As a Clinical Specialists this position provides specialty Physical Therapy services to multiple clinics throughout the Sheridan VAHCS. The Physical Therapist works with multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive care to complex patients. The Physical Therapist performs evaluation and treatment of patients in the Interdisciplinary Pain Clinic, Spinal Cord Injury Clinic (SCI) & Amputee Clinics. The Physical Therapist will also assist within the Wheelchair clinic as a subject matter expert.

Duties

Provides advanced Physical Therapy evaluations and treatment within the PM&R specialty clinics of the Sheridan VAHCS. The incumbent provides patient care for complex veterans in the Pain, SCI and Amputee clinics. This includes comprehensive evaluations, triage, and treatment as indicated by the Physical Therapist. Documents, trains and dispenses durable medical equipment (DME). Responsible for program development and program continuity in the PM&R specialty clinic serving as an expert in pain management, spinal cord injury and amputee care. The Physical Therapist spends the majority of his/her time working in the specialty care clinics and guides Veteran care for complex complaints requiring communication and coordination with interdisciplinary care teams to achieve optimal outcomes. 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 improving function. Conducts treatment interventions one-on-one with patients . Appropriately coordinates with medical providers and triages patients to outpatient rehabilitation or Care in the Community for additional treatment 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 adaptive equipment required to increase the patient's function, independence, and safety. Orders the appropriate equipment, issues it to patients, and trains them in the proper use of the device(s). 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. Provides and arranges in-service training to other therapists and medical staff to improve their knowledge of pain management, spinal cord and amputee care. 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, medical 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 when needed. This individual attends continuing education training courses to enhance musculoskeletal and neuromuscular examination and treatment skills and does independent study, as required, to retain clinical scope of practice. Works with the supervisor to assure clinics are set up properly and workload capture is optimized. Participates in department and section performance improvement activities; assists in developing Quality Management metrics and implementation of improvements. Maintains a 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. Monitors clinical operations and works closely with the supervisor and MSAs to optimize clinic practice and meet scheduling guidelines. 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 #: 58055-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]