Physical Therapist

Summary

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service - Clinical Video TeleRehab Program - Dallas - Bonham and Fort Worth campuses of the VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS) - Dallas - TX. This vacancy will remain open until filled. The first cut-off date is 06/18/2026. Additional applications will be referred as needed.

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. *HPTs who are on track to graduate/complete the requirements should respond as if they have met the requirements. Provide details in the narrative sections of the assessment.

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

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

Education and experience

The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist

(2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist

(3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy

NOTE: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PT's was either a bachelors or master's degree

In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate - master's - and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs

Effective 2002 - CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in post-baccalaureate degrees(eliminating the baccalaureate degree)

Effective 2015 - professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students

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

Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at www.apta.org

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

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-11: Education - Experience - and Licensure

None beyond the basic requirements

Assignment: PTs at this level are responsible for providing assessment and treatment intervention

PTs plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition

PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required or may serve as the sole PT such as in an outpatient clinic

Licensed PTs may provide oversight and delegate patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant - and/or delegate non-patient care duties to non-licensed staff

PTs that are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed PT

GS-12: 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: Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 1

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.2

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.3

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.4

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.5

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

6

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

Assignment: At the full performance level - PTs are responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals

Guided by differential and movement diagnoses - PTs perform 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 personal and environmental factors

PTs interpret findings from examination - diagnostic studies/medical tests and - during evaluation - select appropriate clinical tests and measures - and then integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations

PTs establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed

Preferred Experience: Experience performing comprehensive evaluations and assessment via telehealth platforms

Experience in clinical video telehealth - traumatic brain injuries - polytrauma - and amputee settings

Experience - skills and knowledge in the application of therapeutic techniques targeting an outpatient population (ortho - vision - neuro - pain management - pre/post-surgical care - upper extremity disorders - cognitive and mental health disorders - etc.)

Experience interpreting findings from examination - diagnostic studies and/or medical tests

selecting appropriate clinical tests and measures - including relevant evidence-based data and norms

Experience supervising physical therapy assistants and students

2 years of experience in rehab setting of Outpatient/Inpatients

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

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-11 to GS-12.

Duties

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Duties are but not limited to: GS 11/12: Clinical Functions: Patient Care Performs patient evaluations - the physical therapists: Veterans are scheduled for evaluation considering caseload complexity and acuity of medical condition

Coordinates Veteran schedule with other interdisciplinary team members

Guided by differential (screen for systemic diseases and medical conditions that can mimic neuromuscular and musculoskeletal problems) and movement (examine and evaluate the movement system -including diagnosis and prognosis- to provide a customized and integrated plan of care to achieve the individual's goal-directed outcomes) diagnoses

Perform 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 personal and environmental factors

Review of medical records to interpret findings from examination - diagnostic studies and/or medical tests

During evaluation select appropriate clinical tests and measures

then integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations - using relevant evidence-based data and norms

Establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed

Determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences for meaningful level of function in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes

Select appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals they treat

Therapist has knowledge - experience and skill in the prescription - fitting - and training in the use of specialty equipment utilized by this patient population

This includes assistive technology - mobility devices for gait and wheeled mobility - lifts and lift systems - devices for activities of daily living and other orthotics/prosthetic devices

Treatment Implementation: Evaluation findings are used to develop and implement comprehensive patient treatment plans including objective - measurable goals - timeliness for completion

These goals are developed in collaboration with the patient - family and/or stakeholder input

Modifies treatment plan according to patient response to treatment and towards meeting established goals

Documents treatment progression and/or modifications accordingly

Demonstrates a full professional understanding of selective therapeutic techniques and modalities related to the patient population being treated

May serve as a resource to other - less experience therapists

Has knowledge in the latest Telehealth technology available at VANTHCS including Telehealth consults - cameras - applications - iPads - tablets - potential and other related technology available

Develops Home Programs for patients as indicated at discharge

Instructs significant others in ways to assist patients to carry out home program and in the use of equipment and assistive devices issued

Administrative functions include: Assist to receive and triage patient referrals/consults - patient self-referrals and adheres to consult compliance established guidelines and is knowledgeable of CVT services provided by PM&RS for appropriate veteran continuum of care

Manages and coordinates schedules and programs determined by patient caseload

Adapts schedules to meet unscheduled treatments when situation arises

Understand and adheres to department and facility procedures

Identifies - collects and analyzes appropriate patient care information to provide a data base to develop performance evaluation system(s) and Process Improvement projects related to the clinical setting

Participates in Process Improvement activities related to CVT (e.g

Cultural Transformation - Patient Centered Care - etc.) - PM&R and VANTHCS

Participates in update of evaluation forms and protocols to adequately meet the requirements of the program and types of patients in the assigned clinical program

Delegates tasks/procedures to the appropriate support personnel to facilitate effective and efficient patient care

Assists in ordering adequate supplies and maintaining inventory for assigned CBOC and clinic(s)

Reports all safety hazards and faulty equipment to the Supervisor Program Manager

Reports all faulty PM&RS CVT equipment to the ADPAC and Supervisor Program Manager

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8am- 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #: 54415-F - 54414-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized