Physical Therapist

Summary

This position is located in the James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The James J Peters VAMC is a tertiary care facility classified as a Clinical Referral Level I Facility. It is a teaching hospital - providing a full range of patient care services - with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research.

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

A

Citizenship

Candidates must be a citizen of the United States

After a determination is made that it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens - necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States

Candidates must meet all other requirements for the grade and position concerned

B

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

(4) 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

C

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

D

Loss of Credential

A PT who fails to maintain the required license must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment

At the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation - if qualified - and if a placement opportunity exists

F

Physical Requirements

Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations 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

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

G

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

H

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

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 REQUIREMENTS: A

Creditable Experience (1) Knowledge of Contemporary Professional Physical Therapy Practice

To be creditable - a candidate must have demonstrated possession of the required knowledge - skills - and abilities associated with the scope of physical therapy practice

The candidate's experience may be evidenced by one or more of the following: (a) Active professional practice

Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional PT as defined by APTA or the appropriate licensing board

Experience gained after graduation but prior to licensure is creditable provided the candidate was utilized as a graduate PT and subsequently passed the licensure examination

(b) Completion of a post-graduate fellowship or a post-graduate residency program may be substituted for creditable experience on a year for year basis

(2) Quality of Experience

Experience is only creditable if it was post degree experience as a professional PT and is directly related to the duties to be performed

Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding the professional PT experience at the next lower grade level

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 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

Preferred Experience: Experience evaluating and treating inpatients with a variety of orthopedic - neurological - vascular and musculoskeletal diagnoses

Two to three years of experience preferred

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

Duties

The Physical Therapist (PT) is a licensed professional responsible for providing comprehensive physical therapy services for patients with a broad variety of disabilities while demonstrating knowledge of current professional physical therapy practices and skills based on American Physical Therapy Association expectations

The Physical Therapist in this high level complexity facility provides assessment and treatment interventions for inpatients and outpatients with functional impairments resulting from a wide variety of diagnoses including but not limited to the following: Arthritis - Cerebrovascular Accident - Parkinson's Disease - Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - Multiple Sclerosis - Above and Below Knee Amputations - Joint Replacement - Fractures - Diabetes Mellitus with and without neuropathy - Spinal Cord Injury - Cancer - Cardiopulmonary pathology - Schizophrenia - Psychosis - Bipolar Disorder - Alzheimer's disease - Dementia - End Stage Renal Disease - etc

-Candidates must be licensed for assignment at this grade level and are considered to be at the full performance level

The physical therapist at this level is responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals

-The physical therapist - guided by differential and movement diagnoses - performs 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

The physical therapist interprets findings from examination - diagnostic studies/medical tests and selects appropriate clinical tests and measures - and integrates findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations - including selecting appropriate equipment

The physical therapist establishes a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identifies the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed

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

-The physical therapist practices autonomously - making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care

-The physical therapist may be assigned to all program areas which are covered by Rehabilitation Services and provide professional - independent physical therapy services in the assigned area

-The physical therapist follows established protocols - ethical standards - and guidelines for the physical therapy program and the profession

He/she demonstrates discretion - adaptability - flexibility - initiative - and sound professional judgment based on current work experience

ensures timely and effective implementation of professional physical therapy services

-The physical therapist answers patient's questions or issues regarding their physical therapy services - and refers concerns to Clinical Supervisor as appropriate

-The physical therapist may perform ancillary assignments on an occasional basis where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time)

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Work Schedule: Monday to Friday 8am to 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #: 14219-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized