The position is in the SCI/D Rehabilitation Services in the SCI/D, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) inpatient/outpatient clinic program areas at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, a level 1A tertiary care facility within the Central Virginia Veteran Affairs (VA) Health Care System in Richmond, Virginia. The Clinical Specialist PT has a background in one or more of the following, SCI/D, MS, and ALS.

Duties

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Duties include, but are not limited to: 1. The incumbent has had specialized training or equivalent experience in physical therapy as it pertains to the neurologically impaired patients and demonstrates a full professional and current understanding of the theories of neurologic physical therapy treatments and their application. 2. The incumbent demonstrates expertise in examining, evaluating, developing, and implementing treatment programs for geriatric adult, middle-age adult, and young adult patients with complex neurologic problems based on the current evidence and best practices for client management. 3. The incumbent will possess highly specialized and current clinical skills and is able to demonstrate/utilize these skills in the care of neurologically impaired patients. 4. Based on findings from a thorough examination and evaluation, the incumbent plans an effective goal-directed treatment program that is appropriate and indicated for the impairment, functional limitation and/or disability of the client being treated. Implements the treatment program and modifies it as needed to achieve goals. 5. He/she is able to recognize the appropriateness of treatment based on indications, precautions and contraindications. This physical therapist is able to recognize adverse reaction to treatment, initiate effective action immediately, and advises the client or refers the client to the appropriate provider. 6. Treats Spinal Cord Injury, MS and ALS patients using comprehensive knowledge acquired through continuing education and experience. Must use considerable judgement when guidelines are not available to adapt procedures and techniques to accommodate individual deficits, ranges of progress, and problems that may occur. 7. The incumbent should make modifications to treatment plans in response to subtle but significant changes in the condition of the client. The incumbent coordinates and employs multiple skilled treatment approaches simultaneously to accomplish complex treatment objectives. 8. He/she demonstrates the ability to guide and evaluate the work of a multidisciplinary team regarding neurologic physical therapy. The incumbent has advanced skills to perform and interpret specialized evaluative procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty area. 9. He/she has the ability to analyze clinically appropriate data effectively to optimize quality, performance, and productivity for his/her clinic and within the department. 10. Evaluates referred patients to determine current level of functioning (e.g. cognition, range of motion, pain, strength, movement mechanics, posture, coordination, sensation, perception, coordination, work performance, orthotic needs) using standardized or specialized tests, interviews, observations, medical, record review, and consultation with other professional staff. 11. Consults with physicians and makes recommendations for plan of treatment. Demonstrates the ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about Spinal Cord Injury, MS and ALS Disorders. 12. Develops rehabilitation objectives, in collaboration with the patient and/or family, in the form of a treatment intervention plan that includes short and long-term goals. Interventions to attain goals include but are not limited to: therapeutic exercise, muscle re-education, motor integration, fabrication and applications of orthotics and adaptive devices for mobility, instruction in compensatory techniques, and provision of patient/family education. 13. Documents in the medical record: results of the initial evaluation; the treatment plan and goals; progress reports that include the treatment provided, changes in the patient's functional status, and changes made to the treatment plan; a discharge summary that includes goal achievement, recommendations for home program, and patient/family education. Work Schedule: Various Tours of Duty available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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. Preferred Experience: Spinal Cord Injury & Disorders (SCI&D); Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS); Multiple Sclerosis (MS); telehealth using Veteran Video Connect (VVC); advanced PT assessments and treatment interventions with complex medical conditions 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; OR (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist; OR (3) 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. 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. 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. 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 (Full Performance Level)Requirements: Education, Experience and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level, and 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. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 13/ Step 10. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 13/ Step 1 to GS 13/Step 10. Physical Requirements: Physical Therapy is a vocation that requires regular and recurring physical exertion with long periods of standing, bending, walking and periods of assisting patients with transfers. This hospital has a policy of NO PATIENT LIFT, meaning that mechanical lifts are available to assist with safe patient transfers without lifting patients directly. Demonstration of various physical therapy procedures requires good physical conditioning. Physical therapy also requires manual dexterity to manipulate tools and equipment with activities such as assembling equipment with the use of hand tools such as screwdriver or pliers, and power tools such as a power chop saw. References: VHA 5005, Appendix G12, Physical Therapist Qualification Standard, dated February 7, 2018.

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 Central Virginia VA Health Care System 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard Richmond, VA 23249 US
• Name: Nassar Brisker
• Email: [email protected]