Physical Therapy Assistant

Summary

The Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) is assigned to the Physical Therapy Department within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the VA Southern Oregon Rehabilitation Center & Clinics (SORCC). The primary function of the PTA in this position is direct patient care to a medically complex and diverse population in the outpatient setting.

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Duties

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Duties include but not limited to:

• Responsible for the provision of direct treatment of patients under the direction of a licensed Physical Therapist.
• Demonstrate knowledge of anatomy, physiology, physics, kinesiology, psychology, pathophysiology, and surgical procedures as they relate to human function.
• Possess knowledge relative to the impact of aging on the cardiopulmonary, visual, auditory, sensory, perceptual, and musculoskeletal systems.
• Assesses the need for and the patient's ability to use assistive devices and adaptive equipment. If appropriate, issues it to patients, and trains them in the proper use of the device(s).
• Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of physical therapy care.
• Functions autonomously in carrying out patient education, treatments, and applying physical therapy procedures for which competency has been established and in accordance with state laws or local facility regulations and APTA documents.
• Adept at modifying the treatment plan, therapeutic activities and interventions based on the changing needs, goals, and performance of the patient.
• Alerts the Physical Therapist overseeing the care of the patient when modifications are needed to the treatment plan when either the established goals or timeframes for achievement of those goals has been attained.
• Demonstrates the teaching skills required to provide education to patients, family members, caregivers, students, and other healthcare professionals.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, with patients, family members, caregivers, students, and other healthcare professionals.
• Able to effectively communicate with health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis at the William S. Middleton VAH.
• Performs competent written documentation of progress notes.
• Participates in interdisciplinary care planning conferences, prn.
• Performs competent documentation in CPRS of progress notes and discharge summaries.
• Documentation is consistent with Joint Commission and local hospital/ PM&R Service requirements regarding content and timeliness.
• Enters consults to the Prosthetics service for rehabilitation equipment in accordance with PM&RS and local medical center policies.
• Actively supports and promotes all programs of PM&RS.
• Performs other tasks that are consistent with the mission of PM&RS and the Medical Center.

Work Schedule : Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:30 pm

Compressed/Flexible :May be available

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

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov

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: Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below:
• (1) [ ] 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
• (2) [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
• (3) 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in both spoken and written 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 :

Physical Therapy Assistant, GS-05

Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.

Physical Therapy Assistant, GS-6

Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. You must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(a) Knowledge of evidence based physical therapy practice.

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

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

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

Physical Therapy Assistant, GS-7

Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. You must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(a) Ability to perform in depth chart review to implement treatment plans.

(b) Ability to independently use objective measures to assess progress, in accordance with the plan of care for complex patient cases.

(c) Knowledge of contemporary physical therapy practice.

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

Physical Therapy Assistant, GS-8

Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. You must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(a) Ability to independently implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patient's disability and needs.

(b) 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.).

(c) 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.

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

(e) Ability to modify treatment techniques based on the learning needs and perceptions of the patient.

(f) Ability to identify critical changes (e.g. vital signs, pain, mobility and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status.

(g) 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: Experience in orthopedics and geriatrics.

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

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.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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.