This Physical Therapy Assistant position is within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation service at the Togus VA Medical Center in Togus, Maine. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week.

Duties

This Physical Therapy Assistant position is located in the Physical Therapy Section of Physical Medicine Rehabilitative Therapies at the VISN 1 Medical Center. The PTA is guided by JCAHO and Medicare guidelines, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Section Policy and Procedures and by the standards of the American Physical Therapy Association. Duties include by are not limited to: Provides treatment that promotes the prevention, remediation, and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical dysfunction. Participates with the physical therapist in planning and implementing treatment programs and applies physical therapy procedures under the general supervision of the physical therapist. Responsible for planning and carrying out the assignments, coordinating the work with others as necessary. Provides all routine clinical activities under the general supervision of a Licensed Physical Therapist. Independently selects and adapts the procedures and techniques to be used, documents process and outcomes in the patient's medical record and modifies programming under the guidance of established plan of care and established professional practice. Performs additional duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F03424 for GS-08 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Notifications: This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is covered by a locality-based rate. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

Requirements

Qualifications

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; OR 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. English Language Proficiency: PTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: GS-08: (FULL PERFORMANCE LEVEL) Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to independently implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patient's disability and needs. Ability to independently provide varied and multifaceted physical therapy interventions based on the established care plan (e.g., therapeutic exercise, balance, body mechanics, flexibility, strength, gait training, neuromotor development, physical agents, functional training, etc.). Knowledge of physical therapy data collection and assessment techniques in order to perform specific interventions and to monitor and capture progress of the patient/client. Ability to instruct patient on varied interventions to provide materials to enhance compliance with home programs. Ability to modify treatment techniques based on the learning needs and perceptions of the patient. Ability to identify critical changes (e.g. vital signs, pain, mobility and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status. Ability to work with PTs and other interdisciplinary healthcare team members to evaluate patient information for planning, modifying and coordinating treatment programs and discharge planning Assignment. This is considered the journey level for PTAs. PTAs at this level collaborate with the primary PT then draw upon a broad base of practical knowledge and a well-developed treatment skill set in order to reach pre-determined patient goals by independently modifying techniques within the established plan of care. They implement the plan of care for patient cases, advance the program and continually review the patient's condition to determine their medical and functional status. They provide evidenced based skilled interventions including, but not limited to, therapeutic exercise, therapeutic activities, therapeutic modalities, gait training, transfer training, manual treatment, neuromuscular re-education, self-care and management training, patient/caregiver's education and group therapy. They meet with the physical therapy staff and other healthcare team members to evaluate and discuss patient information for planning, modifying and coordinating treatment programs and discharge planning. References: VA Handbook 5005/139 PART II APPENDIX G23 PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANT QUALIFICATION STANDARD The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

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 Togus VA Medical Center 1 VA Center Augusta, ME 04330 US
• Name: Jessica Steed
• Phone: (802) 295-9363 X2021
• Email: [email protected]