Physical Therapist

Full Job Description

The incumbent is a licensed Physical Therapist who is responsible for administering physical therapy programs to adult and geriatric adult patients referred from all areas of the Medical Center, either directly or through the Clinical Director, Rehabilitation Services, or staff Physiatrist.

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.

Education and Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below (copy of transcripts with confer date required with application package): 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. 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.

The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is a non-profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and U.S.

state licensing authorities by evaluating the credentials of Foreign Educated Physical Therapists (FEPTs) who wish to immigrate and work in the U.S.

Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S.

is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction, foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US.

The Credentials Evaluation Standards were developed with input from the physical therapy credentialing agencies that are licensed to use FSBPT's Coursework Tool.

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.

Copy of licensure required with application package Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all title 38 hybrid qualification standards.

Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/registration requirements that apply to this occupation.

All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

For employees who do not meet all of the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure or certification, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all of the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C.

§ 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

GS-12 Grade Determinations: GS11 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 an 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 Therapy 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.

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 identified 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 finding 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.

Preferred Experience: Variety of outpatient experience, with a focus on orthopedic experience but also a mix of neurological, vestibular, and amputee care.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Must be able to lift, push, stoop, squat, kneel, crouch, and reach. Major Duties:

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Duties for this position may include (but are not limited to): Develops, implements and modifies treatment utilizing specialized interventions and strategies.

Consults with referring providers and multidisciplinary team members. Serves as a consultant and resource person for other staff.

Evaluate work of subordinate staff and resolve problems interfering with patient care delivery.

Assist patient in solving problems, determine appropriate equipment, and home set up recommendations for safe discharge planning. Provides appropriate treatment for disabilities.

Assists in the evaluation and treatment of other referred patients.

Solves problems related to contemporary physical therapy, adapting and modifying specialized treatment plans, activities, and procedures to meet the needs of an inpatient/outpatient population, including musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders.

Demonstrates a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment of physical therapy.

Teach patients and family members, and to effectively serve as a consultant for health care providers regarding the delivery of care in Inpatient rehabilitation.

Communicates readily with the multidisciplinary treatment team, advising the team of patient needs and progress, exchanging discharge planning information with them.

Employs unusual motivational techniques to enlist patient participation and adapts equipment and procedures to carry out a full range of complex treatment activities.

Responsible for the care, upkeep, and sanitation of equipment used and may perform the regular duties of a higher-level therapist in his/her absence.

Can perform as a Student Clinical Training Supervisor, which includes planning, scheduling, coordinating, evaluating, and implementing the student affiliation program.

Responsible for student orientation, instruction, and counseling, and acts as a liaison with affiliated colleges and universities, participating with faculty members in evaluation and revision of program and curriculum.

Reviews the objectives and goals of the student's affiliations and plans learning experiences accordingly; incumbent evaluates each student's performance and participates in school/medical center conferences regarding students or curriculum.

Incumbent works independently.

He/she is responsible for the inpatient physical therapy programs and clinics to which he/she is assigned and confers with the supervisor at periodic intervals for the purpose of keeping him/her informed of problem cases, workload, and progress reports.

Performs other necessary duties as required. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-4:30 PM EST Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 55225F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized