The Incumbent is a Physical Therapist who provides therapy services for Veteran programing in the PT section of the Rehabilitation and Extended Care ICC at VA Health Care Center in Fargo, ND, spending the majority of time working in the area of outpatient PT alongside the Primary Care Patient Aligned Care Team. The incumbent has developed knowledge across multiple body systems and areas of practice to efficiently manage patients across the lifespan and continuum of care in a PACT PT setting.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Incumbent will have knowledge and depth of problem solving skills to develop and modify the treatment programs for 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. Expected 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. Applies evaluation principles to tease out difficult clinical symptoms 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. Determines physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences to set clinically appropriate treatment goals, optimize outcomes and maximize functional independence. Exhibits flexibility in problem solving as required by the findings on evaluation. Establishes meaningful therapeutic goals and designs a treatment plan to meet the goals established in the most efficient manner. Adapts and modifies treatment programs, as indicated by patient's response to treatment, on an on-going basis to better meet short-term and long-term goals. Completes appropriately timed re-evaluation for the patients and modifies the goals based on the information gained by re-evaluation. Incumbent documents initial findings, treatment goals, equipment recommendations, follow up progress and discharge summary in patient's medical record. Measures patient for assistive devices and special equipment. Fits devices for patient needs and instructs patient/care provider in the use of these devices. Makes determinations as to patient's ability to use durable medical equipment, orthotic and prosthetic appliances. Develops home program for patients, as needed, prior to discharge. Instructs family or care provider in ways to assist patient to carry out the program. Manages time for scheduling patients to allow for unforeseen incidents or interruptions in planned program. Is flexible in treatment programming; easily adapts to contribute in the overall functions of the section, as needed, by assisting in coverage for absent staff members, to insure continuity and quality of care for Veterans served. Recognizes adverse reaction to treatment, significantly altered physical or mental status of patients, and reports to appropriate medical authority. Applies recognized physical therapy treatment procedures correctly, safely, and modifies these techniques as indicated for individualized patients. Possesses a moderately complex foundation in the knowledge of indications and contraindications for use of the various physical modalities. Makes changes to the treatment intervention based on patient's response to treatment in a manner that utilizes creative thinking and problem solving that includes ability to understand and apply typical diagnosis-based treatment pathways to reach maximal outcomes. Provides motivational techniques to enlist patient participation in the treatment program. Provides patient care which is appropriate to the cognitive, emotional, and chronological maturation needs of young adults through senior/geriatric age patients. Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served in the assigned service areas and of the changes associated with aging. Incumbent will demonstrate effective and efficient communication with patients, other allied health team members and family members in the coordination of optimal patient care. Assures section compliance for applicable standards such as the Joint Commission and National Patient Safety Goals. Incumbent shall assist in the care of patients other than those of their primary inpatient or outpatient assignments as based on the caseload and needs of the department dictate. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, Rotating Weekends Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: (a) Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (b) 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. Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. 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. (c) 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. 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). GS-11 Physical Therapist (Entry) Grade Determinations: (a) Education, Experience, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) Assignment. PTs at this level are responsible for providing assessment and treatment intervention. PTs plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition. PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required or may serve as the sole PT such as in an outpatient clinic. Licensed PTs may provide oversight and delegate patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant, and/or delegate non-patient care duties to non-licensed staff. PTs that are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed PT GS-12 (Full Performance Level) Grade Determinations: (a) 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: 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. (b) Assignment. At the full performance level, PTs are responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals. Guided by differential and movement diagnoses, PTs perform 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 personal and environmental factors. PTs interpret findings from examination, diagnostic studies/medical tests and, during evaluation, select appropriate clinical tests and measures, and then integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations. PTs establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed. They determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences for meaningful level of function in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes. Physical therapists select appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals they treat. Staff PTs at this level practice autonomously, making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care. The staff PT may also develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for physical therapy students in facilities with established clinical experience rotations. PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any/all areas where physical therapy services are deemed necessary, and/or may serve as the sole PT at a less complex facility. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments as deemed appropriate given the needs of a facility on an occasional basis, where the amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time). Preferred Experience: Minimum 2 years working in an OP clinical practice with a primary musculoskeletal/orthopedic caseload. Demonstrated excellence in patient education and patient directed self cares. Demonstrated excellent communication and relationship behaviors within an interdisciplinary professional practice. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G12 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11 and GS-12. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Fargo VA Medical Center 2101 Elm Street Fargo, ND 58102 US
• Name: Marquell Steed
• Phone: 702-334-7190
• Email: [email protected]