The SCI Physical Therapist (PT) position is located in the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Service of VA San Diego Health Care System (VASDHS). The SCI PT at this level is responsible for providing assessment and treatment intervention for patients with spinal cord injuries and disorders, who have a variety of deficits including complete or incomplete paralysis of upper and lower extremities and the associated problems which paralysis affects.

Duties

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY The SCI Physical Therapist (PT) duties are as followed but not limited too: Patient Evaluation, Treatment, and Development - Knowledge of contemporary and evidence-based PT practice, which allow evaluation and treatment of the diversified population with Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders (SCI/D); and determine their current functional level. - Knowledge of a wide variety of physical therapy tests and measures including standardized and non-standardized tests and instruments and evaluations to assess the patient's condition. - Develops and implements individualized physical therapy treatments including progressive resistive exercises, passive and active range of motion, functional mobility training, postural training, transfer training, etc., for acute and chronic SCI/D patients. - Recognizes and considers the various interacting medical and psychosocial variables, which affect the patient with SCI/D when preparing a treatment plan and motivate the patient to become an active participant in their rehabilitation process. - Utilizes appropriate screening and evaluation techniques required to appropriately provide direct patient care. - Knowledge of clinical signs and symptoms to make appropriate referrals for further medical attention/assessment as indicated. - Monitors patient progress and modify treatments as necessary according to an ongoing evaluation process in order to optimize patient condition and allow patient to reach the goals established in conjunction with team. Factors include medical and functional status, psychosocial variables, patient needs and goals, and available treatment modalities. - Interprets clinician prescriptions and referrals. - Functions as a member of a clinical interdisciplinary team to provide total health care delivery to the patient and continuity of care by informing the team of patient status, future goals, and equipment evaluations. Participates in team conferences, inpatient ward rounds, patient planning meetings, initial, interim, and discharge conferences, and psychosocial rounds. - Performs home evaluations, mobility evaluations, gait and transfer evaluations, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) evaluations, and equipment evaluations. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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 and experience. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy. 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. 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. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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.* May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-11: Education, Experience, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. 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, hold a valid unrestricted state license and demonstrate all the KSAs 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: Previous experience working with people with spinal cord injury and/or VA experience. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, 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: Performs work in a clinical area, various hospital wards, intensive care units, and patients' home/work environments. Work requires good physical and mental health, strength, coordination, balance, pushing, stooping, reaching, kneeling, bending, walking, handling of wheelchairs, and intermittent standing. Physical demands include heavy work, defined as lifting/carrying objects 35 pounds or less.

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 San Diego VA Medical Center 3350 La Jolla Village Drive San Diego, CA 92161 US
• Name: Tempest Price
• Phone: 478-272-1210 X72383
• Email: [email protected]