Physical Therapist

This position is assigned to the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Services Department (PM&RS) within the Montana VA Health Care System (MTVAHCS). The primary responsibility of this position is direct patient care of patients referred and/or requiring Physical Therapy intervention.

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:
  • 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.

• Licensed. 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-11 (Entry)

• Education, Experience, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-12 (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.

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 range of GS-11 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: The incumbent must demonstrate the ability to walk, to get to other facility locations on a daily basis, stand, repeatedly bend, reach overhead, and push Veterans and objects for up to four hours a regular shift, prolonged sitting, moderate lifting and carrying of 15-44 pounds.

Responsibilities:

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

CLINICAL

• Evaluates and determines the extent of disability and the present level of functioning.
• Demonstrates proficient use of basic standardized testing equipment and tools.
• Performs and documents pertinent evaluation results, including client and/or family interview, observation, objective measurements, systems review, and interpretation of findings, within time frames consistent with care settings or department policy.
• Assesses and incorporates methods to address an individual's physical, cognitive, learning needs, socioeconomic, and psychosocial limitations. Assessment includes pain issues as appropriate.
• Chooses appropriate evaluation tools that are consistent with the client's diagnosis, history, and subjective complaints.
• Identifies patient's impairments, develops a functional problem list, and incorporates it into functional goals related to customer goals.
• Discusses evaluation results with patients and the appropriate healthcare team clients and responds to questions appropriately.
• Progress towards all goals is consistently assessed, revised, and documented per department policy.
• Identifies signs and symptoms that substantially impact treatments and outcomes and takes appropriate action.
• Refers customers appropriately if the diagnosis is outside the scope of expertise.
• Sets measurable and realistic short and/or long-term goals based on the client's medical status, anticipated therapeutic outcome(s), and the customer's input.

EDUCATION

• Instructs client, family, and/or caregiver in therapeutic activities (e.g. age age-appropriate activities).
• Instructs caregiver, family, and/or caregivers in the use of equipment.
• Provides for the orientation and training of staff, including competency development.
• Provides for the continuing education of staff through the use of in-services, training sessions, and/or educational materials.
• Attends mandatory in-services and/or makes arrangements with the appropriate supervisor for satisfactory compliance.
• Maintains current knowledge in present areas of responsibility (e.g., attends ongoing educational programs).

ADMINISTRATIVE

• Makes suggestions regarding the purchase of new equipment and supplies when necessary.
• Maintains rehab equipment and supplies in a clean and orderly condition.
• Provides feedback to supervisor in a timely manner to ensure that all annual performance evaluations are completed by the due date.
• Evaluates day-to-day operational performance in relation to department objectives and established standards.
• Discusses and resolves employee relations issues according to established procedure.
• Ensures adequate inventory of supplies and equipment is available and in working order within the department.
• Ensures ongoing compliance with all regulatory standards.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 436-51800-A & 436-51801-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Salary : $87,680