Summary

This Physical Therapist reports to the Physical Therapy Service at the Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center (VAMC) and is tasked to support the Home Based Primary Care program based in the Yakima Valley Community-Based Outpatient Clinic located in Union Gap, WA. The physical therapist plans, integrates, and implements physical therapy in the Home Based Primary Care Program and/or other settings as directed by the Chief of Physical Therapy.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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
• 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
• 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- 3 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
• 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: Experience in skilled nursing, home safety evaluations, wheelchair fitting and prescription, post-stroke rehab, home health
• More than one year experience of Physical Therapy experience 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 in the GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds
• Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking, 5 hours
• Standing, 5 hours
• Kneeling and repeated bending, 1 hour
• Both legs required
• Operation of motor vehicle (potentially up to 7 hours in a day - not every day)
• Hearing (aid may be permitted)
• Vision near/far correctable as needed to safely perform tasks of physical therapist
• Environmental Factors: Outside and inside
• Dust
• Slippery or uneven walking surfaces
• Working around moving objects or vehicles
• Vibration
• Working closely with others
• Visiting homes of various patients.

Duties

• Clinical Spends the majority of his/her time working in the Home Based Primary Care geriatric environment
• Conducts comprehensive patient evaluations to identify rehabilitation problems and establish treatment goals for Geriatric/HBPC veterans
• Conducts follow-up assignments of patients admitted to HBPC Physical Therapy as appropriate
• Develops and implements complex treatment plans designed to meet established goals
• Performs and interprets specialized evaluative procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty area
• Evaluates patient response to treatment and modifies treatment plan to provide an optimal outcome
• Evaluates all HBPC patients referred to physical therapy and implements appropriate treatment plans
• Uses standard and nonstandard methods for evaluating issues in the home environment to identify potential problems and a baseline level of function
• Performs evaluation, treatment planning, and documentation as needed for supportive personnel
• Demonstrates competence in the evaluation and treatment of patients in the following areas but not exclusive of: (a) Geriatric Rehabilitation (b) Home Safety Assessments (c) Musculoskeletal Disorders (d) Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation (e) Stroke and Head Injury (f) Arthritis (g) Spinal Cord Injury (h) Amputation (i) Assistive Devices / Technology (j) Manual and power mobility Develops appropriate treatment plans and goals, including determining appropriate home modifications needed to increase patient safety and level of independence
• Performs a full range of physical therapy treatment procedures modifying the treatment according to the patient's response to the intervention and pre-existing medical conditions
• Directs appropriate treatment for a variety of functional levels and modifies treatment based on changing medical conditions or complex disabilities
• Presents patients to physicians and other HBPC interdisciplinary team (IDT) members providing information regarding performance, current status, and continuing goals
• Works effectively with IDT members and other VAMC health care providers in coordinating the patient's total care
• Assesses need for and measures, fits and instructs patients/caregiver in the safe use of any issued adaptive equipment or assistive devices
• Monitors patient's tolerance for therapeutic procedures, including tolerance for prescribed adaptive equipment
• Recognizes unanticipated rates of progress, significantly altered physical/mental status of patient or undesirable secondary effects of treatment
• Education Increases knowledge and skills by attending seminars, workshops, lectures and in services, particularly in the field of geriatrics and home based physical therapy
• Orients patient, physicians, allied health professionals, students, volunteers, and community representatives to the purpose and function of physical therapy in the home environment
• Serves as instructor/mentor to other therapist and staff/students regarding Geriatric/HBPC Veterans
• Supervises and trains students as assigned
• Assists Physical Therapy Coordinator for Clinical Education in developing and upgrading student training program content
• Provides in-services and clinical training programs in the area home based physical therapy to nursing personnel, physicians and allied health professionals
• Work Schedule: 6AM - 4:30PM Monday through Thursday, or negotiable Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized