This position is located in SCI/D Rehabilitation service, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, a complexity Level 1b facility as defined by the 2017 VHA Facility Complexity Report. The SCI/D Physical Therapist Clinical Specialist is a licensed professional who is autonomous and is responsible for providing comprehensive physical therapy services for patients with a broad variety of disabilities while demonstrating knowledge of current professional physical therapy practices and skills.

Duties

The SCI/D Physical Therapy Clinical Specialist serves as a subject matter expert (SME) in a content specialty area of Wheelchair Seating and Mobility. Clinical Specialist Physical Therapists are autonomous providers serving both inpatients and outpatients with SCI/D from this region in a direct access environment. SCI/D also provides care to Veterans with a variety of neurological diagnoses including but not limited to multiple sclerosis and ALS. The SCI/D PT Clinical Specialist for Wheelchair Seating and Mobility is performing above the full performance level in an advanced area of practice, participating in program development. He/ she is considered to be the SME for the facility. Major duties include but are not limited to: Clinical: Evaluates inpatients and outpatients independently with full autonomy in a direct access environment, using appropriate tests and measures. He/ She will interpret findings from the evaluation and be able to integrate findings into a physical therapy plan of care. Establishes a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identifies the appropriate rehabilitation intervention, refers 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. Administrative Functions: Demonstrates/maintains full competency in the use, pre-cleaning and/or reprocessing of reusable medical equipment (RME). Ensures that the appropriate Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and manufacturer's instructions are followed for any step in the use of RME (pre-cleaning, reprocessing, disinfection, sterilization, maintenance). Conduct record keeping related to patient care documentation and quality improvement (QI) data collection as specified by the SCI/D Supervisory Therapist. Responsibilities specific to the Physical Therapy Clinical Specialist - SCI/D PT Clinical Specialist for Wheelchair Seating and Mobility acts as the subject matter expert in which services are provided not only to SCI, ALS, and MS patients but patients referred from other departments in the medical center and/or regional facilities with more complex needs. - The SCI/D PT Clinical Specialist for Wheelchair Seating and Mobility performs assessments, writes prescriptions for and trains in the use of manual/powered mobility and special seating systems. The assessment may include, but is not limited to: evaluation of patients' fixed or modifiable deformities, size, weight, height, presence of amputations, method of wheelchair operation, skin integrity, pressure areas, living environment, lifestyle, and mode of transportation for the device. The prescription may include elements from a variety of manufacturers, necessitating the therapists' familiarity with current technology and their compatibility with one another, and contacts in the community with whom he/she must work to write the prescription. The SCI/D PT Clinical Specialist for Wheelchair Seating and Mobility must also be able to work with each element of the technology in order to be able to train the patient and/or caregiver in its use. The ultimate goal of the prescriptions is to properly fit the patient, enhance their function, minimize pressure areas, provide mobility and maintain their comfort and quality of life. Performs other tasks as assigned by the Supervisor, SCI/ ALS/ MS Physical Therapy Section. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday (8am-4:30pm) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 49718-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Must be clearly demonstrated in resume and submitted with application Evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area. This time must be between the past two and five years; OR Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS: OR Completion of a fellowship program; OR An additional advanced degree in a related field. Citizenship. Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. After a determination is made that it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens, necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States. Candidates must meet all other requirements for the grade and position concerned. 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: 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. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is a non-profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and U.S. state licensing authorities by evaluating the credentials of Foreign Educated Physical Therapists (FEPTs) who wish to immigrate and work in the U.S. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction, foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is committed to protect the public and to provide leadership within the field and practice of physical therapy. FSBPT's Foreign Educated Standards Committee has developed standards that represent "best practices" in evaluation services. The Credentials Evaluation Standards were developed with input from the physical therapy credentialing agencies that are licensed to use FSBPT's Coursework Tool. 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. Grade Requirements: Creditable Experience Knowledge of Contemporary Professional Physical Therapy Practice. To be creditable, a candidate must have demonstrated possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the scope of physical therapy practice. The candidate's experience may be evidenced by one or more of the following: Active professional practice. Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional PT as defined by APTA or the appropriate licensing board. Experience gained after graduation but prior to licensure is creditable provided the candidate was utilized as a graduate PT and subsequently passed the licensure examination. Completion of a post-graduate fellowship or a post-graduate residency program may be substituted for creditable experience on a year for year basis. (2) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it was post degree experience as a professional PT and is directly related to the duties to be performed. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding the professional PT experience at the next lower grade level Grade Determination. In addition to the basic requirements for appointment in paragraph 2, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. GS-13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and one of the following: 1. Evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area. This time must be between the past two and five years; or 2. Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; or 3. Completion of a fellowship program; or 4. An additional advanced degree in a related field. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the all following KSAs. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy. 2. Ability to serve as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within a specialized content area of physical therapy (see paragraph 2i). 3. Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy. 4. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy. 5. Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area (see Definitions, paragraph 2. i.). Preferred Experience: Assistive Technology Professional certification and prior seating and mobility and assistive technology experience. References: VAHandbook5005,PartII,AppendixG12, dated February 7, 2018. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13, in which this vacancy will be selected on. Physical Requirements. Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 Bronx VA Medical Center 130 West Kingsbridge Rd. Bronx, NY 10468 US
• Name: Patrisia Cambi
• Phone: 718-741-4000
• Email: [email protected]