The position is located at Central Virginia VA Health Care System, a Complexity Level 1A (High Complexity) medical center in the Spinal Cord Injury & Disorders (SCI&D) Service in Richmond, Virginia. The Wound Care Clinical Specialist PT has a background in one or more of the following, SCI/D, MS, ALS, and Wound Care.
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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Physical Requirements. English Language Proficiency. 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. 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. Education and experience. You 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: 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. 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). 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. 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: 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. 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. 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. 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- 13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) 1. Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and one of the following: Evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area. This time must be between the past two and five years; or Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; or Completion of a fellowship program; or An additional advanced degree in a related field. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs. 2. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy. Ability to serve as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding the delivery of wound care within a specialized content area of physical therapy (see paragraph 2i). Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy. Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area (see Definitions, paragraph 2. i.). Preferred Experience: 1. Primarily evaluates and treats a wide variety of patients with open wounds using usual physical therapy modalities to include but not be limited to electrical stimulation, pulsed lavage, and low frequency ultrasound. 2. Working knowledge of various wound care management and treatment techniques to include but not limited to wound dressing choices/applications to include compressive when indicated, topical/chemical/enzymatic agents and conservative sharp debridement. 3. Working knowledge of various types of ulcers and their management including but not limited to arterial, venous, neuropathic. 4. Working knowledge of mechanical debridement via wet and dry dressings. 5. Working knowledge of sterile techniques. 6. Working knowledge of lymphedema management to include but not limited to mechanical drainage, massage, and exercise. 7. A subject matter expert in the areas of wound care physical therapy. 8. A mentor to other physical therapists and students in the evaluation and treatments in wound care physical therapy. 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.
VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Duties include, but are not limited to: The incumbent has had specialized training or equivalent experience in wound care physical therapy as it pertains to the Spinal Cord Injury & Disorders (SCI&D) neurologically impaired patients and demonstrates a full professional and current understanding of the theories of SCI&D (Spinal Cord Injury & Disorders) neurologic physical therapy treatments and their application. The incumbent demonstrates expertise in examining, evaluating, developing, and implementing treatment programs for geriatric adult, middle-age adult, and young adult patients with complex SCI&D neurologic problems, to include acute and chronic wounds based on the current evidence and best practices for client management. The incumbent will possess highly specialized and current clinical skills and is able to demonstrate/utilize these skills in the care of SCI&D neurologically impaired and wound care patients. He/she is able to recognize the appropriateness of treatment based on indications, precautions and contraindications. This physical therapist is able to recognize adverse reaction to treatment, initiate effective action immediately, and advises the client or refers the client to the appropriate provider. Treats Spinal Cord Injury, MS, ALS, and specialty wound care patients using comprehensive knowledge acquired through continuing education and experience. Certified wheeled mobility, seating & positioning, assistive technology and highly specialized SCI&D skills are preferred. Must use considerable judgement when guidelines are not available to adapt procedures and techniques to accommodate individual deficits, ranges of progress, and problems that may occur. The incumbent should make modifications to treatment plans in response to subtle but significant changes in the condition of the client. The incumbent coordinates and employs multiple skilled treatment approaches simultaneously to accomplish SCI&D complex treatment objectives. He/she demonstrates the ability to guide and evaluate the work of a multidisciplinary team regarding SCI&D neurologic physical therapy. The incumbent has advanced SCI&D skills to perform and interpret specialized evaluative procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty area. He/she has the ability to analyze clinically appropriate data effectively to optimize quality, performance, and productivity for his/her clinic and within the department. Evaluates referred patients to determine current level of functioning [e.g. cognition, range of motion, pain, strength, movement mechanics, posture, coordination, sensation, acute and chronic wounds, perception, coordination, work performance, orthotic needs, specialized assistive technology specific for SCI&D Durable Medical Equipment (DME) needs] using standardized or specialized tests, interviews, observations, medical record review, and consultation with other professional staff. Others duties as required. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized