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Summary The Physical Therapist is assigned to the Ambulatory Care Service (ACS), CARA Pain Management Team, or CARA PMT at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center. The incumbent is assigned to provide professional services to any/all program areas that are covered by ACS including acute care, long term care, and outpatient settings under the supervision of the Section Chief for the CARA Pain Team or a designee of the Section Chief. Responsibilities Provides individualized progressive treatment for patients with complex disabilities. Uses standard and non-standard methods for evaluating complex cases to identify problems and baseline levels of function. Utilize appropriate screening and evaluation techniques required to appropriately provide direct patient care. Make appropriate referrals for further medical attention/assessment as indicated. Interpret clinician prescriptions and referrals. Develops appropriate treatment plans and goals. Performs complex treatment. Modify treatment according to the patient's changing medical condition. Measures, fits and instructs patients for the use of complex adaptive equipment and assistive devices. Communicates both orally and in writing, with patients, families, caregivers, and other health care professions to facilitate the multidisciplinary treatment process. Communicates appropriate to the age of patients served in the work area. Communicates appropriately to aging patients (potential for diminished hearing, vision, and mental acuity) and is able to compensate for these changes when appropriate to insure that effective communication has occurred. Provide physical assistance to aging patients, considering potential difficulties with balance and ambulation and the increased possibility of damage or injury to skin and bones. Communicates readily with multidisciplinary treatment team advising the team of patient's needs and progress, exchanging discharge planning information with them. Responsible for the care, upkeep and sanitation of equipment used. Perform physical examination and formulate a treatment plan to improve a patient's function. Performs other tasks as assigned by the Section Chief or Section Chief designee, for CARA Pain Team, that are consistent with the mission of ACS and the Medical Center. Attends seminars, workshops, lectures, and In-service meetings, especially in the specialty field. Maintains continuing education credits as necessary to maintain licensure/certification. Conducts in-service programs for the CARA Pain Section and other disciplines and shares knowledge of new or improved techniques with staff. Acts as a clinical supervisor and preceptor for physical therapy and physical therapy assistant students to fulfill their educational and professional requirements. Ensures proper supply levels are maintained for patient treatment. Maintains and submits in a timely manner statistics and other required reports. Understands and adheres to policies and procedures in the section manual. Works independently, and is responsible for the physical therapy program and clinics to which he/she is assigned and confers with the Therapy Supervisor at periodic intervals for the purpose of keeping him/her informed of problem cases, workload, and progress reports, Completes notes within required time frames per service-specific policies. The Registered Physical Therapist provides supervision for a Certified (and grand fathered) Physical Therapy Assistant in a collaborative manner as defined by official APTA documents and in accordance with laws or regulations. Establish and maintain a productive workplace that evidence employees' involvement, contribution, and teamwork in an atmosphere of respect and consideration of everyone. Demonstrate support of the achievement of affirmative employment goals and improve understanding among employees. Supervises the clinical training experiences of technical and professional level occupation level interns to fulfill educational and professional requirements. Supervises all interns from affiliated universities. Develops a systematic program designed to assist the student in meeting internship goals. Reviews, analyses, and evaluates students' performance in all spectrums of internship (reports, academic integrity, lateness, absenteeism, following policies and procedures of facility, etc.). Assures effectiveness on professional levels of internship programs. Reviews, analyses, and evaluates interns' ability to complete a qualitative internship in a professional manner as an assistant therapist and management of a CARA Pain Section. Completes mid-term and final evaluation of student's internship and appropriately grades students by standards set by APTA on completion of internship. Meet the needs of all customers while supporting the Medical Center and Service missions. Communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. Provides the customers with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. 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. NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university. The CAPTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit entry-level physical therapy programs. 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-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level) 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 all the KSAs below: 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 well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs. Preferred Experience: VA experience preferred Ambulatory care and acute care experience preferred Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This works involves standing and walking for about 70-80% of a normal workday. In addition, the physical therapist must be able to squat, kneel, push, and pull, and lift loads from the ground and from above shoulder height. The physical demand level as defined by the Department of Labor is 'Medium' requiring the occasional lifting of 20-50 lbs., the frequent lifting of 10-25 lbs., and the constant lifting of 10 lbs. during the normal workday. Physical therapy requires manual dexterity and coordination to use modalities such as ultrasound and TENS units, and to demonstrate the use of mobility equipment such as walkers and wheelchairs. In addition, physical therapists must be able to modify such equipment using tools. 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.