The Physical Therapist (PT) serves those patients in any Out-Patient Clinic, Acute Care unit, Geriatric clinics, CLC(Community Living Centers), Home Care Division (HBPC) as patient care requirements dictate at the Northport Health Care System. The Primary Assignment will be in Out-patient 4 days per week and Acute Care 1 weekend day/week. 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. Grade Determinations: 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: 1 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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). References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G12. Physical Requirements: Work requires typical physical requirements of working within a Hospital Facility, Out- Patient Clinic, office, gymnasium or pool in the performance of job responsibilities. Physical exertion such as long periods of standing, or recurring and considerable crouching, bending, standing, stooping, stretching, or walking. Employees frequently carry light items such as books, office supplies, instruments, rehabilitation supplies and other similar materials. Work also includes frequent lifting of moderately heavy items weighing less than 23 kilograms (i.e., under 50 pounds) such as record boxes, equipment needed to perform your job, or assisting in patient and selfcare transfer activities. May have infrequent lifting of over 23 kilo ["The PT is responsible for maintaining communication with the referring providers as well as any team members contributing to the care of their patients. The PT makes autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment. This includes ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services. The incumbent is expected to provide appropriate communication with the veteran and family members as appropriate, communicating with referring providers when needed as well as making appropriate referrals to other providers as situations dictate. The PT will be expected to carry out assignments in an acceptable standard of productivity within national guidelines with the exception of home care assignments, where usual standards of productivity are not applicable due to road travel time requirements. The PT interprets 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. The PT will 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. The incumbent will 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. The PT will 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. Will 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. The incumbent will independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs. Productivity will meet the standards of the profession within VA for similarly grouped hospitals and or CBOC's or Home Care as assigned. Patient medical records are reviewed to assess appropriateness of physical therapy intervention, note any potential risks or contraindications to treatment. Examinations/Evaluations include medical history, results and interpretation of appropriate functional tests and measurements such as: range of motion, muscle strength, sensory/perceptual deficits, coordination, functional mobility, pain scales, and social needs. Utilizes assistance from any support personnel ie Aids/Therapy Assistants, VI/IT and Volunteer staff in appropriate manner for their skill level and job responsibilities. Assists the Supervisor in identifying any needed training PTA' or any other support personnel may need. Modifies treatment plan according to patient response to best meet established goals. Documents treatment progression and/or modifications according to Departmental and Medical Center standards. Recognizes adverse reaction to treatment and initiates effective action immediately. Demonstrates a full professional understanding of the theories or treatment of physical therapy and their proper application through. Serves as a resource to other, less experienced therapists. Ensures appropriate patient referrals and discharge planning in concert with the Physical Therapy and Medical Center staff. Takes initiative in discharge planning for timely and appropriate discontinuation of physical therapy. Considers the patient' post discharge program in relation to VAMC and/or community resources. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full time including one weekend day- Hours will be 8:00am- 4:30pm Financial Discloser Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
