This position is located within the Rehabilitation Department within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) of VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System in Pittsburgh, PA. This physical therapist clinical specialist provides complex lymphedema and/or wound assessments.

Duties

Other Major Duties may include: Coordination of the scheduling, evaluating, and treating, edema/wound care patients within VAPHS and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). Performing physical therapy evaluations and treatments for patients in the locations of inpatient, outpatient, telehealth, and homecare as deemed necessary and as assigned on a rotational basis with other staff therapists and specialists. Independently providing clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs. Specializing in lymphedema and wound care, independently conducting treatment of patients with complex diagnoses related to the field of work. Knowing Pennsylvania state practice guidelines governing the performance of the procedure functions within this regulation. Seeking out educational opportunities to maintain current clinical knowledge and/or applicable certifications and competencies related to complex edema and wound care. Completing electronic patient progress notes. Completing appropriately timed re-evaluations and modifying goals. Assessing the need for home equipment and orders or devises the necessary equipment. Conducting education for patients and family members in home exercise programs, transfer techniques and efficient care for the patient. Participating in multidisciplinary rounds, giving input as necessary to help the health care team make appropriate discharge plans. Effectively communicating orally and in writing as well as via Tele-health. Working effectively with treatment team and other staff in coordinating patient's total care. Overseeing therapy assistants, aides, and volunteers assigned to the section. Documenting the evaluations, treatment plans and response to treatment in compliance with Rehabilitation Section policies, procedures, VA directives, and handbooks. Completing accurate billing and coding per policy. Involving the patient's family or significant other in decision making related to the patient's plan of care when appropriate. Selecting and training the veteran on appropriate durable medical equipment, assistive devices, and/or compression garments when needed. Actively contributing to the maintenance of a safe, therapeutic environment in all clinical areas assigned. Completing Functional Independence Measures as appropriate per assigned clinical setting. Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm, weekends and holidays on rotational basis. Telework: AD Hoc as per supervision 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. Basic Education and Experience: Please select the response that best describes your education. You must submit a transcript with your application that includes your name, degree, month, and date conferred. NOTE: 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. 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. Basic Experience Licensure: Do you currently hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United State, or the District of Columbia? (You must submit a copy of your license to verify your eligibility.) 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: Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level is required and one of the following: 1. 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 2. Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; or 3. Completion of a fellowship program; or 4. An additional advanced degree in a related field. You must also demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 1. Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy. 2. 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 (see paragraph 2i). 3. Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy. 4. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy. 5. Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area. Preferred Experience: Edema/Wound Care Experience References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/99 PART II APPENDIX G12 The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Standing, walking, squatting, bending, and sitting, and changing from one position to the other as frequently as 5 hours 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 35 pounds. Pushing and rolling equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, and supply carts. 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]