Physical Therapist

Full Job Description

This position is located in a Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Linwood, NJ, which is a part of the VA Medical Center in Wilmington, DE.

The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the CBOC including all clinical and patient care areas involved with the service, but the incumbent may also be called upon to help in the physical therapy clinic at the Cape May clinic up to 1-2 days/week.

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: 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: You must meet at least one of the requirements below NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university.

Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.

OR Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR Doctorate degree in physical therapy.

Licensure: Individuals must 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.

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 Physical Therapist (Entry) None beyond the basic requirements. Physical Therapist 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 nonpatient 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) 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: 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.

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).

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).

Major Duties:

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY he staff physical therapist is an independent health care professional who is responsible for evaluating referred patients and establishing and executing treatment plans that include a full range of treatment procedures and modalities.

These treatment plans are designed to restore individual patients to their highest possible functional level and to enhance their adaptive capacities through the use of physical measures, activities, prostheses or assistive devices.

The staff physical therapist also assists in the growth and development of the department and the profession through participation in educational activities, quality improvement initiatives, and programs as assigned.

Duties includes but are not limited to: Make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment.

This includes ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services.

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.

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.

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.

Consultation with more experienced therapists on very complex patients is expected and appropriate.

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.

Ensures appropriate patient referrals and discharge planning in concert with the Physical Therapy and Medical Center staff.

Independently develops and implements PT treatment programs including modifying programs as necessitated by changes in the patient's medical condition Develops treatment programs for physical therapy assistants for appropriate patients, and oversees their treatments Participates as the PT representative on interdisciplinary team Completes home evaluations as indicated to maintain safety and independence in the home setting Supervises clinical operations as developed treatment plans are carried out by on the job trained PTAs and progression level physical therapy interns.

Works in areas as assigned based on patient need (inpatient vs outpatient vs embedding in primary care or ED clinic Main Wilmington facility vs CBOC based on needs of the facility).

Works with vendors in attaining needed bracing and equipment to maximize functional outcomes. Provides orientation/training to medical staff to the physical therapy program.

Provides or assists in clinical training and supervision to physical therapy/physical therapist assistant students.

Assists other staff members in identifying needs and designing and implementing programs for assigned services as needed.

Keeps current of principles and techniques of physical therapy assessment and interventions through professional literature, in-service programs and continuing education.

Participates in developing guidelines/protocols in treatment of various diagnoses and in developing new patient programs and evaluating existing programs.

Maintains patient records and submits other data (i.e. FIM, billing/coding, MDS) as required by section, service and medical center.

Submits requests for expendable supplies, additional equipment and maintenance items to the rehab supervisor. Ensures proper supply inventory levels are maintained for efficient clinical operations.

May be requested to serve on service level committee or as a PM&RS Representative on a medical center committee. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8am to 4:30pm. Telework: Not Available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.