The VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System is hiring for one Physical Therapist Clinical Specialist (Cardiac Rehab) at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Location. The incumbent is responsible and accountable to the Outpatient Physical Therapy Supervisor and secondary supervision and guidance can be offered by the Inpatient Physical Therapy Supervisor and/or Chief of PM&RS.

Duties

MAJOR DUTIES Coordinates and implements the scheduling, evaluation, and treatment of patients needing Physical Therapy services as assigned, at VHASLC. Performs physical therapy evaluations and treatments for patients and employees in the location of inpatient and outpatient, ages ranging from adult to geriatric, having a variety of disabilities. Serves as a clinical instructor, and/or Attending clinician, with the VHASLC Physical Therapy DPT Internship Program, with specific mentoring professional skills, and clinical oversight of assigned DPT interns from various academic institutions. Serves as a Mentor and role model for PT Residents, students, and other PM&R/physical therapy staff in clinical competency, therapy skills, and professionalism. Employs unusual motivational techniques to enlist patient participation, and adapts equipment and procedures to carry out a full range of complex treatment activities and interventions. Evaluates patient's condition upon appropriate referral to physical therapy to determine treatment plan. Refers patients to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, Primary Care, and/or other specialty providers when determined necessary. Performs tests and measurements, and interprets results for use in preparing for, modifying, and/or evaluating patients, and subsequently adjusts treatment parameters based on changes in the patient's condition, outcomes, and response. Evaluates patient's needs with respect to prescribed braces and orthotic devices. Assists the physical therapy clinical operation at VHASLC. Receives & triaging applicable consults/referrals, scheduling all patient appointments appropriately Ensures sufficient supplies and equipment necessary for patient care. Reports any unusual circumstances, including difficulties with clinical operations or difficulties involving the treatment of patients, directly to the Outpatient Physical Therapy Supervisor or Department Chief of PM&RS. Establishes and maintains appropriate Quality Assurance monitoring as related to outpatient physical therapy and the Physical Therapy Residency Program, including, but not limited to, patient outcomes, quality of care, and semiannual documentation peer reviews. Receives and helps coordinate patient referrals to Physical Therapy from appropriate sources, and schedules patients for evaluation and treatment according to VHASLC policy. Reviews charts to assess appropriateness of referrals and possible contraindications for treatment, and communicates with each referring provider as needed. Assists with scheduling patients for treatment and coordinates schedules with other members of the treatment team. Documents patient performance toward achieving treatment goals, manages time appropriately, and assures a high level of productivity and work efficiency, based on facility standards and the annual PT National Target Measures. Assures that their documentation, and documentation for the Residents and Interns as assigned, are completed in a timely manner and according to VHASLC policy for all patient visits and patient encounters. Identifies continuing education needs within the physical therapy service and regarding the Physical Therapy Residency Program. Provides continuing education in the form of in-services and clinical training programs to other clinicians, including physical therapists, residents, students, and other medical center staff. Serves as subject matter expert for cardiopulmonary physical therapy, and as a consultant to the PM&R department, Physical Therapy Service, and other medical center staff. Continues to learn advanced skills in this specialty by attending and participating in continuing education Courses, training, and certifications; this further strengthens his/her/their knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform and interpret evaluative procedures and tests, and utilize evidence-based practices for achieving successful patient outcomes. Contributes to the PM&R department clinical resources, as an educator, facilitator, researcher, and clinician, as assigned. Additional assignments may include Acting as Lead Therapist in the Outpatient Physical Therapy Section during the absence of the Outpatient Physical Therapy Supervisor, or as assigned, and on a rotational basis with other senior staff therapists. Work Schedule: M-F 730am - 4pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 59939-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. 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. Education and Experience Applicants must meet at least one of the requirements: Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND 5 years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND 2 years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. Doctorate degree in physical therapy. Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements 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. 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. 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. Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). Completion of a fellowship program. An additional advanced degree in a related field. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities-KSAs Candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. Assignment For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety. Clinical Specialists spend at least 25% or greater of their time working with specialized population(s) within their department. Physical therapists at this level perform assignments in specialty areas such as geriatrics, neurology, cardiopulmonary, orthopedics, spinal cord injury, amputee, wound care, chronic pain, electromyography, women's health or pelvic health, polytrauma, brain injury, lymphedema, vestibular, assistive technology, seating and mobility. The individual is assigned responsibility for serving as the subject matter expert in the content specialty area and as a consultant to physical therapy and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the specialty area. Clinical Specialists have advanced knowledge and demonstrate expert clinical practice skills in providing assessment and treatment interventions across the continuum of care. He/she utilizes advanced knowledge and expertise to modify treatment plans and to identify therapeutic activity interventions based on the changing needs, goals and performance of patients. Clinical Specialists have advanced training in specialized technology related to their area of practice. He/she establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis. He/she exercises expert professional judgment to establish appropriate discharge planning recommendations to ensure safe discharge from inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation programs. If the medical center has a PT residency program, the clinical specialist may be on faculty for the program. Preferred Experience: Cardiac Physical Therapy experience References: Title 38 or Hybrid Title 38 Occupation official qualification standards of the position as stated in VA Handbook 5005/99, Part II, Appendix G12 II-G12-1. Physical Requirements: The physical requirements and work involve long periods of moving about the work unit. The work requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, lifting, repositioning and transferring patients. Incumbent may be exposed to patients who are combative, secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders and patients who require restraints. The incumbent must be a mature, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, demonstrating cheerfulness, compassion, courtesy, and concern. Must be quick and dependable in taking emergency action in using initiative to prevent accidents. The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction.

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 VA Salt Lake City Health Care System 500 Foothill Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84148 US
• Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
• Phone: 719-227-4600
• Email: [email protected]