As a member of the PT Section/Rehabilitation Service the Program Coordinator for ICU Early Mobility Program serves as a consultant and subject matter expert in the treatment of critically ill patients in the ICU who often have multiple interacting complex acute and/or chronic medical problems. This position is embedded in a mixed medical and surgical ICU and provides clinical and administrative direction to other interdisciplinary team members regarding program elements in physical therapy.
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: Candidates must be a 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. Education and Experience. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. Doctorate degree in physical therapy. 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. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements 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. 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. 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). 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. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. GS-13 Physical Therapist (Program Coordinator) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1 1. Ability to apply advanced knowledge of contemporary physical therapy within specialty area to provide clinical guidance, training or education for internal and external stakeholders. 2. Ability to serve as a consultant within the assigned program area for intra-agency and interagency planning and to provide service coordination to optimize program continuity, efficiency and effectiveness. 3. Knowledge of and skill in management, administration and/or education 11 methodologies. This includes the ability to monitor and track data, utilize available resources effectively, evaluate program quality, and generate reports for local, and/or VISN and/or VACO leadership. 4. Ability to develop and coordinate treatment and/or educational programs within a concentrated field or specialty area, such as, but not limited to, amputee, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, student clinical education/residency programming, polytrauma/traumatic brain injury. 5. Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships within department and with other departments or affiliated programs. 6. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team Preferred Experience: 3-5 years Inpatient Acute Care, preferably ICU. 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-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The Physical Therapist position requires standing, walking, bending, light to moderate lifting and positioning patients. The incumbent may need to assist in the maneuvering of patients in wheelchairs and transferring of patients to/from a chair/bed/floor. This position requires lifting/carrying 15-35 lbs (1 hour per day) sitting (2 hours per day); standing (1 hour per day); walking (2 hours per day); bending/stooping (1/2 hour per day); simple grasping (4 hours per day); and fine manipulation including keyboarding (1 hour per day). A fair amount of walking is also required to interact with patients and other services throughout the hospital. Applicants must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others.
The Physical Therapist ICU Early Mobility Program Coordinator provides physical therapy services to veterans admitted to the ICU in accordance with Rehabilitation Section policies and procedures, APTA, Physical Therapy Board of California guidelines and VA regulations governing the practice of physical therapy. Services will be provided to veterans who often have undergone surgery and/or have multiple interacting acute and chronic medical conditions. The incumbent applies advanced knowledge of contemporary physical therapy as it relates to early mobility in the ICU setting and treating critically ill patients. Incumbent will spend at least 66% of the time performing higher level duties consisting of substantial scope, complexity, and variety. A. Clinical 1. Demonstrates ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment with consideration for local Scope of Practice guidelines. This includes the ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services. 2. Attends multidisciplinary team huddles/rounds to discuss patients currently admitted to the ICU and readiness for early mobility and physical therapy consultation. Applies specialized screening tools to identify precautions and contraindication for early mobility as well as to recommend appropriate early mobilization equipment. 3. Develops protocols and treatment plans that take into account the effects of ICU acquired weakness due to prolonged bedrest and aim to minimize the effects of ICU syndrome which contribute to increased ventilator days and/or impaired cognitive status. 4. Performs comprehensive evaluations using standard and nonstandard methods for evaluating patients post operatively and/or with critical medical illness, with an emphasis on assessing patients' functional status. Evaluations are conducted independently, and results are documented according to Departmental and Medical Center standards. 5. Establishes a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identifies the appropriate rehabilitation intervention, including referral to another provider for further consultation. B. Educational 1. Serves as consultant within the ICU as a subject matter expert in rehabilitation and early mobility for critically ill patients; coordinates interdisciplinary efforts to facilitate early mobility for all patients, and growing and sustaining an effective Early Mobility Program. 2. Develops rehab staff competencies that include the safe management of common ICU medical lines and tubes, education regarding the benefits of early mobility in critically ill patients, the effects of ICU acquired weakness and neuromuscular weakness due to prolonged bedrest, and safe use of specialized mobilization equipment. 3. Applies advanced knowledge of physical therapy with respect to early mobility of critically ill patients to provide clinical guidance, training and education to MC staff and the VHA PT community at large. 4. Investigates current clinical practice guidelines, concepts and scientific principles in Physical Therapy practice through literature reviews and study of current research with an emphasis on issues related to early mobility with critical ill patients in the ICU setting. Applies evidence-based treatment approaches to clinical practice. Regularly attends continuing education courses, conferences and in-services in the professional community and within the VA. 5. Provides continuing education in the form of in-services and clinical training programs to rehabilitation and ICU staff on the subject matter of rehabilitation in the critical care setting. VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Work Schedule: M-F 0800-1630 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 66205722F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized