Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist)

This position is organizationally aligned under the Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network 17 South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) Audie L. Murphy Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. This position is part of therapy services and reports to the therapy services program Supervisor (or section chief). This position will provide direct supervision for Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy staff and matrix OT and PT staff as stated below.

Qualifications:

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.
     • 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-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.
• 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.
• Physical Requirements. 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 co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements above, you must meet the specialized experience and demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities below:

• 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 all of the following KSAs.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
    1. Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy.
    2. 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.
    3. Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
    4. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
    5. Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area.

Preferred Experience:

• 2 plus years experience working in an outpatient setting
• 2 plus years experience with vestibular dysfunctions
• 2 plus years experience working with all levels of brain injury/TBIs
• 1 plus year of advanced bracing experience such as FES (Bioness)

References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/99, PART II, APPENDIX G12, APPENDIX G12. PHYSICAL THERAPIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0633, dtd. Feb 7, 2018.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Work includes regular and demanding physical exertion in standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, gripping, and walking. Moderate to heavy lifting is required to assist patients and operate equipment. Sitting is required in meetings and for conducting administrative work. Above average agility may be desirable in defending oneself (or others) against physical attack/abuse. Work requires physical health, normal use of arms and legs, and good visual and auditory acuity.

Responsibilities:

This position is for an outpatient Polytrauma physical therapy clinical specialist that has experience working with TBI, strokes, headaches, vestibular dysfunctions and other polytrauma diagnosis. The incumbent will be part of an interdisciplinary team that provides direct patient care to veterans and active duty service members. The incumbent will be part of the polytrauma reintegration outpatient (PRO) team which is located in the Audie Murphy VA Hospital. On Saturdays you will be part of an on-call rotation where you might be called in to work on the inpatient polytrauma rehab unit.

The incumbent serves as the subject matter expert and, in addition, evaluates patients, plans, establishes and provides a full range of comprehensive treatment procedures designed to improve or restore function through the use of physical modalities, therapeutic exercise, prostheses or assistive devices.

Clinical:
Candidates must be licensed for assignment at this grade level and are considered to be above the full performance level. Staff PTs at this level must have advanced knowledge and expert skill in performing, interpreting and assessing treatment outcomes for a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in neurologic rehabilitation. The physical therapy neurologic specialist is responsible for serving as a subject matter expert and as a consultant to physical therapy and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in neurologic rehab. The specialist must have the ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in neurologic rehab and guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in this area. The employee is assigned to the Polytrauma Reintegration Outpatient (PRO) program and provides professional, independent physical therapy services in the assigned area.

• Incumbent must possess advanced knowledge advanced knowledge in the anatomy and physiology of the neurologic systems and pathophysiology of common neurologic disorders. Incumbent will provide a range of specialized physical therapy interventions and treatment modalities used in the clinical setting for veterans requiring neurologic rehabilitation services. Upon, referral from a physician, independently plans and develops comprehensive neurologic rehabilitation programs to meet patients' needs.
• Incumbent is responsible for in-depth evaluations of neurologic patients for DME and orthotics including mobility aids, bracing and other adaptive equipment. Once the evaluation is complete, the incumbent is responsible for coordinating equipment needs with the physician and prosthetics department. Additionally, the incumbent will train the patient on the appropriate DME required for safety and functional mobility.
• Incumbent must demonstrate advanced skills in teaching body mechanics to patients and caregivers to minimize risk of injury and monitoring veterans' functional status.
• Communicates and works effectively with health care providers in coordinating the patients' global care. He/she establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis.

Administration:

• Assigns and evaluates work of subordinate staff.
• Maintains procedures consistent with STVHCS policies. Assists in the development of standards of care to ensure compliance with professional accrediting organizations including TJC (The Joint Commission) and CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.)
• Maintains all data for quality assurance monitoring and evaluates data at specific intervals.
• Maintains adequate level of supplies.
• Maintains equipment in safe and operable condition through inspection and submission of work orders, as necessary.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education:

• Supervises and trains physical therapy students and volunteers. If assigned, acts as clinical education coordinator for the P.T. section.
• Demonstrates the ability to teach and mentor staff in physical therapy services and neurologic rehab. Provides in-services and training for physical therapy staff and other professionals, as necessary. Orients new staff members to the role of physical therapy and neurologic rehabilitation.
• Maintains professional state license and competency through continuing education with completion in each biennium of 3.0 Continuing Competency Units (CCU's).

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm, specific hours negotiable; Nights/Weekends/Holidays.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Salary : $108,001