Physical Therapist (Home-Based Primary Care) - EDRP Approved

Full Job Description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application.

Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. This vacancy will remain open until filled. The first cut-off date is 2/20/2026. Additional applications will be referred as needed.

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.

HPTs who are on track to graduate/complete the requirements should respond as if they have met the requirements. Provide details in the narrative sections of the assessment.

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. Physical Requirements.

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

Preferred Experience: See Additional Information Section. Grade Determinations: GS-11 Physical Therapist (Entry) Education, Experience, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. 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)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: 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).

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.

Reference can be found at the VA Qualification Repository, VA Qualifications Standards - Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) GS-0633, Physical Therapist VA Qualification Standard dated February 7, 2018.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 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: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work.

Work may also require walking/standing/bending/pushing/pulling, in conjunctions with the normal functions of a Physical Therapist. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

Major Duties:

Provides in-home physical therapy assessments, and the planning, and administration and management of rehabilitation in the home for patients of the George H.

O'Brien VA Medical Center Home Based Primary Care Program (HBPC). Provides these in-home services to patients with a wide variety of multiple, complex chronic illnesses and/or profound disabilities.

Travel by government vehicle to a patient's place of residence in and around the West Texas area. Valid state driver's license required.

FUNCTIONS: - Assess the living skills, physical abilities, and needs for each patient referred for in-home assessment.

- Develop a treatment plan directed toward achieving maximum level of functioning within the home, consulting with other disciplines as indicated, and developing the plan of care in collaboration with the patient and caregiver.

- Provides direct patient care; procuring necessary equipment/adaptive devices; instructing and training the client and caregiver concerning exercises, activities of daily living, rehabilitation techniques, and equipment/adaptive devices; Recommends community referrals.

- Reassess patients' levels of functioning and home environment, revises treatment plan as indicated and terminates treatment objectives when met and/or the patient has achieved maximum benefit from therapy.

- Evaluate the need for additional services and use professional judgment to initiate consultation with other professionals to provide such services.

- Evaluate the home for structural or positional changes in order to promote the patient's safety and independence. - Serve as content expert in ordering complex and specialized medical equipment.

- Directly treat patients for limited duration or frequency utilizing techniques as deemed appropriate to the patient and setting.

- Document initial assessments, treatment plans/goals, and response to treatment as determined in subsequent patient home visits, telephone calls, and case management work, according to licensure and Joint Commission standards.

- Inspect and test in-home equipment for good operating condition.

- Participate in HBPC interdisciplinary team conferences in person whenever possible and by phone Otherwise - Consults with other health professionals in the evaluation of patients with multiple and complex problems in the home, for which highly specialized knowledge and skills are required.

- Develops educational materials for the patient and/or caregiver of the veteran as indicated by the PT assessment and Joint Commission Home Care standards.

- Participate in peer competency and documentation evaluations of other HBPC PT's, including collaboratively determining appropriate educational needs to update competence.

- Develop and maintain population specific competencies related to home bound patients.

- Assist in orienting, training, or supervising, as indicated, professional PT students, other disciplines, and students of the HBPC team, and volunteers.

- Provide HBPC with in-services as indicated regarding new developments in PT or Other topics as appropriate.

- Manages clinical workflow and needs as well as patient care needs to provide high quality patient care.

- Works with the interdisciplinary team and communicates team needs to address patient needs and complete projects.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm EDRP Authorized: Contact vhaedrpprogramsupport@va.gov the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).

Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.

Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.

Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.

Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: Staff Physical Therapist (HBPC) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required