The incumbent also serves as the PT, Wheelchair Coordinator for VISN 10 Southern Tier, Indianapolis, Marion, Fort Wayne and Cincinnati VA Medical Centers. Designs and evaluates wheelchair seating system components of unusual or complex cases. In addition, the incumbent also provides assistance to and for the Orthotic Lab as needed and directed by the Orthotic Lab Supervisor. 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 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. 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. 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. 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-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: Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Preferred Experience: Preferred experience in physical therapy environments where adaptive therapy applied. 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. Physical Requirements: Work in the Orthotic Lab. may occasionally require lifting up to 50 pounds. Incumbent must always seek assistance when lifting heavy objects in CBOC's and VA Medical centers within the VISN. ["VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY The incumbent in this assignment may serve as the sole Southern Tier PT at the VISN 10 Sensory Aid and Prosthetic Service. The incumbent serves as the subject matter expert for this Service on all matters pertaining to complicated medical cases requiring wheelchairs, special seating surfaces and special mattresses. In addition, the incumbent serves as a consultant on a multidisciplinary specialty care team that provides complex prosthetic devices to a wide variety of patients requiring advance specialty care. Incumbent is also responsible for training the patient and family members on use of the prescribed device. The incumbent also serves as the PT, Wheelchair Coordinator for VISN 10 Southern Tier, Indianapolis, Marion, Fort Wayne and Cincinnati VA Medical Centers. Designs and evaluates wheelchair seating system components of unusual or complex cases. In addition, the incumbent also provides assistance to and for the Orthotic Lab as needed and directed by the Orthotic Lab Supervisor. 2.Functions: Devises specific activities and routines to maintain or improve general state of health, physical fitness or conditioning where it is absent or to restore it where it has been lost due to disease or disability. Incumbent develops therapeutic programs for various types of disabilities, which include orthopedic conditions, amputation, muscle weakness, chronic cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, psychiatric diagnoses, dementia, and patients with multiple diagnoses. Incumbent strives to retard physical and mental deterioration, maintaining the highest degree of self-help and independence within the limitation of patient's disability. Employs therapeutic objectives which are complex. Interprets and administers physician's exercise prescription, schedules patients for treatment and integrates Wheelchair Coordinator activities along with other treatments in order to achieve the goals established for the patient. Incumbent reports to physician's patient reactions to treatment which have medical significance and diagnostic value. Incumbent administers therapeutic exercise that strengthens debilitated muscles and teaches transfer activities and mobility training following prolonged bed rest, amputation, fractures, wounds and joint replacement. Establishes meaningful therapeutic goals and independently designs a treatment plan to meet the goals. Special emphasis is placed on minimizing further debilitation through energy conservation, joint protection, pain management techniques, and ongoing exercise. Inputs scheduling data into hospital CPRS also closes out Orthotic Workorder Lab (OWL) for initial fitting of and all repairs to wheelchair and wheelchair seating systems. Completes and documents initial evaluations, treatment interventions, re-evaluation, and discharge notes in accordance with PM&R Service and DV A policy that cover the entire course of treatment. Utilizes Microsoft Office programs i.e. Word, Excel, Power Point, etc ... Frequently selects, adapts, and adjusts PT intervention in accordance with rehabilitation goals. Incumbent performs home evaluations for the purposes of prescribing modification to the home to allow accessibility by wheelchair or other ambulatory devices. Also, evaluates for ramps or porch lifts. Incumbent evaluates for all types of Activities of Daily Living Equipment needed in the home. Also, trains patient in use of the equipment. In addition, he/she will evaluate for home modification under the requirements of the Home Improvement Structural Alteration (HISA) Program. Incumbent participates in regularly scheduled ward rounds and at the time provides technical assistance to the physician in prescribing adjustments and modifications to existing wheelchairs, and seating systems. He/she is also responsible in assisting in the development for new prescriptions. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00a.m.-4:30p.m. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 92665-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:"]
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.
