The Primary Purpose of the Position is: The Physical Therapist Clinical Specialist (PT/CS) provides direct patient care and therapy services on an independent basis across the continuum of care to veterans at the VANTHCS Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service. The Organizational Location of the Position is: Acute Care Department, Program III, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, VA North Texas Health Care System.

Duties

Clinical Functions: Patient Care include but not limited to: Performs comprehensive patient evaluations and treatment implementation. Veterans are scheduled for evaluation considering caseload complexity and acuity. Demonstrates advance competence in the examination and treatment of Neurology patients. Conducts advanced comprehensive patient examinations to identify rehabilitation problems, establish treatment goals and develop the plan of care. Guided by differential diagnosis (screen for systemic diseases and medical conditions that can mimic neuromuscular and musculoskeletal problems) and movement diagnosis (examine and evaluate the movement system -including diagnosis and prognosis- to provide a customized and integrated plan of care to achieve the Neurology patient individual's goal-directed outcomes); performs complex and advance examinations and evaluations of Neurology 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 personal and environmental factors. Reviews of medical records to interpret findings from examination, diagnostic studies and/or medical tests. Neurology Clinical Specialist Functions include but not limited to: Integrates relevant Neurology literature, theory, and evaluation data to promote functional movement, activities engagement, health and well-being and minimize disability in patients. Utilizes evidenced based treatment approaches in the delivery of Neurology care. The Physical Therapy clinical specialist in Neurology serves as a mentor and consultant for patients, Physical therapy staff, and Medical Center Healthcare team members in the areas of Physical therapy and Neurology rehabilitation. Designs and provides primary, secondary, or tertiary prevention programs, such as safety and fall prevention programs, to facilitate patient's optimal engagement in functional movement, activities performance and /or lifestyle. Takes in consideration principles of optimal aging across physiological systems (musculoskeletal, neuromotor, Neurology and integumentary). Identifies clinical situations where standard treatment recommendations, based on best evidence, should be modified with regard to Neurology patient's preferences & treatment/care goals, life expectancy, co-morbid conditions, and/or functional status. Work Schedule: 8:00a.m. - 4:30p.m. Rotates to cover weekends and holidays as needed for patient care. 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

Basic Requirements: The basic requirements for employment as a VHA physical therapist are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C. § 7402. To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of physical therapist in VHA must meet the following: 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. Licensure. Individuals must 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. English Language Proficiency. Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapter 73 or 74, to serve in direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. Grade Determinations: 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: 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy. 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. Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy. Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area. Preferred Experience: Experience in providing clinical guidance to PT practitioners in the Acute Care (Inpatient and Outpatient) areas. Certification in the field of Neurology for Physical Therapy Past or current experience collaborating with Neurology services. Experience in treatment of Neurological patients. Demonstrates the ability to identify and resolve interpersonal or professional conflicts when dealing with patients and members of the organization. Demonstrates the ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in the Neurology specialty area of physical therapy. References: VA Handbook 5005/99, Part II, Appendix G12, dated February 7, 2018 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. **Qualifications continue under Additional Information section**

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/.

Accreditation Information: 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.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: If your school was accredited by CAPTE at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the www.apta.org website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Contacts

• Address Dallas VA Medical Center 4500 South Lancaster Road Dallas, TX 75216 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]