This position is in the Kinesiotherapy Section within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services (PM&RS) Department at the Phoenix VA Health Care System. The Kinesiotherapy who works at this level provides assessment and treatment intervention on an independent basis across the continuum of care and services provided by PM&RS.

Duties

The Kinesiotherapist demonstrates treatment competency beyond the average staff therapist by executing a full range of treatment procedures designed to allow most physically challenged Veterans the opportunity and ability to safely and most independent possible perform his/her physical functional daily activities. Patient care program development, medical staff training, consultation, research development, and resource sharing within the community. Complex therapeutic objectives and/or unusual and highly specialized procedures due to the severe or unusual involvement of the patient. Duties include, but are not limited to: Administer clinical training programs for students, facility, staff, and/or physical medicine and rehabilitation therapy disciplines. Establishing, negotiating, and maintaining affiliation agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs). Arrange and serve as instructors for staff in-service training programs, and serve on curriculum committees of colleges and universities, and have substantive input into the course content for students. Responsible for the examination and treatment of patients requesting KT services and patients referred to the KT Section both in person and by means of the most appropriate method of telecommunication. Travels to CBOCs and Mobile Medical Unit sites for patient care and staff training, as needed. Develops and implements Kinesiotherapy patient education content, based on the most current evidence-based practice, to be delivered by the most appropriate method of telecommunication. Provides in-service and clinical training programs as assigned by the of the Kinesiotherapy section. Designs, conducts, and evaluates educational experiences on Kinesiotherapy subject matter for staff members, taking an active role in Journal Club, and seeks educational opportunities to enhance the Kinesiotherapy section, PM&RS, and the Phoenix VA Health Care System. Establishes and maintains contact with other key staff involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis at the Medical Center and VISN level. Develops and provides timely reports as requested by the of the Kinesiotherapy section. Maintains timely data input utilizing care plans, initial assessments and/or specialty protocols as part of an ongoing process in coordination with other key interdisciplinary staff to provide effective patient care. Represents the Kinesiotherapy section and PM&RS at various clinical and administrative meetings/rounds at the discretion of the LEAD, Kinesiotherapy section. Performs Kinesiotherapy evaluation and treatments, male and female, ages ranging from adult to geriatric, having a variety of disabilities. Cases may be complex in nature with chronic and acute disease entities including, but not limited to, central nervous system disorders, joint diseases, circulatory and pulmonary diseases, diabetes mellitus, altered thought processes and multisystem disease combinations. Ability to determine the most appropriate plan of care relative to the patient's diagnosis, age, developmental level and cultural needs. Perform examination and treatment of patients representing a wide scope of ages and diagnoses, rendering varied modalities inherent in this profession. Serves as a Clinical Instructor and role model for students in Kinesiotherapy and other programs where Kinesiotherapy is involved and have staff. Employs motivational techniques to enlist patient participation and adaptive equipment and procedures to carry out a full range of complex treatment activities. Evaluates patient's condition upon appropriate referral to Kinesiotherapy or by patient request for Kinesiotherapy service to determine treatment plan. Suggests referrals/consults to other team professionals as appropriate. Performs and interprets results of tests and measurements for use in preparing for modification and/or evaluation of patient treatment, and adjusts the treatment based on changes in patient's condition. Evaluates patient's needs with respect to durable medical equipment necessary for the patient in the home environment. Selects appropriate equipment, determines which suits the patient best. Determines appropriate equipment necessary to allow patients to participate in home exercise program, assistive devices for mobility, transfers etc. Determines the most efficient way for the patient to function safely in a home environment with the resources available for the patient. Reviews patients' medical records from outlying facilities to determine appropriateness of triaging referral to community care. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday, Hours TBD Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Telework: Yes - Position Suitable Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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: (1) A bachelor's degree [or higher from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program, with a concentration/emphasis in kinesiotherapy. OR (2) A bachelor's degree or higher with a concentration/emphasis in kinesiotherapy or exercise science related field and registered as a kinesiotherapist in good standing with the COPSKT. OR (3) A master's degree or higher with a degree in exercise science, kinesiology, human performance or a related field, which has been approved by COPSKT and a certificate verifying completion of a Center of Excellence (COE) Kinesiotherapy clinical training program. The completion of the certificate ensures that COPSKT has approved the degree program as part of the application process for the COE internship. Registration: All applicants must be registered in kinesiotherapy in good standing with the COPSKT. English Language Proficiency: Kinesiotherapist candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403 (f). 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: Kinesiotherapist, GS-11 (1) Experience/Education. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or three academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a degree in kinesiotherapy or an exercise science related field. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to coordinate and maintain academic agreements and assignments for student affiliations with universities, colleges, and other academic organizations. Knowledge of contemporary kinesiotherapy across multiple areas of practice and provide clinical guidance to staff kinesiotherapists within the department. Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about the practice of kinesiotherapy and areas of expertise. Ability to synthesize (create) clinical processes and practice in order to guide and train the students' clinical/educational experience and skills. Knowledge of AKTA practice guidelines and COPSKT certification requirements. Ability to apply appropriate problem-solving methods and techniques (3) Assignment. This is the full performance level for the kinesiotherapist. Kinesiotherapists independently conduct assessments and develop treatment plans to the complexity of the diagnosis or disability using appropriate functional tests and measurements according to established evidence-based professional practices. The kinesiotherapists provide integrated and progressive skilled rehabilitative treatment modalities across the continuum of care. Duties may include, but are not limited to, any of the following: pre-habilitation, acute, sub-acute, transitional, home-based, post rehabilitative, and wellness programs. Administer musculoskeletal, neurological, ergonomic, biomechanical, psychological, and task specific functional tests and measures in order to reach maximum outcomes. Coordinate and collaborate within a multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive care, employ multiple treatment approaches and to accomplish complex treatment objectives. The kinesiotherapist may perform duties such as, accurately test, analyze, evaluate, and record measurements of vitals, muscular strength, endurance, range of motion, coordination, static/dynamic balance, cardiovascular endurance, gait analysis, posture, gross sensory impairment, functional mobility, activities of daily living, and prosthetic and orthotic gait, care and training. Provide education to patients, caregivers and other health care professionals regarding policies and procedures for guidance to maneuver through the health care system. Kinesiotherapists monitor and report on work status, program quality, performance improvement data, and make recommendations for process improvement. References: VA Handbook 5005/132, Part II, Appendix G21, Kinesiotherapist Qualification Standard GS-0635 Veterans Health Administration. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: VA Handbook 5019/1, Part II, Pre-Placement Physical Examination and Evaluation.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Carl T Hayden Veterans' Administration Medical Center 650 East Indian School Road Phoenix, AZ 85012 US
• Name: Felicia Markham
• Phone: 909-583-6134
• Email: [email protected]