Physical Therapist

Summary

The GS-12 physical therapist is assigned to provide professional, physical therapy services to any/all program areas that are covered by Rehabilitation Services including acute care, rehabilitation, neurology, oncology, geriatrics, long term care, home care and outpatient settings.

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Duties

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VA Careers - Physical Therapy :

Major Duties:

• Performs complex physical therapy evaluation and treatment for male and female patients aged 18-85+ years old.
• Involves the patient, family/significant other and medical team in treatment planning and goal setting through ongoing communication.
• Plans and carries out the full range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities where therapeutic objectives are complex and procedures involved require the application of specialized skills and knowledge.
• Adapts and applies treatment procedures with critical concern for patients who are acutely ill, or who have a combination of severe mental/emotional or physical disabilities.
• Treatment will be provided on the ward, in the facility and in the community as appropriate for the patient's needs.
• Demonstrates ability to recognize and professionally and appropriately respond to clinic red and yellow flags at all levels of care - outpatient, inpatient, acute care, home setting.
• Demonstrates independent problem solving skills that allow for frequent modification of treatment plans in response to subtle, but significant changes in the condition of the patient.
• Critical assessment of treatment outcomes will be regularly performed.
• Assesses for and requests prosthetic/orthotic equipment as needed and makes modifications as necessary.
• Makes recommendations and referral to other medical specialties/services as needs are identified during ongoing assessment of this complex patient population.
• Assists in the scheduling of patients according to the physical therapy treatment plan while coordinating with the treatment plans of other disciplines within the team and facility.
• Maintains a flexibility of schedule to allow for unscheduled patients, patient/team consultation and mentoring.
• Maintains consistent and timely documentation of patient encounters in the electronic medical record in accordance with accepted PT practice, facility and Rehabilitation Service policies and procedures.
• Participates in regular team meetings, verbal and written communication and consultation amongst team members in order to guide and evaluate the work of the multi-disciplinary program.
• Collaborates with the team develop a cohesive treatment plan for this complex patient population.
• Assists in the care of patients other than those of the specialized area, or as the needs of the department dictate. Maintains a workload consistent with the standards established by the Physical Therapy Section and the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service.
• Responsible for over-seeing the day-to-day operation of the physical therapy clinic area to which assigned.
• Managing and triaging clinic consults as they are received; addressing minor, routine problems.
• Arranges schedule to allow adequate time to manage patient care at the nationally indicated productive standard, documentation, administrative tasks, statistics, and patient care conferences.
• Corresponds with patients and families in person, over the phone, through telehealth and/or through MyHealthyVet in a professional, timely, and courteous manner.
• Participates in ECSL/PMR and PT meetings.
• Compiles and submits statistical data, reports and quality assurance findings to document program effectiveness, caseload, attendance, productivity as assigned by supervisor or department.
• Assists in the maintenance of the clinic and exhibits good safety practices following proper safety policies and procedures per VA, Joint Commission, CARF, OSHA, etc. for infection control, equipment etc.
• Participates in quality assurance projects and completes reports as required on patient treatment.
• Participates in physical therapy peer review and chart audit process as directed by supervisor and/or program manager.
• Information, reports, and workload data are completed and submitted on request and as needed.
• Participates in or coordinates program development for special programs within the physical therapy department.
• Aware of safety concerns, regulations, policies and procedures, and employs appropriate safety practices.
• Develops and provides individualized clinical training experience for physical therapy students.
• Shares knowledge and expertise about the scope of physical therapy practice and services.
• Attends PM&R section in-services as well as hospital-wide in-services. Attends and completes mandatory in-service training as required by VA, PM&R, and PT policies. Provides necessary guidance, direction, and supervision to physical therapy health technicians, co-op students, volunteers, and/or CWT workers assigned to the PM&R clinic.
• Additional duties as needed

Work Schedule : MF 8:00-1630, rotating weekends, holidays

Telework : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : PD000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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.
• 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.

• 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. 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.
• 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 :

GS-11 - None beyond the basic requirements

GS-12 - 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.

Preferred Experience: Strong outpatient skills, able to work independently as sole clinician in a

primary care clinic.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-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:

1. 1. Work includes regular and recurring physical exertion in standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, gripping, and walking.
   2. Moderate to heavy lifting is required to assist patients and to operate equipment.
   3. Sitting is required in meetings and for conducting administrative work.
   4. Above average agility may be desirable in defending oneself (or others) against physical attack/abuse.
   5. Work may require physical stamina, normal use of arms and legs, and good visual and auditory acuity.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.