The Lead Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) is assigned to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) for VA Boston Healthcare System (VABHS). The licensed PTA will work with the supervisor to monitor and make work assignments, direct the day-to-day clinical operations and activities to allow optimal and up to date patient care.

Duties

The Lead PTA services as subject matter expert in a rehabilitation program such as, but not limited to, geriatrics, amputee, brain injury, cardiac rehabilitation, orthopedics, neurological, safe patient handling, or any other functional debilitative conditions. Assigned responsibilities fall primarily in the following areas: patriciate with the Physical Therapist (PT) in planning and implementing of complex treatment programs, apply PT procedures to patients and provide patient and family/caregiver training and education, and provide treatment that promotes the preventive and remediation of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunctions. The Lead PTA must adhere to the facility's rules, policies, and procedures and to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics to ensure quality patient care. Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: Complete a review of patient data, including medical history and review of physical therapy evaluation. Provide physical therapy procedures within a broad diagnostic spectrum of diseases and disorders. Independently provide a varied and multifaceted physical therapy interventions based on established care plan. Interpret and apply clinical practice guidelines to both simple and complex patient cases. Mentors other staff in advanced clinical guidelines and best practices. Works with PT and other interdisciplinary healthcare team members to evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, and coordinating treatment programs and discharge planning (as applicable). Participates in family and multidisciplinary team meeting to identify patients' needs, report on patients' goals and to assist in planning patients' overall treatment plan. Provide patient and their families/caregivers with education, information, and training regarding the nature of their disease or disability. Consults with referring providers as needed. Oversee the day-to-day operations of the PTA workgroup across PM&RS at VA Boston. Provide professional oversight and consultation for other PTAs. Collaborate with PT and nursing staff for coordination of patient care. Participate in the PTA peer review process. Assists in maintenance of the clinic/environment and exhibits good safety practices following proper safety & infections policies and procedures. Participate in performance improvement programs. Assists with maintaining all clinic/unit supplies at safe levels to prevent shortages. Participates in team conferences, rounds, discharge planning meeting, specialty clinical, and other assigned medical meeting, physical therapy in-services, and other meeting as directed. Information, reports, and workload data are completed and submitted on request and as needed. Provide orientation and training of new staff members in the PM&RS department. Contribute to the development of performance evaluations for the PTA staff. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday, Day Shift Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 523-F06261 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Available Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants must be fully qualified by the closing date of this announcement. 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. PTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English. Education. Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below: (1) Associate degree from an accredited community college, junior college, college or university in a physical therapy assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; OR (2) Graduate of foreign physical therapy assistant degree programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs. OR (3) Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs. Licensure. Current, full, active and unrestricted license as a PTA in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia. Grade Determinations: Minimum Requirement for the GS-9 Lead Physical Therapy Assistant: Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-8). In addition to the experience above application must have demonstrated the following KSAs: (a)Ability to lead staff, which includes planning, organizing and assigning work and coordinating clinical workflow. (b)Ability to mentor staff in advanced clinical guidelines and best practices. (c)Ability to assist with PT program development, outcome management and strategic planning. (d)Ability to serve as a liaison between PT staff and department leadership. In addition, applicants must also be able to meet the KSAs of the FPL (GS-8): (a) Ability to independently implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patient's disability and needs. (b) Ability to independently provide varied and multifaceted physical therapy interventions based on the established care plan (e.g., therapeutic exercise, balance, body mechanics, flexibility, strength, gait training, neuromotor development, physical agents, functional training, etc.). (c) Knowledge of physical therapy data collection and assessment techniques in order to perform specific interventions and to monitor and capture progress of the patient/client. (d) Ability to instruct patient on varied interventions to provide materials to enhance compliance with home programs. (e) Ability to modify treatment techniques based on the learning needs and perceptions of the patient. (f) Ability to identify critical changes (e.g. vital signs, pain, mobility and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status. (g) Ability to work with PTs and other interdisciplinary healthcare team members to evaluate patient information for planning, modifying and coordinating treatment programs and discharge planning. Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Lead PTAs work with the supervisor to monitor and make work assignments, provide input on performance, resolve daily workplace issues and maintain efficient workflow. Leads no less than three GS-8 PTA positions. Lead PTAs coordinate staff assignments with therapy department leadership for long term strategic planning and coverage. They communicate between staff and department leadership and serve as a liaison between physical therapy and other departments. Lead PTAs apply advanced methodologies and treatment theories in the provision of care to a vast array of functional impairments and patients. They serve as consultant to other PTAs and provide clinical practice guidance to other physical therapy staff. Lead PTAs are generally found in highly complex level facilities or in a large rehabilitation program with multiple PTAs on staff. Preferred Experience: Experience in geriatric and/or neurological clinical care, leading teams and/or projects and experience with conflict management mentoring and leading others is all preferred. References: VA Handbook 5005/139, Part II, Appendix G23 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. Physical Requirements: The work requires frequent standing, stopping, bending, walking, handling of wheelchairs and/or other durable medical equipment, lifting in conjunction with treatment of patients. At times, there may be undue heavy lifting due to unforeseen circumstances such as preventing a patient from falling. Dexterity and skill in safe machinery techniques are required.

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 VA Boston Healthcare System 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 US
• Name: Marianne Coutinho
• Phone: 774-826-4812
• Email: [email protected]