The Physical Therapist provides in-home services to patients with a wide variety of multiple, complex chronic illnesses and/or profound disabilities. The position carries primary responsibility for providing in-home physical therapy assessments, and the planning, and administration and management of rehabilitation in the home for patients of the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center (OGJ VAMC) and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) Home Based Primary Care Program (HBPC). 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: BASIC REQUIREMENTS Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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: 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: 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. NOTE: 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. In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above, you must meet the requirements list for the grade levels below. Grade Determinations: GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level)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: 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12. Physical Requirements: This position frequently requires moderate to heavy lifting. Normally such lifting will involve, but is not limited to, assisting with transfers or gait training of the client in the physical therapy clinic. ["The physical therapist provides in-home services to patients with a wide variety of multiple, complex chronic illnesses and/or profound disabilities. Decisions are made in the community without onsite supervision of another health care professional. The incumbent demonstrates a high ability and skill in professional autonomy as well as recognizes the team cohesiveness necessary to meet the needs of a population with chronic longitudinal and often debilitating health care needs. VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Major Duties: 1. 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. 2. Skill in performing examinations and evaluations of individuals in an inpatient, outpatient or home care (HBPC) environment 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. 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. 7. Recommends equipment the patient will need for safe and optimal functioning in their current or home environment. 8. Attends conferences, workshops, and other continuing education programs to gain insight into the therapeutic and motivational patient strategies. Attendees are expected to disseminate this learned information to appropriate PM&RS staff via report, in-service or case study presentation. 9. Provides formal and informal Nursing and support staff education including, but not limited to, proper utilization of ambulation aids, proper wheelchair seating, and transferring training. 10. Communicates patient progress and proposed physical therapy interventions to facilitate that progress via electronic notes, phone, or staff meetings. Work Schedule: Full Time Mon-FRI 0800AM- 4:30PM Telework: Available; as determined by the agency policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.