.

Duties

Establishes goals, discharge plans, and referrals to other specialties based on evaluation findings and planning with the treatment team, patient, family, and/or significant other. Develops and carries out physical therapy treatments as indicated to meet the patient's rehabilitation objectives of decreasing pain and rapidly improving function. Conducts treatment interventions one on one with patients in PACT. Appropriately coordinates with PACT provider and triages patients to outpatient rehabilitation or Care in the Community for additional rehabilitation visits as needed. Assesses the need for other services and refers as necessary based on subjective and objective evaluation, medical history and response to treatments if performed. Assesses the need for and the patient's ability to use adaptive equipment required to increase the patient's function, independence, and safety. As necessary, orders the appropriate equipment, issues it to patients, and trains them in the proper use of the device(s) in the PACT environment. Solves problems and helps determine diagnosis, assists with triage to radiology and specialty clinics, adapts and modifies treatment plans, activities and procedures, without supervisory guidance, to meet complex and challenging needs of the patients evaluated in PACT. Evaluates new adaptive aids, prosthetic and/or orthotic equipment. Coordinate with Prosthetic Department on restocking items in PACT/Rehab and recommend appropriate modifications to enhance patient functional capabilities as evaluated in PACT. Determines patient's need for varied orthoses and prostheses and/or major/minor equipment warranting a consultation to other Rehabilitation specialty clinics for examination. Consults with staff and resident physicians from all specialties and guides the multidisciplinary team in musculoskeletal examination and treatment as it relates to physical therapy. Manages within assigned setting in an independent mode and operates in a Direct Access setting. Generally, only seeks guidance from supervisor in unusual clinical or administrative conditions. Direction and advice regarding problems of treatment, effectiveness of treatment, timeliness of treatment and documentation may be offered by administrative and clinical supervisors, as appropriate. Provides and arranges in-service training lectures on various treatment techniques, discusses patient designed treatment plans, and reviews algorithms for PACT musculoskeletal referrals. Evaluates, revises and develops training materials, aids, methods and plans, being free to explore basic theories and principles of physical therapy, with students and other staff to include therapies, nursing, PACT providers, social work, psychology, integrative health and other ancillary staff. Provides patient and family education programs relating to each patient's functional strengths and weaknesses. Provides clinical training and supervision to physical therapy and PACT students. Assists other staff members in identifying needs and designing and implementing programs for assigned services as needed. Attends continuing education training courses to enhance musculoskeletal examination and treatment skills and does independent study, as required, to retain clinical scope of practice. Responsible for the monitoring of necessary prosthetic equipment located in the primary care storeroom. Participates actively in service and section performance improvement activities; assists in developing Quality Management monitors and implements the same effectively and follows through with outcome measures. Responsible for maintaining safe and healthy working conditions and environment for patients and staff. This individual will also advise staff regarding safety, health, infection control and welfare of both staff and patients in treatment areas. Uses daily monitors (such as active/pending consults) in carrying out scheduling of patient evaluation/treatment. Submits return to clinic orders and coordinates with MSAs to schedule patients who require follow-up visits in PACT, monitors caseload and communicates with supervisor when not meeting scheduling guidelines. Assists with coordinating follow-up appointments with PACT providers if direct access musculoskeletal examination performed by Physical Therapist suggest complaints are non?mechanical in origin requiring further examination. Assists with coordinating referral to Emergency Room if symptoms observed during examination are consistent with serious medical condition requiring immediate intervention. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am -4:00pm Compressed/Flexible:May be authorized at the Supervisors discretion. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 53522-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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: To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR Doctorate degree in physical therapy. OR Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements 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 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. Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at www.apta.org. 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. 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 Grade Determination: GS-13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and one of the following: Evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area. This time must be between the past two and five years; or Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; or Completion of a fellowship program; or An additional advanced degree in a related field. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the all following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy. Ability to serve as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within a specialized content area of physical therapy Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy. Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/99 PART II APPENDIX G12 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must demonstrate the ability to walk, to get to other hospital locations on a daily basis, standing, repeated bending, reaching overhead, and pushing Veterans and objects for up to four hours a regular shift, prolonged sitting, moderate lifting and carrying of 15- 44 pounds.

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 Sheridan VA Medical Center 1898 Fort Road Sheridan, WY 82801 US
• Name: Gina Hammer
• Phone: 970-263-2800
• Email: [email protected]