The incumbent Clinical Specialist Physical Therapist is assigned responsibility for serving as a subject matter expert in Physical Therapy related to Home Care. This assignment carries with it the responsibility to act as a consultant to other Physical, Occupational, Speech therapists and HBPC staff and prosthetic service in evaluating and treating patients based on the experience in this specialized area.

Duties

FUNCTIONS: Receive specialized training in neurological, orthopedic, acute care or geriatric PT and demonstrates expertise in examining, evaluating, developing, and implementing treatment programs for adult patients with complex or multiple medical problems. Applies knowledge of the anatomical, biological, physical, cognitive, psychological, and psychosocial changes that occur with aging, including disease and disability, and the effects of inactivity on these changes. Develops a plan of care for the PT management of complex medical profiles. Adapts the plan of care to address disabling psychosocial factors. Develops and maintains treatment programs based on the best evidence based practices for the patient management. Has advanced knowledge of home modifications and adaptive equipment needed for managing the patient care in their home. They utilizes contacts within the VA and community to assist the patient in obtaining the proper equipment and serves to maximize the independence of the client in their home. Evaluates clinical situations where standard treatment recommendations, evidence based, should be modified with regard to older adults treatment care goals, life expectancy, co morbidity, and/or functional status. Synthesizes and recommends intervention modifications based upon patient values and lifestyle, life expectance, co-morbidity, pharmacological profile, lab values, domicile setting and financial resources. Suggest environmental modifications to the clinical practice setting that better meet the needs of older adult. Recognizes the appropriateness of treatment based on indications, precautions, and contraindications and recognizes when to refer conditions outside the scope of PT practice to the appropriate provider. Works closely with the interdisciplinary HBPC PACT team in the planning and implementation of the patient's treatment program and in assessing the best mode of meeting the patient specific needs. Considers the age/gender of the patient and of the caregiver, when assessing or providing care as it relates to the ability to understand directions and provide objective self assessments when implementing the overall treatment plan. Provides patients and their families with education, information and training regarding the nature of their impairments and functional limitations, treatment plan, goals, home program, and/or disability. This is accomplished individually or with the interdisciplinary team, family and patient. Plans appropriate patient discharge and/or need for continuing treatment and terminates treatment when the patient reaches maximum rehabilitation potential. Utilizes knowledge of programs and community resources that may assist with structural improvements to patient home or other needs such as transportation. Works with the facility Major Medical Equipment Committee for justifying certain adaptive items and wheelchairs. ADMINISTRATIVE: Document initial assessments, treatment plans/goals, and response to treatment as determined in subsequent patient home visits, telephone calls, and case management work, according to licensure and Joint Commission standards. Submit supporting documentation for reports as requested e.g., Joint Commission, Management Briefings, etc. Abide by VA and HIPAA patient confidentiality regulations in documentation, consultation, and release of information. Ensure that all Protected Health Information is secure at all times and kept in a lockable box during transport to patient homes. EDUCATION AND RESEARCH: Professional Growth and Continuing Competency- Incumbent maintain a high level of professional competence by continuing participation in learning experiences/continuing education courses pertaining to the area to which assigned. They participate in, attend and provide HBPC PACT and PM&RS in-services. Student supervision- This Clinical Specialist PT has the responsibility to the profession and this facility to assist with the instruction of PT and PTA students assigned to this facility for clinical affiliations and possess skills commensurate with that responsibility. Community Responsibility- They may serve as a resource person to the community in matters relating Physical Therapy, the delivery of health care, and the needs of the veteran/military population Work Schedule: 7:30AM - 4PM, Monday - Friday Telework: Available (Ad-hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. 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: (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. NOTE: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PT's was either a bachelors or master's degree. In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate, master's, and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs. Effective 2002, CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in post-baccalaureate degrees(eliminating the baccalaureate degree). Effective 2015, professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students. 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. The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is a non-profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and U.S. state licensing authorities by evaluating the credentials of Foreign Educated Physical Therapists (FEPTs) who wish to immigrate and work in the U.S. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction, foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is committed to protect the public and to provide leadership within the field and practice of physical therapy. FSBPT's Foreign Educated Standards Committee has developed standards that represent "best practices" in evaluation services. The Credentials Evaluation Standards were developed with input from the physical therapy credentialing agencies that are licensed to use FSBPT's Coursework Tool. 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. Grade Determinations: 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: 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the all following KSAs. Demonstrated 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. 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: ABPTS board certification as a Geriatric Specialist. References: VA Handbook, 5005/99, Part II, Appendix G12, February 7, 2018 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 lbs.), moderate carrying (15-44 lbs.), use of fingers, walking, standing, operation of motor vehicle, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, hearing (aid permitted). Environmental factors include outside, outside and inside, slippery or uneven walking surfaces, working around moving objects or vehicles, working closely with others, and working alone.

Education

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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 Anchorage VA Medical Center 1201 North Muldoon Road Anchorage, AK 99504 US
• Name: Gabriel Johnson
• Phone: (503) 220-8262 X53014
• Email: [email protected]