Job opening: Kinesiotherapist

Salary: $85 236 - 110 803 per year

City: Bronx

Published at: Feb 08 2024

Company: Veterans Health Administration

Employment Type: Full-time

The James J. Peters VA Medical Center (JJP VAMC) is recruiting (1) Kinesiotherapist in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Program. The Kinesiotherapy (KT) position is located in the Community Living Center (CLC) to provide comprehensive inpatient services for the CLC Residents based on AKTA expectations.

Duties

The Kinesiotherapy (KT) position is located in the Community Living Center (CLC) to provide comprehensive inpatient services for the CLC Residents based on AKTA expectations. The Kinesiotherapist also provides outpatient services in the Kinesiotherapy clinics, MOVE program, and Aquatic Therapy as needed. The KT provides services for veterans with a wide variety of disabilities, related to non-Polytrauma and Polytrauma diagnoses. Veterans with non-Polytrauma diagnoses include a wide variety of diagnoses, including but not limited to: neurological, cardiopulmonary, rheumatology, orthopedic, psychiatric, and vascular. Veterans with a Polytrauma diagnosis have sustained two or more traumatic injuries that may include TBI, amputations, burns, and PTSD. These services are an essential part of long term rehabilitation to prevent deconditioning, increase engagement in daily mobility activities, gait training, increase overall endurance and muscle strength, and improve overall health and wellbeing. The Kinesiotherapist (KT) in this position will be assigned to provide comprehensive Kinesiotherapy services to veterans based on AKTA expectations. The KT will provide services for veterans with a wide variety of disabilities, related to non Polytrauma and Polytrauma diagnoses. Veterans with non Polytrauma diagnoses include a wide variety of diagnoses, including but not limited to: neurological, cardiopulmonary, rheumatology, orthopedic, psychiatric, and vascular. Veterans with a Polytrauma diagnosis have sustained two or more traumatic injuries that may include TBI, amputations, burns, and PTSD.Genera description of assigned duties: The Staff KT at this level practice independently and are responsible for performing Kinesiotherapy assessment and treatment interventions. The Staff KT demonstrate a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in Kinesiotherapy and their proper application The Staff KT may be given general assignments in any Kinesiotherapy program area where the advanced specialized knowledge is not required on a recurring basis due to the patient population served and complexity of the facility and/or treatment area or may serve as the sole KT at a less complex facility. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time). Performs other duties, as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD000000 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. English Language Proficiency. Kinesiotherapist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f). Education. (1) A bachelor's degree [or higher from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program, with a concentration/emphasis in kinesiotherapy. OR (2) A bachelor's degree or higher with a concentration/emphasis in kinesiotherapy or exercise science related field and registered as a kinesiotherapist in good standing with the COPSKT. OR (3) A master's degree or higher with a degree in exercise science, kinesiology, human performance or a related field, which has been approved by COPSKT and a certificate verifying completion of a Center of Excellence (COE) Kinesiotherapy clinical training program. The completion of the certificate ensures that COPSKT has approved the degree program as part of the application process for the COE internship. Registration. All applicants must be registered in kinesiotherapy in good standing with the COPSKT. No exception. For grade levels at or above the full performance GS-11 level, the candidate must be registered. In all cases kinesiotherapists must actively pursue meeting registration starting from the date of appointment. Loss of Credential. Registered kinesiotherapists who fail to continue their registration in good standing, and maintain the required registration, must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade and assignment of candidates. For the GS-0601-11 Kinesiotherapist, candidates must meet the following: Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level equivalent to the GS-9, OR A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, OR Three academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a degree in kinesiotherapy or an exercise science related field. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Skill in communicating and coordinating with patients, families, caregivers, and other health care professions to facilitate the multidisciplinary treatment process. Knowledge of evidence-based kinesiotherapy to provide skilled rehabilitation interventions to a wide variety of patients having diverse and multiple disabilities. Ability to conduct independent assessments using highly specialized evaluations and diagnostic tests. Knowledge of learning principles, behavioral intervention, and innovational techniques[for patient and caregiver education. Ability to adapt assessment tools and treatment to the complexity of the diagnosis or disabilities and demonstrate the clinical reasoning necessary to identify the need for further in-depth specific assessment of function and utilization of non-standard methods and techniques. Ability to use clinical reasoning necessary to identify the need for further in-depth specific assessment and/or continuation of treatment. Assignment. This is the full performance level for the kinesiotherapist. Kinesiotherapists independently conduct assessments and develop treatment plans to the complexity of the diagnosis or disability using appropriate functional tests and measurements according to established evidence-based professional practices. The kinesiotherapists provide integrated and progressive skilled rehabilitative treatment modalities across the continuum of care. Duties may include, but are not limited to, any of the following: pre-habilitation, acute, sub-acute, transitional, home-based, post rehabilitative, and wellness programs. Administer musculoskeletal, neurological, ergonomic, biomechanical, psychological, and task specific functional tests and measures in order to reach maximum outcomes. Coordinate and collaborate within a multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive care, employ multiple treatment approaches and to accomplish complex treatment objectives. The kinesiotherapist may perform duties such as, accurately test, analyze, evaluate, and record measurements of vitals, muscular strength, endurance, range of motion, coordination, static/dynamic balance, cardiovascular endurance, gait analysis, posture, gross sensory impairment, functional mobility, activities of daily living, and prosthetic and orthotic gait, care and training. Provide education to patients, caregivers and other health care professionals regarding policies and procedures for guidance to maneuver through the health care system. Kinesiotherapists monitor and report on work status, program quality, performance improvement data, and make recommendations for process improvement. Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a Kinesiotherapist on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:(1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to a lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.(2) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard, may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.(3) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or license/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.(4) Kinesiotherapists who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision,and subsequently leave the occupation, will lose their protected status, and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Kinesiotherapy is considered a vocation that requires medium strength according to the Department of Labor. Kinesiotherapy requires good manual dexterity to manipulate tools and equipment. Physical Demands: Work includes regular and recurring physical exertion, which involves standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, gripping, and walking. Moderate to heavy lifting is often required. Sitting at meetings, desks, or computer terminals for documentation purposes is required. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II/132, Appendix G21, dated July 16, 2020. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Graduate Education. Graduate degrees may be substituted for experience up to the GS-11 level. To substitute education for experience, the education must have been completed after the individual met the basic requirements for appointment and must be registered.

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/.