Physical Therapist

Full Job Description

The Primary Purpose of the Position is: PTs are responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals.

As licensed physical therapists embrace evidenced based practice standards in diagnosis, examination, management, intervention, treatment, and outcome measurement.

Position includes services to the outpatient and home environment of the Outpatient population. 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 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. 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.

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).

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 7 well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs. 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).

Continued in Additional Information. Major Duties:

Duties include but are not limited to: Patient Care - Veterans are scheduled for evaluation considering caseload complexity and acuity of medical condition.

Cooperates with interdisciplinary team and specialty services to meet the needs of unusual and complex cases.

- Guided by differential diagnosis screens for systemic diseases and medical conditions that can mimic neuromuscular and musculoskeletal problems.

Reviews past medical history, risk factor assessment, clinical presentation, associated signs and symptoms, and review of bodily systems.

- Perform examinations and evaluations of adult and geriatric individuals with acute and chronic injuries, 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.

- Review medical records to interpret findings from examination, diagnostic studies and/or medical tests; selects appropriate clinical tests and measures and integrates findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations, using relevant evidence based data and norms.

Treatment Implementation: - Evaluation findings are used to develop and implement comprehensive patient treatment plans including objective, measurable goals, timeliness for completion.

These goals are developed in collaboration with the patient, family and/or stakeholder input.

- Identifies adverse reactions and modifies treatment plan according to patient response to treatment and towards meeting established goals.

Documents treatment progression and/or modifications accordingly.

- Demonstrates a full professional understanding of selective therapeutic techniques and modalities related to the patient population being treated.

May serve as a resource to other, less experience therapist. - Develops Home Programs for patients as indicated at discharge.

Instructs significant others in ways to assist patients to carry out home program and in the use of equipment and assistive devices issued.

- Provides the equipment, materials, instruction, encouragement, or counseling necessary to promote functional mobility and activities performance.

Assesses, selects, adapts, and/or fits assistive and adaptive devices in accordance with rehabilitation goals.

Administrative functions include: - Assist to receive and triage patient referrals/consults, patient self-referrals and adheres to consult compliance established guidelines and is knowledgeable of admission criteria for each program (inpatient/outpatient) for appropriate continuum of care placement.

- Manages and coordinates schedules and programs determined by patient caseload.

- Adapts schedules to meet unscheduled treatments when situation arises, to include alternative of care to and from face to face, CVT, Telephone, other.- Understand and adheres to department and facility procedures.

Education and Research - Identifies learning activities for self and others.

Participates and contributes to the advancements of knowledge and techniques related to outpatient management and physical therapy via in-services, mentorship projects.

Conducts in-services for interdisciplinary team and other rehabilitation programs.

- Maintains current concepts and trends in Physical Therapy and evidence based medicine/rehabilitation practices through literature reviews, study of current research, clinical practice, and through attendance to continuing education courses, conferences and in services.

- Student supervision: has a responsibility to the profession and VANTHCS to assist with the instruction of physical therapy (PT) and physical therapy assistant (PTA) students.

Serves as Clinical Instructor for PT and PTA students as assigned. The staff PT may develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for physical therapy students.

Participates in facility and/or service education projects. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 53253-F;54693-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized