PTAs at this level is a subject matter expert who serves as a mentor and clinical instructor within educational programs and their area of practice. The duties and responsibilities of this position are carried out onsite and include various clinical, administrative and patient care areas associated with PM&RS.

Duties

Receives and interprets requests or instructions for procedures from the physical therapist or physician. Plans and implements specialized treatment programs and applies physical therapy procedures to patients under the general supervision of a physical therapist. Employee may carry out or oversee the work of lower graded assistants to accommodate requests from supervisory staff. Completes a preliminary review of patient data (including medical history), compiles and organizes pertinent information, and develops/presents a patient profile to be used in assessing patient's status. Assists with or renders a course of treatment based on the assessed needs of the patient, developing progressive types of physical therapy treatment programs. This is done in consultation with a physical therapist or physician. Assists therapist in development of a comprehensive specialized treatment plan that includes long- and short-term goals. Persuades and motivates veterans and family members to participate in treatment plans and comply with indicated regimens and post-discharge activities. Interacts with the patient and family regarding goals for treatment. Assists in the performance of, or independently performs, highly specialized and diversified treatment procedures. Utilizes the full range of modalities including and treatment techniques in accordance with PTA scope of practice. Administers non-complex active and passive therapeutic exercise. Fits, adjusts and instructs patients in use of orthoses, prostheses, and mobility appliances. This includes identification and measuring for the application of day and night garments for lymphedema management. Instructs motivates, and assists patients to learn activities of daily living and improve functional activities. Prepares and maintains appropriate equipment and supplies required for these treatments. Maintains an active dialogue, making recommendations, and seeking approval from the physical therapist to modify interventions, treatment setting, materials, and activities in response to each veteran's response to treatment. With prior approval of the therapist, adapts the technical procedures and approaches involving new and unusual treatment and rehabilitation objectives to meet the individual veteran's needs. Modifies or adapts specialized treatment approaches only within the scope of the established treatment plan to reflect the changing needs of the veteran. Prepares and presents written and oral reports for the referring physicians, physiatrists, nursing staff, fellow therapists and all other professionals concerned with the patient's care. Participates in family and multidisciplinary team meetings to identify patient's needs, report on patient's goals and progress and to assist in planning patient's treatment program. Maintains a safe work environment to include non-technical maintenance of equipment, safety checks, cleaning, stocking, etc. Develops safe work habits to prevent injury to patients, co-workers and self. Reports to Physical Therapy Supervisor the need for equipment or items necessary for patient treatment. Maintains a high level of competence through participation in continuing education programs, maintaining specialty certification in at least one area of specialty practice. Assists with the supervision and training of student physical therapy assistants, volunteers, work study students and other healthcare practitioners. Serves as a subject matter expert to physicians, residents and staff, as well as, other health care specialists in matters concerning physical therapy management of patients in all avaible settings of this location. Provides formal and informal instruction as needed to nursing and other hospital personnel. Makes self available to providers. Serves as a consultant for Physical Therapy Assistant documentation of specific issues in the outpatient, acute and extended care settings as needed. Serves as a consultant for Physical Therapy protocols for PTA specific issues in the acute and extended care settings as needed. Provide mentorship to new employees in the Physical Therapy Section within the NF/SG VHS Provides recommendations to the Section and Service Chief regarding scheduling and consideration of Non VA Care consultations. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 5 8 hour shifts or 4 10 hour shifts Compressed/Flexible:Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized 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. Education. Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below: Associate degree from an accredited community college, junior college, college or university in a physical therapy assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; Graduate of foreign physical therapy assistant degree programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs. OR Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs. Licensure. Current, full, active and unrestricted license as a PTA in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia. Grade Determinations: Physical Therapy Assistant, GS-9 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate one of the following: A minimum of 2000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area, and completion of 60 contact hours of selected continuing education coursework. This time must be within the past five years; or Advanced Practice Proficiency (APP) in the specialty area recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA); or An additional academic degree related to the health care mission. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to mentor other staff in advanced clinical guidelines and best practices. Ability to serve as a subject matter expert (SME) for healthcare providers in specialty practice areas regarding physical therapy care. Ability to present] advanced knowledge in the therapeutic interventions and clinical practice guidelines with the healthcare team. Ability to interpret and apply clinical practice guidelines. Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and variety and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. PTAs at this level apply advanced practice skills to treat complex patients. PTAs possess an advanced level of clinical competence and serve as a SME in specialty practice areas. They serve as a subject matter expert in a rehabilitation program such as, but not limited to, geriatrics, amputee, brain injury, cardiac rehabilitation, orthopedics, neurological, safe patient handing, or any other functional debilitative conditions. They possess advanced practice skills and experience with a wide range of patient complexity. They apply advanced methodologies to a vast array of functional impairments and patients. They independently recommend and apply evidence-based treatment approaches within the plan of care. Preferred Experience: Advanced Practice Proficiency (APP) in the specialty area recognized by the American physical Therapy Association (APTA); or an additional academic degree related to the health care mission. References: VA Handbook 5005/139 Part II Appendix G23The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. This position is above the full performance level. Physical Requirements: The physical demands of a Physical Therapist are considered "medium duty: with regards to strength and endurance according to the Department of Labor. Medium work entails exerting 20-50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and /or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Positional tolerance is required as follows: Frequent standing, walking, bending, sitting, crouching/kneeling, and changing from one position to the other frequently throughout the day. Sitting at a desk and using upper extremities to reach, grasp, and place papers, charts, and binders. Reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling: 1-10 pounds constantly, 10-25 pounds frequently, and 20-50 pounds occasionally. Physical Therapy requires good manual dexterity to manipulate tools and equipment with examples that may include, but are not limited to the following: Operating all aspects of a computer - keyboarding, mouse, and control buttons. Demonstrating the use of all aspects of adaptive equipment for patient instruction. Assembling equipment with the use of hand tools such as screwdrivers and pliers. Treatment using specifically designed tools for soft tissue manipulation or exercise sessions.

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 Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1601 Southwest Archer Road Gainesville, FL 32608 US
• Name: Jami Arnt
• Phone: (717) 272-6621 X5636
• Email: [email protected]