The physical therapist (clinical specialist)is assigned to the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Program located within the Geriatrics and Extended Care Service at the St. Louis VA Healthcare System. The GS-13 physical therapist is assigned to provide professional, physical therapy services to any/all program areas that are covered by Rehabilitation Services including acute care, rehabilitation, long term care, home care and outpatient settings.

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to: Serves as a consultant for all health care providers regarding specialized content area physical therapy and rehabilitation. Educates/orients physical therapy residents and fellows, nurses and other clinicians/staff regarding physical therapy in general and specifically as it relates to specialized content area PT. Mentors physical therapy staff and orients physical therapy students. Participates as a valuable member of the interdisciplinary team. Guides the work of this team regarding goal planning and discharge planning needs Reviews and updates specialized content area protocols and programs as they pertain to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the VA St. Louis Health Care System. Provides a minimum of one (1) in-service education program per year to the physical therapy department. Conducts competency training and testing. Plans, implements and reports on performance improvement activities relating to specialized content area rehabilitation services. Participates in interdisciplinary programming to improve access and outcomes for the veteran population. Provides consultative/teaching for group classes and other fitness classes as assigned. Provides are in alignment with up-to-date clinical practice guidelines and treatments for specialized content area care that are evidence based. Establish/Maintain all PT residency programs in conjunction with PT Supervisor and Residency Director. Performs complex physical therapy evaluation and treatment for male and female patients aged 20-85+ years old. Involves the patient, family/significant other and medical team in treatment planning and goal setting through ongoing communication. Plans and carries out the full range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities where therapeutic objectives are complex, and procedures involved require the application of specialized skills and knowledge in the area of specialized content area PT. Adapts and applies treatment procedures with critical concern for patients who are acutely ill, or who have a combination of severe mental/emotional or physical disabilities. Critical assessment of treatment outcomes will be regularly performed. Assesses for and requests prosthetic/orthotic equipment as needed and can make modifications as necessary. Makes recommendations and referral to other medical specialties/services as needs are identified during ongoing assessment of this complex patient population. Assists in the scheduling of patients according to the physical therapy treatment plan while coordinating with the treatment plans of other disciplines within the team and facility. Maintains consistent and timely documentation of patient encounters in the electronic medical record Participates in regular team meetings, verbal and written communication and consultation amongst team members in order to guide and evaluate the work of the multi-disciplinary program. Collaboration with the team is necessary to develop a cohesive treatment plan for this complex patient population. Required to float to other areas of clinical practice as needed to maintain staffing throughout the entire PM&R department, Develops and provides individualized clinical training experience for physical therapy students and residents. Shares knowledge and expertise about the scope of physical therapy practice and services provided to individual in specialized content area issues within the physical therapy department, PM&R Service, medical center and community. Serves as a clinical mentor and/or coordinator of a PT Residency Program Attends PM&R section in-services as well as hospital-wide in-services. Provides necessary guidance, direction, and supervision to physical therapy co-op students, volunteers, and/or CWT workers assigned to the PM&R clinic. May serve as a resource person to the community and VISN 15 in matters relating to specialized content area physical therapy. Compiles and submits statistical data, reports and quality assurance findings to document program effectiveness, caseload, and attendance as assigned. Assists in the maintenance of the clinic and exhibits good safety practices following proper safety policies and procedures per VA, Joint Commission, CARF, OSHA, etc. for infection control, equipment etc. Information, reports, and workload data are completed and submitted on request and as needed. Participates in or coordinates program development for special programs within the physical therapy department. Aware of and adheres to the department/service/facility's values, mission, rules, policies and pro­cedures and the American Physical Therapy Association Standards of Practice and Standards of Ethics to insure quality patient care. Duty Station: This position is at Jefferson Barracks but may be changed to any other VASTLHCS location based on the needs of the medical center. Virtual: This is not a virtual position

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: 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. Licensure: Individuals must 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. English Language Proficiency: The PT must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005. 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: You must have 1 year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS 12 Physical Therapist 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 all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA): 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 Preferred Experience: Physical therapist with ABPTS Orthopedic Clinical Specialist or Fellowship in orthopedic manual therapy and ability to contribute to Physical Therapy residency programing References: VA Handbook 5005/99, Part II, Appendix G12 Physical Requirements: This position frequently requires moderate to heavy lifting. Normally such lifting will involve, but not be limited to assisting with transfers or gait training of the client in the physical therapy clinic. Part of this position will involve sedentary work involving computers and communications.

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 St Louis Health Care System 1 Jefferson Barracks Drive St. Louis, MO 63125 US
• Name: Ray Gotsch
• Phone: (314) 643-7995
• Email: [email protected]