Physical Therapist

Summary

The Physical Therapist is assigned to the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service and serves those patients as dictated by the New York Harbor Health Care System. The staff Physical Therapist utilizes the application of goal oriented - purposeful activity in the assessment and treatment of individuals whose function is impaired by physical illness or injury - psychiatric and/or emotional disorder - congenital or developmental learning disabilities or the aging process.

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

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

Duties

Duties include - but are not limited to the following: Clinical Duties: - An incumbent is a licensed physical therapist who can perform at minimum all duties at the full performance level

He/she is responsible for administering physical therapy programs for Veterans

- Incumbent provides evaluation and treatment in a timely fashion

chart review will allow the incumbent an opportunity to assess the appropriateness of the referral and possible contraindications for treatment

- Incumbent's evaluation includes 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 disabilities or present medical condition

- Incumbent utilizes evaluation data to implement comprehensive Veteran treatment plans - involving the Veteran in a goal-setting process - if feasible

Follows established protocols - ethics and guidelines of the Physical Therapy Section and the profession

- Incumbent plans

and carries out the full range of treatment where therapeutic objectives are complex and procedures involved require the application of highly specialized skills and knowledge

Incumbent modifies treatment plan according to evaluative findings on an ongoing basis to meet established goals

He/she recognizes even subtle responses or adverse reactions to treatment - initiates effective action immediately - and advises other health care team members as indicated

- Incumbents must coordinate and employ several treatment approaches simultaneously to accomplish complex treatment objectives

- Incumbent demonstrates a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment of physical therapy and their proper application through which the use of therapeutic physical rehabilitation and reconditioning procedures are implemented

- Incumbent demonstrates knowledge of and compliance with all emergency and disaster procedures

- Incumbent identifies his/her continuing education needs - attends continuing education programs and reads professional literature for the purpose of maintaining or improving knowledge and skills for work performance

- Incumbent maintains current working knowledge of available technology and equipment

- Incumbent involves the Veteran - family members - caregivers - and pertinent health care staff in the treatment process by maintaining effective communications

Administrative Duties: - Incumbent is responsible for the care - upkeep - and sanitation of equipment in the assigned work environment

He/she organizes and maintains clinical and administrative space in order to optimize safety - infection control and efficiency

Organizes work related matters - schedules patients efficiently and completes assigned tasks in a timely manner - Solves problems independently not covered by guidelines without supervision

assists other physical therapy staff members in the modification of treatment plans and serves as role model for other physical therapy staff members/students

- Incumbent assesses the equipment needs of the department and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials

- Incumbent schedules Veterans for treatment - considering priority and frequency of care and coordinates schedules with other members of the treatment team

Flexibility of schedule must be maintained to allow for unscheduled Veterans and unforeseen circumstances

- Incumbent follows the VHA Outpatient Scheduling Processes and Procedures - and delegates these duties appropriately to medical support staff

This may include ensuring the rules for scheduling new consults are followed - entering return to clinic orders for follow up appointments and following procedures for communicating no-shows - Veteran cancellations - and clinic cancellations

- Incumbent delegates duties to assistants and other support staff and performs any necessary follow-up as appropriate

- Incumbent complies with all policies and procedures regarding documentation and coding of Veteran care

- Incumbent demonstrates knowledge of computer skills for completion of documentation and other responsibilities as required

Documents in core computer evaluations - ongoing patient treatment plans and performance via accurate and timely note-writing - record keeping and charting procedures based on established protocol by DVANYHHS and the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service - Incumbents attend and participates in all mandatory departmental staff meetings and training sessions

Incumbent plans and presents in-service education programs - when requested and/or as needed to the PT section - PM&R staff - and other services - as appropriate

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Functional Statement #: 00407A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized