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.

Duties

This position is in the Physical Therapy Department, within the Sensory and Physical Rehabilitation Service Line. The majority of clinical duties and responsibilities are carried out in the Rehabilitation Clinic with additional services that may be required throughout the medical center. Duties include, but are not limited to: Provides Physical Therapy on the CLC units for patients with physical and/or functional disabilities limiting independent mobility and function. Provides therapy on a coverage basis in the outpatient as staffing requires. Collaboratives plans independently and develops and implements professional physical therapy practices including patient care, staff development and student clinical education experiences while recognizing cultural diversity. Evaluates and provides care management to patients with complex medical conditions; physical, psychosocial and cognitive dysfunction. Evaluates and treats patients appropriate to diagnosis and age. Uses effective clinical judgment and evidence-based practice characteristics to identify, monitor, and enhance clinical reasoning to minimize errors and enhance patient outcomes. Applies highly specialized Physical Therapy skills, concepts, and rehabilitative techniques to meet complex treatment objective for patients whose illness is acute, critical, and/or chronic. Has advanced training in the discipline of Physical Therapy through continuing education with certification, specialized experience, and/or general experience in direct patient care. Provides direct patient care as assigned according to program requirements. Screens patients for physical therapy services for appropriateness, patient goals and rehabilitation potential. Independently develops and implements Physical Therapy treatment plans using clinical reasoning and judgment and modifies those plans as a result of changing medical conditions/functional needs. Adheres to legal practice standards, including all federal, state and institutional regulations related to patient/client care and fiscal management. Utilizes the Ethical Guidelines and Standards of Practice in Physical Therapy. Measures, fits and instructs patients for the use of complex adaptive equipment, assistive devices, functional mobility aids, and splints/braces. Assists multidisciplinary medical team in coordination of patient's treatment and discharge planning. Safely and effectively uses equipment required for patient care using hospital policies and procedures, including appropriate cleaning and disinfection of reusable medical equipment. Adheres to all policies and procedures set forth by the medical center. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact Karen Chapman at [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more NOTIFICATIONS This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is a NAGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/19/2023. 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. 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 the VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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. 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. 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 Grade Determinations: GS-11 Physical Therapist (Entry Level) Education, Experience, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements as outlined above. GS-12 Full Performance Level: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Demonstrates Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSAs).In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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: Minimum 2-3 years outpatient experience. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/99 PART II APPENDIX G12. Physical Requirements: The work requires frequent stooping, bending, walking, handling of wheelchairs and 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, such as patient lifts, are required. Work Environment:The work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts which require special safety and health precautions, e.g. working regularly with patients and in situations where there is risk of exposure to contagious diseases, odors and/or flammable gases. The therapist is required to wear protective clothing such as gloves and a mask to prevent disease and the spread of infection.

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 Bedford Healthcare System 200 Springs Road Bedford, MA 01730 US
• Name: Elizabeth Nowak
• Phone: 401-273-7100 X14335
• Email: [email protected]