Physical Therapist

Summary

Tennessee Valley Healthcare Service (TVHS) is a tertiary integrated healthcare system comprised of two hospitals, the Alvin C. York in Murfreesboro, TN, and the Nashville campus, and 19 community-based outpatient clinics located in Tennessee and Kentucky. The Physical Therapist evaluates and plans treatment program on an individual basis for patients referred with levels of function ranging from simple to the most complex.

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Duties

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VA Careers - Physical Therapy :

Major Duties include but are not limited to:

• Evaluates, plans treatment program on an individual basis for patients referred with levels of function ranging from simple to the most complex.
• Utilizes standard and non-standard methods, based on contemporary and evidenced based physical therapy (PT) practice, particularly as related to orthopedic/neurologic patients.
• Established treatment procedures are not always applicable and, at times, must be substantially adapted and applied with critical concern for patients who are acutely ill, or who have a combination of severe mental or physical disabilities with secondary complications.
• Treatment plans require frequent modification in response to subtle but significant changes in the condition of the patient.
• The employment of unusual and innovative treatment techniques is often necessary to obtain the best medical/surgical outcome.
• Flexibility of schedule must be maintained to allow for unscheduled patients and for mentoring and consultation.
• Evaluations include a medical history and results and interpretation of the appropriate tests and measurements performed. Tests are frequently complex and may need to be adapted because of multiple physical and emotional disabilities or present orthopedic/neurologic conditions.
• Assesses patient's learning needs, and plans and implements appropriate patient education programs, involving the patient, family, and significant others in the instructional process.
• Provides instruction to patient and family as appropriate to their roles and level of understanding.
• Exercises originality in solving problems not covered by these guides, making innovative adaptations and modifications of treatment plans and procedures in order to meet the varying needs of patients.
• Responsible for the care, upkeep, and sanitation of equipment used.

Work Schedule : Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM-4:00 PM

Telework : Ad-Hoc as determined by the agency policy.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 71585-F

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/or Experience. The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
  • Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR
  • Master's Degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR
  • Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy. OR
  • Foreign Graduates - Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

PLEASE NOTE : Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university.

• Licensure - You must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, 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.

GS-12 Grade Determinations :

Experience and Licensure :In addition to the basic requirements listed above, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level and hold a valid unrestricted state license.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA):

• 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.

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).

Preferred Experience: Experience in outpatient physical therapy setting treating musculoskeletal and neurologic conditions

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Sitting, standing, light lifting (up to 20 lbs.)

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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