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. Learn more

Duties

If you NOT ARE a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply under CBST-12115030-24-CT. The Home-Based Primary Care Physical Therapist is a member of the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service but is embedded in the Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) section of Primary Care at Overton Brooks VA Medical Center (OBVAMC) in Shreveport, Louisiana. The incumbent serves as a staff Physical Therapist is considered a subject matter expert and is responsible for the development of treatment programs for a very complex and diverse patient population; and often operates independently, separated from immediate clinical resources. The incumbent functions on a multi-disciplinary team by communicating directly with team members such as Physicians, RNs, Nurse Practitioners, Social Workers, Dietitians, Psychologists, Pharmacists, and any other discipline involved with the patient's care. The incumbent works cohesively with team members to provide comprehensive treatment. The duties of the Physical Therapist include, but are not limited to: The incumbent is a licensed Physical Therapist, whose skills are well beyond entry-level competence, demonstrating the ability to perform with a high degree of autonomy within a complex patient care home environment and must exercise independent problem-solving skills for providing physical therapy expertise to patients referred to the HBPC program. - Provides independent evaluation for a wide variety of health issues including poly-trauma patients with traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular accidents, spinal cord injury, amputations, cardiopulmonary/circulatory disorders, orthopedic disorders, neurological disorders, musculoskeletal dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disorders, mental illness, and cognitive impairment including dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The incumbent makes referrals to the appropriate specialty clinics based on findings for items that cannot be provided in the home. - Independently evaluates all home-bound patients referred to HBPC and implements appropriate treatment. The HBPC patients range from adult to geriatric, the majority being geriatric, having a variety of disabilities. These cases may be complex in nature with chronic and acute disease entities including but not limited to central nervous system disorders, joint diseases, circulatory/pulmonary diseases, diabetes mellitus, altered thought processes, and multi-system disease combinations. - Independently complete a physical therapy evaluation, and environmental/safety/emergency preparedness assessment, and fall risk assessments. The incumbent determines the appropriate durable medical equipment required and recommends appropriate interventions to improve the patient's functional and mobility abilities. Independently uses standard and non-standard methods for evaluating issues in the home environment to identify potential problems and obtain a baseline level of function. The incumbent has the ability to determine the most appropriate plan of care relative to the patient's diagnosis, age, financial standing, social condition, and cognitive abilities with the goal being to achieve the highest level of understanding and functioning by the patient. - Independently conducts complex evaluations applying advanced evaluation methodologies and treatment theories in the provision of care to address a vast array of functional impairments within a diversly complex patient population. Determine appropriate home modifications that may improve safety, increase independence, and decrease caregiver burden by pursuing home modifications, including referral to community resources for adaptations such as remodeling, improved home access, etc. Preferred experience: One year experience in Orthopedics and/or Home Health Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 667-00404-F/667-00405-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected] or [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. 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. Exception: 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. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. 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. Foreign Graduates. 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. 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. Grade Determinations: Physical Therapist, GS-0633-11 (Entry) Education, Experience, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. Physical Therapist, GS-0633-12 (Full Performance Level) Education, Experience and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, hold a valid unrestricted state license and demonstrate all the KSAs below: Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 1. Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment. This includes ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services. 2. Skill in performing examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique psychosocial and environmental factors. 3. Ability to interpret findings from examination and evaluation, select appropriate test and measures, and integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations. 4. Ability to establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate rehabilitation intervention, including referral to another provider for further consultation as clinically indicated. 5. Ability to determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals, optimize outcomes and maximize functional independence. 6. Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs. Preferred Experience: Current or previous experience with patients in VA Home Based Primary Care is highly desired, but not required. Experience with fall assessment. Experience in prescribing durable medical equipment (DME). Experience with prescription of exercise programs. Position requires travel in community to patient residences on a regular basis. (Government transportation provided for traveling to and from patient residences and/or VA facilities when required for duty) References: VA Handbook 5005/99 Part II Appendix G12, Physical Therapist, GS-0633, Qualification Standard, dated February 7, 2018. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Driver's license and physical exam required to confirm ability to operate a government vehicle.

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 Overton Brooks VA Medical Center 510 East Stoner Avenue Shreveport, LA 71101 US
• Name: Cassandra Tramiel
• Phone: (318) 990-5150
• Email: [email protected]