Summary

This position series consists of practices of physical therapy for the treatment or prevention of physical disability or disease. Physical therapists plan and carry out treatment utilizing therapeutic exercise - massage - and physical agents such as air - water - electricity - sound - and radiant energy. Therapists perform tests and measurements involving manual or electrical means; and interpret results. Therapists also devise adaptations of equipment to meet the specific needs of patients.

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: Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist
• Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist
• Doctorate degree in physical therapy
• Foreign Graduates
• Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State - Territory or Commonwealth of the United States - or in the District of Columbia
• The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is a non-profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and U.S. state licensing authorities by evaluating the credentials of Foreign Educated Physical Therapists (FEPTs) who wish to immigrate and work in the U.S. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction - foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US
• The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is committed to protect the public and to provide leadership within the field and practice of physical therapy
• FSBPT's Foreign Educated Standards Committee has developed standards that represent "best practices" in evaluation services
• The Credentials Evaluation Standards were developed with input from the physical therapy credentialing agencies that are licensed to use FSBPT's Coursework Tool
• 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
• Note: 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
• See Chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• 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)
• Grandfathering Provision
• All licensed PTs 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
• Grade Determinations: GS-11: ???????(a) Education - Experience - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level): (a) Education - Experience and Licensure
• 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: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 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 7 well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs
• Preferred Experience: Outpatient orthopedic/direct access experience preferred Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 11 to 12
• Physical Requirements: Pre-placement and periodic physical evaluation are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their physical - mental and emotional capacities - without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers
• Major physical demands include - but are not limited to: Work includes regular and recurring physical exertion in standing - bending - kneeling
• reaching - gripping and walking
• Moderate to heavy lifting is required to assist patients and operate equipment
• Sitting is required in meeting and for conducting administrative work
• Above average agility may be desirable in defending oneself (or others) against physical attack/abuse
• Work may require good physical health
• normal use of arms and legs and good visual and auditory acuity.

Duties

• Physical Therapy Is a medically based health service administered by a licensed Physical Therapist
• The Physical Therapist utilizes the application of scientific principles for the identification - prevention - remediation and rehabilitation of acute - subacute - and chronic physical dysfunction
• thereby promoting optimal health and function
• Physical therapy's primary focus is on those individuals with neuromuscular - skeletal
• pulmonary and cardiovascular disorders and evaluating the level of function related to these disorders General Duties: Performs appropriate cleansing and re-processing of reusable medical equipment in compliance with VHA directives and SOPs
• Keeps up-to-date with current trends in rehabilitation medicine/therapy through scheduled in-services - library resources
• continuing education courses and hospital training and development workshops scheduled by the facility
• Completes other administrative duties as assigned (work orders
• FSOD
• inforriat10'1 processing - program development
• etc.) for the PM&R Service or Medical Center
• Plans and facilitates treatment programs for patients with complex impairments and providing therapeutic interventions to meet functional goals
• Professionally represents the Service and/or administration on behalf of the Medical Center during off-station events
• committee meetings - contacts with outside agencies - etc
• Attends staff meetings as directed
• Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Available
• Ad-Hoc
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.