Job opening: Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) - Geriatrics Residency Coordinator
Salary: $114 970 - 149 465 per year
Published at: Dec 17 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
This position is for a Physical Therapist (PT) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), located in
ECHCS within the PM&R Service. This position provides Physical Therapy to patients referred to the
outpatient clinics throughout Eastern Colorado Healthcare System specifically at the local PT clinic. As independent practitioners, licensed physical therapists embrace evidenced based practice standards in
diagnosis, examination, management, intervention, treatment and outcome measurement.
Duties
Clinical: Pertaining to the Geriatric Clinical Specialist Position and patients in the Geriatric population
Physical Therapist receives patient caseload through referrals from medical providers within ECHCS and community providers. Evaluation includes but is not limited to chart review, medical history, functional tests and measures, pain scale, social needs, and rehabilitation potential, patient and therapy goals with time frames, using standard and non-standard measures to assess the level of patient function, prescribing and training on assistive technology devices and durable medical equipment, and regenerative rehabilitation. Advanced clinical roles may also include managing direct access patients, as well as performing highly specialized clinical procedures such as dry needling, prescribing and training on assistive technology devices and durable medical equipment, ordering imaging studies, regenerative rehabilitation, assessing and making recommendations for patients in the ED, as well as providing treatment and evaluation in the outpatient Falls Clinic or Geriatric Interdisciplinary Clinics.
Physical Therapist develops and implements a treatment plan to meet the individual treatment needs. Treatment plan would be as described above.
Therapist keeps the medical team providers informed regarding outcomes of treatment through a variety of communication means.
Documents in CPRS for each patient by established policy including but not limited to: consult screening results, potential goals, expected outcomes in terms of function, and/or discharge summary including outcome of goals, as well as equipment provided, and educations given to patient and family.
Complies with requirements to maintain prosthetic equipment supplies, providing necessary
documentation of equipment provided to patients and obtaining stock replacement of equipment issued.
Carries a full patient caseload, accepting new patient consults as referred by medical providers.
Considers age and developmental level, gender, education, cultural background and
socioeconomic, medical and functional status when providing Physical Therapy services. Is aware of signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect and reports to the appropriate authorities.
The therapists level of responsibility in the physical therapy program is with complete independence and is responsible for maintaining high professional standards.
Incumbent is responsible in helping triage of all consults received in a timely manner and working with MSAs to schedule into multiple clinics as needed. The therapist is responsible for coordinating appropriate coverage of patient caseload prior to any planned leave.
Education and Experience
Completes annual mandatory training classes by hospital policy and practices the information learned to correct deficiencies and maintain a safe environment.
Assists the SCCE in arranging and providing educational experiences for Physical Therapy students that affiliate with this facility, providing a suitable learning environment for the student by assisting the student when necessary and maintaining communication with the Physical Therapy Advisor from the Physical Therapy program.
Serves as the Geriatric Residency Coordinator and arranges for a proper residency experience for Geriatric residents, including interviewing, selecting, mentoring, and providing appropriate didactic education to prepare residents to successfully graduate and pass the Geriatric Clinical Specialist Board Exam.
Attends Continuing Education for Physical Therapists annually to maintain a high level of professional competence, knowledge and skill, learn new treatment techniques, and explore new theories.
Administrative
The physical therapist is directly responsible to the ECHCS local Supervisor of Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy in the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services (PM&RS).
Assists with monitoring and evaluation of clinically appropriate treatment programs provided by Geriatric residents with great autonomy as well as, the ability to provide consultation for staff therapists in the realm of Geriatric Physical Therapy.
Participates in Program Improvement work groups and has a working knowledge of Departmental Program Improvement projects.
Participates in multidisciplinary meetings as appropriate.
Participates in hospital sponsored accreditation activities, helping to prepare the staff to meet Joint Commission standards, CARF standards, and other accreditation standards as needed.
Manage consult triage and serves as consultant for consult triage questions for geriatric PT clinics.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm (As Determined by Service) (Rotating Weekends and Holidays)
Compressed/Flexible:Available
Telework: Available (Ad-Hoc)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 554-60286-0
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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:
Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
English Language Proficiency: Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists must be proficient in spoken and written as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).
Education and Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
(1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
(2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
(3) 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.
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. 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.
NOTE. Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetency or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the state for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed physical therapists on VA rolls as of November 30, 1999, provided the individual maintains a continuous appointment and is not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification.
Loss of Credential: A PT who fails to maintain the required license must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation, if qualified, and if a placement opportunity exists.
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 (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; 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs.
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.).
Preferred Experience: Geriatric Clinical Specialist Certification in addition to experience working in post-graduate physical therapy residency education.
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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.
Physical Requirements: Physical Therapy is a vocation that requires regular and recurring physical exertion with long periods of standing, bending, walking and periods of assisting patients with transfers. ECHCS has a policy of NO PATIENT LIFT, meaning that mechanical lifts are available to assist with safe patient transfers without lifting patients directly. Demonstration of various physical therapy procedures requires good physical conditioning. Physical therapy also requires manual dexterity to manipulate tools and equipment with activities such as assembling equipment with the use of hand tools such as screwdriver or pliers, and power tools as warranted and applicable. Heavy Lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs and over); Straight Pulling (up to 1 hour); Pushing (1 - 2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 3 hours); Standing (up to 3 hours); Repeated bending (up to 1 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Hearing (aid permitted).
Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers
are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their
physical, mental, and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their coworkers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
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 Eastern Colorado Health Care System
1700 N Wheeling St
Aurora, CO 80045
US
- Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
- Phone: 719-227-4600
- Email: [email protected]
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