The Physical Therapist Clinical Specialist (PT/CS) who works at this level provides assessment and treatment intervention on an independent basis across the continuum of care and services provided by PM&RS. S/he is expected to carry out general duty assignments but primarily serves as subject matter expert in Geriatrics at least 25% of the time. This position supports the NW CBOC and outpatient Physical Therapy settings.

Duties

Geriatric Clinical Specialist: Is viewed as a clinician, whose skills are well beyond entry-level competence, demonstrating the ability to perform with a high degree of autonomy in patient care and exercising independent problem-solving skills. Serves as a subject matter expert in the areas of long-term care and geriatrics and as a consultant to Physical Therapy and other Medical Center staff in the evaluation and treatment of patients in long term care and geriatrics. Serves as a mentor to other therapists/students in the evaluation and treatment in the areas of long-term care and geriatrics. Provides in-service and clinical training programs in the areas of long-term care and geriatrics. Designs, conducts, and evaluates educational experiences for staff members in area of long-term care and geriatrics. Establishes and maintains contact with other key staff involved in long term care and geriatric patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on regular basis at VA Medical Center and VISN level. Develops and provides timely reports to the Supervisor, Physical Therapy Department or Rehab Coordinator and Chief of PM&R. Demonstrates and maintains full competency in the use, pre-cleaning and/or reprocessing of reusable medical equipment. Must ensure that the appropriate Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and manufacturer's instructions are followed for any step in the use of RME (pre-cleaning, reprocessing, disinfection, sterilization, maintenance) in which the employee is involved. General Skills: Responsible for the examination and treatment of patients referred to the Physical Therapy Department. Provides in-service and clinical training programs as assigned by the Supervisor, Physical Therapy Department or Rehab Coordinator. Designs, conducts, and evaluates education, experiences within specialty content area for staff members, taking an active role in literature searches, and seeks educational opportunities to enhance the Physical Therapy Department, PM&RS, and the Medical Center. Establishes and maintains contact with other key staff involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis at the Medical Center and VISN level. Develops and provides timely reports to the Supervisor, Physical Therapy Department or Rehab Coordinator. Maintains timely data input utilizing care plans, initial assessments and/or specialty protocols as part of an ongoing process in coordination with other key interdisciplinary staff to provide effective patient care. Represents the Physical Therapy Department and PM&RS at various clinical and administrative meetings/rounds at the discretion of the Supervisor, Physical Therapy Department or Rehab Coordinator Clinical Skills: Conducts comprehensive patient examinations to identify rehabilitation problems and establish treatment goals. Develops and implements treatment plans designed to meet established goals. Evaluates patient response to treatment and modifies the treatment plan to provide optimum outcome. The PT/CS conducts examinations, treatment planning and interventions, documentation, and follow-up evaluations at the VA Medical Center, and the CLC. The PT/CS performs examination, treatment planning and intervention, and documentation as needed for support personnel and any assigned Staff PT. The PT/CS is capable of working with patients from a wide range of ages and backgrounds. The PT/CS demonstrates advanced competence in the examination and treatment of patients in Long Term Care and Geriatric Rehabilitation. Develops program planning, staff education/training, QI monitoring, and program evaluation within area of specialty. Work Schedule: To be determined by supervisor. Compressed/Flexible:To be determined by supervisor. Telework: Ad-Hoc may be available with supervisory approval. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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. Education and experience. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy. 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. 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. Loss of Credential. A PT who fails to maintain the required license must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation, if qualified, and if a placement opportunity exists. 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. 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: GS- 13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) (a) 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. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 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. (c) Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety. Clinical Specialists spend at least 25% or greater of their time working with specialized population(s) within their department. Physical therapists at this level perform assignments in specialty areas such as geriatrics, neurology, cardiopulmonary, orthopedics, spinal cord injury, amputee, wound care, chronic pain, electromyography, women's health or pelvic health, polytrauma, brain injury, lymphedema, vestibular, assistive technology, seating and mobility. The individual is assigned responsibility for serving as the subject matter expert in the content specialty area and as a consultant to physical therapy and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the specialty area. Clinical Specialists have advanced knowledge and demonstrate expert clinical practice skills in providing assessment and treatment interventions across the continuum of care. He/she utilizes advanced knowledge and expertise to modify treatment plans and to identify therapeutic activity interventions based on the changing needs, goals and performance of patients. Clinical Specialists have advanced training in specialized technology related to their area of practice. He/she establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis. He/she exercises expert professional judgment to establish appropriate discharge planning recommendations to ensure safe discharge from inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation programs. If the medical center has a PT residency program, the clinical specialist may be on faculty for the program. Preferred Experience: Geriatric Certified Specialist distinction through the APTA. References: VA Handbook 5005/99, Part II, Appendix G12. Physical Therapist Qualification Standard GS-0633 dated February 7, 2018 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations may be required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 Carl T Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center 650 East Indian School Road Phoenix, AZ 85012 US
• Name: Dennis Burns
• Email: [email protected]