The following standard lists the requirements for appointment as a Physical Therapist (PT) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), located in ECHCS within the PM&R Service at the Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center (RMR VAMC). This position provides PT to primarily inpatients admitted to RMR VAMC, occasionally in the Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program, but based on PM&R mission needs, PT services may also be rendered in the outpatient setting.
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: Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Orthotists, prosthetists, or orthotist/prosthetists must be proficient in spoken and written as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d). 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. NOTE. Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetency or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the state for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed physical therapists on VA rolls as of November 30, 1999, provided the individual maintains a continuous appointment and is not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification. 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. 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 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: At least 1 year of experience in the inpatient setting. 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 GS-12. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must demonstrate the ability to walk, to get to other facility locations on a daily basis, standing, repeated bending, reaching overhead, and pushing Veterans and objects for up to four hours a regular shift, prolonged sitting, moderate lifting and carrying of 15-44 pounds.
Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to: The Staff Physical Therapist: a. Clinical 1. Receives patient caseload through referrals from medical providers. Evaluation includes but is not limited to chart review, medical history, functional tests and measures, pain scale, social needs, and rehabilitation potential, patient and therapy goals with time frames, using standard and non­standard measures to assess the level of patient function. Advanced clinical roles may also include managing direct access patients, as well as performing highly specialized clinical procedures such as dry needling, prescribing and training on assistive technology devices and durable medical equipment, ordering imaging studies and regenerative rehabilitation. 2. Develops and implements a treatment plan to meet the individual treatment needs. Treatment plan would be as described above. 3. Communicates with the medical team providers, regarding outcomes of treatment through a variety of communication means to include trans- and inter-disciplinary rounds. 4. Documents in Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) for each patient by established policy including but not limited to: consult screening results, potential goals, expected outcomes in terms of function, and/or discharge summary including outcome of goals, as well as equipment provided and educations given to patient and family. 5. Complies with requirements to maintain prosthetic equipment supplies, providing necessary documentation of equipment provided to patients and obtaining stock replacement of equipment issued. 6. Carries a full patient caseload, accepting new patient consults as referred by medical providers. Caseload will be inpatient and outpatient Physical Therapy referrals and/or Direct access/ direct scheduled patients. Other duties as assigned. 7. Considers age and developmental level, gender, education, cultural background and socioeconomic, medical and functional status when providing Physical Therapy services. Is aware of signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect and reports to the appropriate authorities. Therapy services will be provided to an adult population of patients. 8. Maintains autonomy, as a direct patient care provider and responsible for maintaining high professional standards within the Physical Therapy service line. The therapist displays courtesy, civility, constructive behavior, and expresses empathy for the legitimate needs and concerns of others. The therapist will meet the needs of customers/patients, while supporting the VA missions. 9. Responsible in helping triage of all consults received and working with Medical Service Assistants (MSAs), to schedule into multiple clinics as needed, as applicable. 10. Occasional weekend and holiday coverage is required b. Education 1. The Physical Therapist meets all of the regulatory and statutory requirements to practice physical therapy including graduation for an accredited university and the possession and maintenance of a current license to practice physical in one state of the United States as stated above. 2. Completes annual mandatory training classes by hospital policy and practices the information learned to correct deficiencies and maintain a safe environment. 3. Assists the Site Coordinator of Clinical Education (SCCE) in arranging and providing educational experiences for Physical Therapy students that affiliate with this facility, providing a suitable learning environment for the student by assisting the student when necessary and maintaining communication with the Physical Therapy Advisor from the Physical Therapy program. The therapist assists with the assessment of the student's performance to evaluate capabilities to function as a Physical Therapist. 4. Attends Continuing Education for Physical Therapists annually to maintain a high level of professional competence, knowledge and skill, learn new treatment techniques, and explore new theories. Shares the knowledge with Physical Therapy staff. c. Administrative 1. The physical therapist is directly responsible to the ECHCS Inpatient Supervisor of Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy in the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services (PM&RS). Although the therapist is expected to make individual patient decisions with autonomy, the therapist is expected to perform as part of the overall PM&RS team. 2. Participates in Program Improvement work groups and has a working knowledge of Departmental Program Improvement projects. 3. Participates in multidisciplinary meetings and rounds as appropriate. 4. Participates in PM&RS staff meetings and Physical therapy staff meetings as established. 5. Participates in JCAHO activities as required. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0730-1600 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 58306A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized