Physical Therapist

Located in the Physical Therapy Department, VA Augusta Health Care System, this position serves as a Staff Physical Therapist primarily in Acute Care, with assignment to other areas as needed. The incumbent provides advanced, independent evaluation and treatment of acutely ill, medically complex Veterans, applying specialized clinical skills to promote safe mobility and recovery. 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: Transcripts (official or unofficial) must be included with all application packets. Individuals must have successfully completed a bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR; A master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR; A doctorate degree in physical therapy. Note : A degree program in physical therapy is required to be from an approved college or university approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). License: All applicants must be licensed to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. (1) Exception based on Grandfathering Provision: All licensed Physical Therapists employed in VHA 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 that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. 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: (a) Employees grandfathered into the GS-0633 occupational series as Physical Therapists may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation. (b) Physical Therapists who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this 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. (c) Physical Therapists initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard and must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (d) If Physical Therapists who are grandfathered under this provision leave the 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. (2) Loss of Certification. A Physical Therapist who fails to maintain the required license must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation, if qualified, and if a placement opportunity exists. Grade Determination: Physical Therapist, GS-0633-11 Experience: None beyond the Basic Requirements. Assignments: Physical Therapists at the GS-11 grade level perform duties at the entry level. Assignments at this level include, but are not limited to:- Performing physical therapy examinations and evaluations under general supervision;- Developing treatment plans and implementing a variety of therapeutic interventions;- Modifying treatment plans based on patient response or changes in medical condition;- Providing general physical therapy services in any program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required;- Participating in interdisciplinary team care discussions;- Completing timely and accurate clinical documentation;- Educating patients, families, and caregivers on home exercise programs and rehabilitation expectations. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the Basic Requirements, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs: a. Ability to perform physical therapy examinations and evaluations of patients across a broad spectrum of conditions. b. Knowledge of evidence-based physical therapy interventions and ability to implement treatment plans under general supervision. c. Ability to modify treatment plans based on the patient's clinical presentation and response. d. Skill in communicating effectively with patients, caregivers, and members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. e. Ability to document physical therapy services in accordance with professional standards and facility requirements. f. Ability to provide patient and caregiver education to support treatment goals and functional improvement. Grade Determination: Physical Therapist, GS-0633-12 Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Physical Therapy field. Qualifying GS-11 grade level experience includes, but is not limited to: providing assessment and treatment intervention, planning and modifying treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition, general assignments in any physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required, serving as the sole Physical Therapist such as in an outpatient clinic, providing oversight and delegating patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant, and/or delegating non-patient care duties to non-licensed staff AND; Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: (a) 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. (b) 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. (c) 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. (d) 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. (e) 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. (f) Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as 7 well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs 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). 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-12 Physical Requirements See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. #J-18808-Ljbffr