The incumbent functions as a Patient Safety Manager, under Quality Management Services and collaborates with other members of the Patient Safety program to execute the VHA Patient Safety Program across all facility campuses and sites. The focus of this member of the patient safety team is on the Falls Prevention Program and mobility safety related problems.

Duties

The position requires a licensed Physical Therapist (PT) who works independently with general guidance from the Chief of Quality and Patient Safety Service. The incumbent possesses comprehensive knowledge of principles and practices of patient safety, falls prevention and mobility. The incumbent is responsible for providing leadership in developing a culture of safety within the facility. Incumbent reviews all incidents and initiates/coordinates Root Cause Analysis or Proactive Risk Assessment (PRA) of all significant incidents, when warranted. Compiles, coordinates, and submits facility responses /reports to the National Center for Patient Safety (NCPS). Incumbent functions with considerable independence in assessing Patient Safety issues; planning and applying methods of study; recommending appropriate corrective actions and conducting timely follow-up. Works collaboratively with all members of the clinical team to disseminate Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals to all employees and to facilitate assimilation into daily practice. The incumbent is responsible for the implementation of the facility's Fall Prevention program. This includes but is not limited to (1) collaborating with the interdisciplinary team in the prevention of falls, (2) creation of an appropriate plan to manage patients who experience a fall, (3) distribution of necessary education of the fall prevention and management interventions specific to the determined fall risk level, and (4) creation of procedures / protocols to decrease falls and improve effectiveness of the programs (5) monitoring protocols for ongoing improvement and evaluation of program (6) prepare and provide regular reports to stakeholders (6) Conduct studies and lead improvement initiatives. The incumbent will assist with developing practices and procedures of Patient Safety and focus on fall prevention, Mobility, Ergonomics, and Physical therapy services that are necessary to plan and improve patient safety related to falls. The physical therapist completes a baseline and annual evaluation in collaboration with the facility's Fall Prevention Coordinator through collection of data, monitoring of falls program implementation, completes monthly/quarterly /annual reports and aggregates, briefs local leadership, completes performance measures and data call requests for national program leadership. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Telework: Telework, if approved, would be on an AD-HOC basis. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 654-06630F 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 the authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in Veterans Health Administration (VHA), must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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. OR Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR 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. Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the Education and Experience 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. 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. 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: GS-13 Physical Therapist (Program Coordinator) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Ability to apply advanced knowledge of contemporary physical therapy within specialty area to provide clinical guidance, training or education for internal and external stakeholders. 2. Ability to serve as a consultant within the assigned program area for intra-agency and interagency planning and to provide service coordination to optimize program continuity, efficiency and effectiveness. 3. Knowledge of and skill in management, administration and/or education methodologies. This includes the ability to monitor and track data, utilize available resources effectively, evaluate program quality, and generate reports for local, and/or VISN and/or VACO leadership. 4. Ability to develop and coordinate treatment and/or educational programs within a concentrated field or specialty area, such as, but not limited to, amputee, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, student clinical education/residency programming, polytrauma/traumatic brain injury. 5. Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships within department and with other departments or affiliated programs. 6. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team. 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-13. Physical Requirements: The work involves standing, stooping, moderate to heavy lifting, sitting, pulling, assisting patients in transferring from various devices (bed, W/C, floor, motorized vehicles, mats etc.). Additionally, moving patient and supplies and pushing patient in their manual or motorized W/Cs. Additionally, the requirement is for the incumbent to work at a computer workstation to complete their documentation for clinical patient care or administrative needs. Occasionally, the incumbent may need to travel in a government vehicle. Incumbent will have to travel to all campuses of health care system.

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 Sierra Nevada Health Care System 975 Kirman Avenue Reno, NV 89502 US
• Name: Karen Rubenstein
• Phone: 318-619-0566
• Email: [email protected]