This position is in the Physical Therapy Section within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service of the VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) in Baltimore, MD which is a Complexity Level 1b facility as defined by the 2017 VHA Facility Complexity Report. This position is located at the Loch Raven location.

Duties

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Major Duties, include but are not limited to: Conducts comprehensive patient examinations to identify rehabilitation problems and establish treatment goals utilizing the most recent evidence based Physical Therapy practice. Conducts examinations, treatment planning and interventions, documentation, and follow-up evaluations within PT and specialty clinics, but may also support inpatient/acute care, HBPC, outpatient, and other settings prn. Performs examination, treatment planning and intervention, and documentation as needed for support personnel and any assigned Staff PT and residents. May work with patients from a wide range of ages and backgrounds to apply knowledge of the anatomical, biological, physical, cognitive, psychological, and psychosocial changes that occur with aging clients, including disease and disability, and the effects of inactivity on these changes, including the interpretation of examination findings and appropriate intervention plans for aging individuals, familiarity with medications commonly prescribed for older adults, drug interactions and factors to consider when providing physical therapy interventions to older adults, indications and contraindications for risks of restraints, alternatives to physical restraints use that are safe and least restrictive, and assessing elderly clients for positioning device, enabling devices, environmental adaptation, and caregiver intervention with regards to risk reduction. Demonstrates ongoing competence in the examination and treatment of patients in the following areas: (a) Geriatric Rehabilitation (b) Musculoskeletal Disorders (c) Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation (d) Stroke and Head Injury (e) Arthritis (f) Spinal Cord Injury (g) Chronic Pain (h) Amputation (i) Vestibular Rehabilitation (j) Post Surgical/Joint Replacement (k) Assistive Technology (l) Health Promotion (m) Balance & Falls (n) Movement Disorders Demonstrates and maintains full competency in the use, pre-cleaning and/or reprocessing of reusable medical equipment. Must ensure that the appropriate Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and manufacturer's instructions are followed for any step the use of RME (pre-cleaning, reprocessing, disinfection, sterilization, maintenance) in which the employee involved. Demonstrates competence in the appropriate selection of functional outcome measures, as related to patient management in geriatrics. 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. Provides information to older adults and their caregivers about the continuum of long term care services and supports - such as community resources, home care, assisted living facilities, hospitals, nursing facilities, sub-acute care facilities, and hospice care. Responsible for the examination and treatment of geriatric patients referred to inpatient/outpatient PT services, often exercising professional judgment to establish appropriate discharge planning recommendations to ensure safe discharge. Provides in-service and clinical training programs as assigned by the Supervisor, Physical Therapy Section Designs, conducts, and evaluates education experiences for staff members and residents, taking a leadership role in Journal Club, and seeks educational opportunities to enhance the Physical Therapy Section, PMRS, and Medical Center. 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 a professional network with community partners in the care of the geriatric client. Develops and provides timely reports to the Supervisor, Physical Therapy 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 Physical Therapy Section and PMRS at various clinical and administrative meetings/rounds at the discretion of the Supervisor, Physical Therapy Section. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 25371-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. 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 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 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 Determination: GS- 13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist): 1. 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. 2. 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 (see paragraph 2i). 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 (see Definitions, paragraph 2. i.). Grandfathering Provision: For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees grandfathered into the GS-0633 occupational series as PTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation. PTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of this standard. PTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard and must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If PTs who are grandfathered under this provision leave the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation Specialized/Preferred Experience: Incumbent shall primarily provide skilled OUTPATIENT PT services at the Loch Raven VAMC. Various diagnoses are addressed by the therapist ranging from orthopedics, medical issues, and neurological. The physical therapist accurately interprets physician orders for evaluation and treatment. The physical therapist assesses referred patients using standard evaluation procedures and techniques, formulates and implements physical therapy treatment/care plans, re-assesses patients at intervals, and modifies treatment plans accordingly. The therapist reports on patient's progress both orally and in writing to interdisciplinary team members; maintains and replenishes adequate materials necessary for patient treatment; and is responsible for the training and clinical direction of physical therapy assistants, PT students, and volunteers assigned to therapist's clinical area. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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-13. Physical Requirements: The PHYSICAL THERAPIST/GCS will meet and maintain physical and drug test program requirements for the position as required. Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over, moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds, straight pulling, pulling hand over hand, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, repeated bending, both legs required, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid permitted), far vision correctable in one eye to 20/50 and to 20/100 in the other, emotional and mental stability.

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 Maryland Health Care System 10 North Greene Street Baltimore, MD 21201 US
• Name: Teresa Hammond
• Phone: 410-605-7000
• Email: [email protected]