Physical Therapy Assistant

Full Job Description

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) provides direct patient care including a variety of interventions, treatment techniques, documentation, and patient/family education in both inpatient outpatient settings.

Works and communicates with multidisciplinary teams like nursing, social work, physicians, and other healthcare staff and provides thorough discharge planning recommendations.

The PTA serves adult and geriatric patients that may have physical, cognitive, or psychiatric conditions.

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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Education: Associate degree from an accredited community college, junior college, college or university in a physical therapy assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; OR Graduate of foreign physical therapy assistant degree programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs; OR Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs.

Licensure: Current, full, active and unrestricted license as a PTA in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia.

Exceptions for Non-Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant: Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements, but who do not possess state licensure, may be appointed, pending licensure, as a graduate PTA on a full-time temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C.

§ 7401(a)(1)(B) and not to exceed two years in accordance with the timeframe in 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B).

Non-licensed individuals shall only provide care under the direct supervision of a licensed PTA or PT who meets all state regulatory requirements.

Non-licensed individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until licensure is obtained.

Temporary appointments of non-licensed PTAs may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment.

Failure to Obtain Licensure: In all cases, non-licensed PTAs must actively pursue meeting requirements for licensure starting from the date of their appointment.

At the time of appointment, the supervisor will provide the non-licensed PTA with the written requirements for licensure, including the time by which the license must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming licensed by the deadline.

Failure to obtain licensure during this time period may result in termination of employment.

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).

Grandfathering Provision: All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series [or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard] on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification.

For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees 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 in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels.

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 this standard.

Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

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

Grade Determinations: GS-5 Experience: No experience beyond the basic requirements listed above.

GS-6 Experience: Applicants must have at least 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5).

-AND- In addition to experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of evidence based physical therapy practice.

Ability to perform physical therapy data collection and use of objective measures in order to carry out patient plan of care.

Ability to modify treatment approaches, within the scope of the established treatment plans, to reflect patients' changing needs.

Skill in promoting physical therapy services by providing training and interventions within the assigned areas.

GS-7 Experience: Applicants must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6).

-AND- In addition to experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to perform in depth chart review to implement treatment plans.

Ability to independently use objective measures to assess progress, in accordance with the plan of care for complex patient cases. Knowledge of contemporary physical therapy practice.

Ability to consult with the PT to assess progress, modify treatment and set discharge plan.

GS-8 Experience: Applicants must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7).

-AND- In addition to experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to independently implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patient's disability and needs.

Ability to independently provide varied and multifaceted physical therapy interventions based on the established care plan (e.g., therapeutic exercise, balance, body mechanics, flexibility, strength, gait training, neuromotor development, physical agents, functional training, etc.).

Knowledge of physical therapy data collection and assessment techniques in order to perform specific interventions and to monitor and capture progress of the patient/client.

Ability to instruct patient on varied interventions to provide materials to enhance compliance with home programs.

Ability to modify treatment techniques based on the learning needs and perceptions of the patient. Ability to identify critical changes (e.g.

vital signs, pain, mobility and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status.

Ability to work with PTs and other interdisciplinary healthcare team members to evaluate patient information for planning, modifying and coordinating treatment programs and discharge planning.

Preferred Experience: Prior experience in inpatient and/or outpatient setting.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-8.

Physical Requirements: May require moderate to heavy lifting involving but not be limited to assisting with transfers or gait training of the client while providing physical therapy.

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. Major Duties:

Major duties to include but not limited to: Plans and implements complex treatment programs including applying physical therapy procedures with simple and complex conditions.

Completes a preliminary review/examination of patient data (including medical history), compiles and organizes pertinent information, and develops/presents a patient profile to be used in assessing patient's status.

Assists with or renders a course of treatment based on the assessed needs and develops progressive types of complex physical therapy treatment programs.

Assists physical therapist in development of comprehensive complex treatment plans that includes long- and short-term goals.

Independently educates veterans and their caregivers by persuading and motivating veterans and family members to participate in treatment plans and comply with indicated regimens and post-discharge activities.

Administers complex active and passive therapeutic exercises and utilizes the full range of modalities including heat, cold, sound, cold laser, electricity, and massage.

Fits, adjusts and instructs patients in use of orthoses, prostheses, and mobility appliances. Prepares and maintains appropriate equipment and supplies required for these treatments.

Manages secure messages for physical therapy department, answering routine questions as appropriate, and forwarding technical questions to the appropriate Physical Therapist.

Modifies intervention environment, tools, materials, and activities in response to each veteran's response to treatment.

Adapts the technical procedures and approaches involving new and unusual treatment and rehabilitation objectives to meet the individual veteran's needs with prior approval of the therapist.

Prepares and presents written and oral reports for the ward physician, physiatrist, nursing staff, fellow therapists and all other professionals concerned with the patient's care.

Participates in family and multidisciplinary healthcare team to identify patient's needs, report on patient's goals and progress, and to assist in planning patient's treatment program.

Maintains a safe work environment to include non-technical maintenance of equipment, safety checks, cleaning, stocking, etc.

Develops safe work habits to prevent injury to patients, co-workers and self. Reports to Physical Therapy supervisor the need for equipment or items necessary for patient treatment.

Maintains a high level of competence through participation in continuing education programs and provides in-service training to staff or formal presentations to the treatment team.

Perform other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Weekdays and Saturdays 7:30am - 4:00pm or 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available at supervisor discretion. Telework: Not Available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.