Staff Physical Therapist (PT) will provide clinical services to address a vast array of problems that impact the health and function of a wide range of diverse patients. They embrace evidenced based practice standards in diagnosis, examination, management, intervention, treatment and outcome measurement. PTs ensure services are coordinated, including ordering studies of value and being consumer-centered by referring, co-managing, engaging consultants, and independently supervising care.

Duties

Duties will vary based on grade. At the GS-12 level, duties will include, but are not limited to: Clinical Advanced skills and knowledge of physical therapy theories and techniques to examine and evaluate patients as appropriate for their age and movement system diagnosis to determine current levels of functioning. Completes differential diagnosis process. PT determines prognosis, and provides a customized and integrated plan of care to achieve the individual's goal-directed outcomes and eventual discharge plans. Develops and carries out physical therapy treatment to meet the individual rehabilitation goals. Assess the need for and the patient's ability to use adaptive equipment including ambulatory assistive devices, manual wheelchairs, scooters, TENS units, etc. Orders the appropriate equipment, assembles, and issues it to patients. Educates and trains patient and family/caregivers in proper use and maintenance of the devices. Continuously re-evaluates patient performance making appropriate modifications to the treatment plan as indicated. Documents in writing in the format identified by department, CARF, and JCAHO standards, the patient's evaluation, goals, patient/family education, patient's progress, equipment provided, and discharge summary. Requires an understanding of the problems of patients with multiple interacting medical and psychosocial issues allowing for thorough care. When dealing with patients who have a combination of physical and psychological problems, the PT must be able to handle and de- escalate, and defuse volatile behavior which can occur. Adheres to infection control and hand hygiene policies and procedure. Work requires dealing with many decisions regarding adaption of established treatment procedures and equipment for the successful treatment of complex cases. Has advanced knowledge in this area and serves as a resource to other staff with more complex patients. Education Provides patient and family education relating to each patient's diagnosis, prognosis, treatment plan, and goals established related to movement system, including functional strengths and weaknesses in areas of mobility. Independently provides clinical training, supervision, and clinical oversight of PTAs. Will develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for PTAs relative to patient care as necessary to ensure individualized treatment plan is completed appropriately. Orients patients, medical residents, allied health professionals, community organizations, students and volunteers to the purpose and function of physical therapy within any area of PT service delivery. Provides clinical training and supervision of students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs. Participates in PT, RCS, and interdepartmental staff development programs. Provides at least one clinical in-service per year to PT students, PT/RCS staff, or other facility departments or service lines as appropriate. Administrative Responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals. Assists Supervisors and other Program Managers in identifying needs, and designing and implementing programs for the department as needed. Provides input for the development and/or revisions of PT and RCS policies and procedures. Understands basics of coding for PT services, and captures workload accurately and timely. Participates in the collection of data for QI monitors, and outcome measures relating to services provided by PT as assigned by the Supervisors and other Program Managers. Responsible for regularly monitoring consults, orders, and referrals received for PT to assure that they are appropriate. Clearly and appropriately delegates patient care responsibilities to PTA and follows indirectly with timely meetings and timely note cosigning. Follows all applicable laws, regulations and policies regarding confidentiality, computer security and software licensing; protects hardware, software and all sensitive information. The Supervisor evaluates the overall performance of this physical therapist with the assistance from the Program Managers as needed. Assists the Supervisor in determining effective patient to therapist ratios for the area. Informs Supervisor when patient caseloads are too large for the number of therapists/assistants available. Monitors PT equipment, informing the Supervisor when items are broken or missing; enters VA facility work orders, and advocates for any equipment needs. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Physical Therapist/ 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel

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 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. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-11: Education, Experience, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. (NOTE: See exception to licensure requirement listed above.) GS-12: Education, Experience and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 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. Must demonstrate all the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 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. Preferred Experience: Experience working in an inpatient rehabilitation facility and/or Neurologic Specialist Certification (NCS). References: VHA 5005, Appendix G12, Physical Therapist Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45lbs and over), moderate lifting (15-44lbs), light lifting (under 15lbs), heavy carrying, moderate carrying, light carrying, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, crawling, kneeling, repeated bending, both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, hearing (aid permitted), mental and emotional stability. Environmental Factors are being outside and inside, working closely with others, and working alone.

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 Puget Sound Health Care System 1660 South Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 US
• Name: Hector Jebulan
• Phone: (253) 582-8440 X75538
• Email: [email protected]