Physical Therapist

Summary

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information - refer to Required Documents below. Incumbent is a licensed Physical Therapist within the Rehab and Extended Care Service Line of the Fargo VA Health Care System. Position is located within the Grand Forks Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) - providing therapy services for Veterans within a Primary Care outpatient setting.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• (a) Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• (b) 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: 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
• (c) 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
• Grade Determinations: GS-11 Physical Therapist (Entry) (a) Education - Experience - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (b) Assignment
• PTs at this level are responsible for providing assessment and treatment intervention
• PTs plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition
• PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required or may serve as the sole PT such as in an outpatient clinic
• Licensed PTs may provide oversight and delegate patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant - and/or delegate non-patient care duties to non-licensed staff
• PTs that are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed PT
• GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level): (a) 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: (b) 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
• (c) Assignment
• At the full performance level - PTs are responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals
• Guided by differential and movement diagnoses - PTs perform 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 personal and environmental factors
• PTs interpret findings from examination - diagnostic studies/medical tests and - during evaluation - select appropriate clinical tests and measures - and then integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations
• PTs establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed
• They determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences for meaningful level of function in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes
• Physical therapists select appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals they treat
• Staff PTs at this level practice autonomously - making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care
• The staff PT may also develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for physical therapy students in facilities with established clinical experience rotations
• PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any/all areas where physical therapy services are deemed necessary - and/or may serve as the sole PT at a less complex facility
• Individuals may perform ancillary assignments as deemed appropriate given the needs of a facility on an occasional basis - where the amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time)
• Preferred Experience: Two years of work experience in an outpatient clinical setting with primary focus on musculoskeletal assessments/treatments - post orthopedic surgery programming - falls/balance programming - BPPV - and chronic pain management
• 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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
  
  

Duties

• VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Major duties include - but are not limited to the following: Serves as an expert and resource for other team members in the coordination and triaging care for Veterans who present primarily with musculoskeletal complaints
• Performs assessments and evaluation - treatment planning - and treatment of patients as well as communicates/coordinates within a multidiscipline team
• Responsible for independently evaluating patients and and establishing and executing treatment plans that include a range of treatment procedures and modalities and education for patients with primary acute/chronic musculoskeletal impairment to the spine and extremities
• Plans home programs and instructs family or other care providers in home exercises and activities
• May infrequently provide provide assessment services in the home or community setting
• Demonstrates correct application of knowledge - skills and abilities associated with current professional physical therapy practice
• Expected to interpret findings from examination and evaluation - select appropriate test and measures - and integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care
• Apply thorough evaluation principles to tease out difficult clinical symptoms to establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate rehabilitation intervention - including referral to another provider for further for further consultation as clinically indicated
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized The incumbent must possess a valid driver's license and will operate gas powered/electric passenger vehicles in order to provide Veteran care in the community
• Will drive in all types of weather and may be subjected to driving in all types of traffic
• Must possess the ability to operate and perform preventative maintenance
• Be able to respond to emergency situations when on the road (traffic accident - damage to property - damage to equipment - injury to self or someone else - vehicle breakdown)
• They must perform operator level maintenance of vehicles that includes - but is not limited to - getting gas - monitoring fluid levels - washing the vehicle - checking tire pressure - interior and exterior lights - and documenting any damage or unusual wear on the vehicle or its components.