Incumbent is responsible to function as a member of the Physical Therapy (PT) department in the rehabilitation and extended care (REC) integrated care community (ICC), providing in-home therapy services to veterans enrolled in the Black Hills VA Health Care System (BHHCS). The primary purpose of the work is direct veteran care with the goal of maximizing the veteran's functional ability. The duties and responsibilities of this position are carried out in the home for the HH population.

Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to, the following: 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. Works effectively with treatment team members, veterans, and veteran's family/significant others, and other health care providers in coordinating the veteran's total care. Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings. Effectively communicates in the clinical medical record and other written and/or verbal sources to promote positive communication, collaboration and teamwork. Skill in performing assessment and treatment for HH veterans 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 assessment, select appropriate test and measures, and integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of veteran populations. Ability to determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the veteran's preferences in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals, optimize outcomes and maximize functional independence Develops and promotes new and existing treatment programs which apply current research findings. Knowledgeable about research in the practitioner's area of practice. Establishes a baseline level of functioning including appropriate assessments and follows defined protocols when standardized assessments are utilized. Educates about the purposes and procedures of the physical therapy evaluation and treatment. Documents evaluation results, treatment plans, veteran response to treatment and education given in accordance with the facility policy including The Joint Commission requirements and Long-Term Care Institute requirements, as well as APTA guidelines. Initial evaluations will be documented in a timely manner in accordance with facility policy. Ensures the intervention plan is documented within time frames, formats and standards established by VA policy and procedures. Included in the intervention plan are veteran-centered goals that are measurable, functional, relevant and appropriate to the veteran's needs, goals, and expected outcomes. Reviews and communicates the plan with the interdisciplinary team. Educates on the relative benefits and risks of the intervention. Re-evaluates during the intervention process and documents progress of goals and outcomes. Modifies intervention to reflect changes in status and response to intervention. Discontinues services when the veteran has achieved predetermined goals, has achieved maximum benefits from physical therapy services, does not desire to continue services or upon failure to demonstrate continued progress toward goals. Prepares and implements a discharge plan that addresses follow-up resources and identifies outcome measures between initial evaluation and discontinuance of services. Investigates possible environmental barriers within the facility and the veteran's home/discharge environment that has the potential of hindering the veteran's independence or decreases safety. Demonstrates the ability to provide a therapeutic, safe environment for adult and geriatric populations. Uses knowledge and understanding of the developmental tasks and the changing physical characteristics associated with these age groups in clinical practice. Uses screening methods appropriate to the veteran's performance context and communicates screening results and recommendations to the appropriate personnel. Develops appropriate home or community programming to maintain and enhance the performance of the veteran in their own environment. Conducts home visits to assess veteran's need for adaptive equipment, architectural barriers, and home modifications. The incumbent demonstrates the ability to maintain established productivity and/or workload standards, as identified for their established work areas within the health care system. Reviews consults to determine appropriateness of referral for assessment and treatment of veterans. Refers veterans to appropriate resources when the needs of the veteran can best be served by the expertise of other professionals or services. Educates current and potential referral sources about the scope of physical therapy services and the process of initiating physical therapy services. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Ad-Hoc only, per Supervisor's discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: (a) Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) (b) 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: 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. (c) 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. GS-11 (Entry Level) Grade Determinations: (a) Education, Experience, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-12 (Full Performance Level) Grade Determinations: (a) 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. References: https://www.va.gov/OHRM/QualificationStandards/HT38/0633-PhysicalTherapist.pdf The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11 or GS-12. Preferred Experience: Prior experience in Home Health settings, experience with geriatric population. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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 Black Hills Health Care System 113 Comanche Road Fort Meade, SD 57741 US
• Name: Megan Noe
• Phone: (724) 285-2259
• Email: [email protected]