Staff Physical Therapist

Full Job Description

The Staff Physical Therapist is assigned to the Physical Therapy Department within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Durham, NC, which is a Complexity Level la facility.

The Staff Therapist is responsible for completing neuromusculoskeletal evaluations and treatments.

They are required to apply evaluation methodologies and treatment theories in the provision of care to a vast array of functional impairments and patients.

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

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; OR (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist; OR (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: Hold a full, current and unrestricted license to practice pharmacy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or 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.

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: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one (1) year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, hold a valid unrestricted state license, and demonstrate all the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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.

Preferred Experience: Licensed Physical Therapist with minimum of one (1) year experience Must have experience in outpatient physical therapy and acute care physical therapy Preferred experience collaborating with interprofessional or multidisciplinary care teams and discharge planning.

Ability to work autonomously Experience clinically supervising PTAs is a plus Reference: Physical Therapist Qualification Standard in VA Handbook 5005, Appendix II-G12.

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over, use of fingers, both hands required, reaching above shoulder, walking (8 hours), standing (8 hours), both legs required (1 prosthetic), far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (Aid permitted), and mental and emotional stability.

Major Duties:

Duties include but are not limited to: Assists Chief, Physical Therapy in planning and developing various treatment programs to meet patient needs, as requested by PM&RS supervisor.

Establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis at the Durham VA Medical Center.

Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of Physical Therapy service.

Assists in the development, planning and implementation of monitors of quality of care with respect to PM&RS as part of the comprehensive health care services delivered to the patients within the Durham VA Medical Center.

Conducts record keeping related to patient care documentation and quality improvement (QI) data collection as specified by the Supervisor, Physical Therapy Department.

Reviews and makes recommendations on supply and equipment acquisition. Responsible for the examination and treatment of patients referred to the Physical Therapy Department.

Assesses patient dysfunction using appropriate tests/tools.

Establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis at the Durham VA Medical Center.

Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of physical therapy care.

Demonstrates the teaching skills required to provide education to patients, family members, caregivers, employees, students, and coworkers.

Communicates effectively with other internal and external health care providers.

Functions autonomously in carrying out patient education, specialized treatments, and applying physical therapy procedures for which competency has been established and in accordance with laws or regulations and APTA documents.

Modifying the treatment plan, therapeutic activities and interventions based on the changing needs, goals and performance of the patient.

Educates other facility personnel in the scope of PM&RS services and programs involving a variety of health care specialties.

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Work Schedule: Sunday - Thursday, 8:30am - 5:00pm Compressed/Flexible: May be authorized at supervisory discretion.

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