The position is in the Physical Therapy Section of the Rehabilitation Service at the San Francisco VA Health Care System. The Physical Therapist Section Chief at the San Francisco VA Healthcare System performs all high-level duties related to the administrative, clinical, and professional management of the Physical Therapy Section in a Level 1A Complexity VA healthcare system.
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: (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 (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 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).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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-0633 occupational series as PTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation (2) PTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of this standard. (3) PTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard and must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) If PTs who are grandfathered under this provision leave the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation Grade Determinations: GS-14-Supervisory Physical Therapist- one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Advanced knowledge of evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in multiple professional areas. 12 2. Skill in managing interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution in dealing with a range of employees, discipline lead(s), and administrators. 3. Ability to translate extensive rehabilitation knowledge into local policy development. 4. Ability to effectively supervise staff by providing clinical and administrative oversight. This includes ability to manage resources, evaluate employees and assign work. 5. Ability to collaborate with strategic planning committees at local, VISN or national levels for new ventures addressing patient care delivery systems, facilities management, system reorganizations, etc Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: VA Handbook 5019
Major duties include, but are not limited to: Administrative: Effectively supervises, directs, and assigns work to 23 permanent employees, plus students/interns and volunteers in either distinct clinical settings and one administrative area. The clinical settings include Inpatient Acute, Outpatient Orthopedics, Outpatient Neurology, Pain Clinic, Community Living Center, Santa Rosa Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Home Based Primary Care and the Integrative Health Service. Also oversees the Physical Therapy Utilization Review Program (Referral Coordination Team) in the Office of Community Care. Coordinate delivery of care across multiple practice settings. Performs the following human resource management functions: recruitment, interview and selection process, performance management/monitoring including promotions and disciplinary actions, and monitoring clinical privileges. Demonstrates skill in managing interpersonal relationships and conflict resolution when dealing with a diverse workforce. Develops functional statements for personnel under supervision. Develops and updates performance standards in alignment with national benchmarks for productivity. Continuously monitors Section workload and productivity as well as clinical and consult metrics data to optimize practice and maximize efficiency and cost effectiveness. Submits annual departmental budget requests and effectively manages department's resources including capital and physical plant resources. Makes recommendations and assists with planning of new or expanded physical therapy programs and clinics including space, staffing, equipment, and administrative support needs. Develops and implements policies and procedures to meet the needs of such programs. Translates extensive rehabilitation knowledge into local policy development. Updates local Scope of Practice as needed to reflect changes in practice and foundational documents such as APTA Guide to Physical Therapy Practice, Physical Therapy Practice Act and Regulations of the Physical Therapy Board of California. Monitors departmental workload and clinic volume using a number of VSSC generated metrics and generates reports to support current staffing levels and new staff requests. Identifies and coordinates staffing needs by assigning cross coverage to provide consistent clinic coverage during times of planned and unplanned staff absences. Develops and maintains productive working relationships with other Medical Center departments, both administrative and clinical. Serves on multidisciplinary task forces and committees as requested. Oversees the Physical Therapy Quality Improvement Program and ensures compliance with applicable Joint Commission, CARF, VHA, and APTA standards. Creates, implements, and communicates new updated policies, procedures, mandates and directive to all stakeholders. Collaborates with Medical Center and VISN level strategic planning committees to address patient care delivery system and system reorganization efforts. Stands in as Acting Rehabilitation Service Chief when requested. Work Schedule: M-F 0800-1630 Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized