Job Description

Summary

The Primary Purpose of the Position is: The physical therapists (PT) at this level are responsible for providing rehabilitation - functional and environmental safety assessments for patients in the Home Based Primary care (HBPC) Program. The Organizational Location of the Position is: Program II in the Home Based Primary program (HBPC) and Medical Foster Home (MFH) Programs in Geriatrics and Extended Care and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services in Dallas - TX.

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. Health Professional Trainee's: HPTs who have successfully completed or are expected to successfully complete an affiliate sponsored or VA Sponsored training program may be considered based on completing the requirements listed below by the date of appointment. Please ensure you provide all supporting documentation regarding your training program and expected completion.

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: Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist
• (Or) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist
• (OR) - 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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-11 Physical Therapist (Entry)Education - Experience - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (NOTE: See exception to licensure requirement in subparagraph 3c above.) Assignment
• PTs at this level are responsible for providing assessment and treatment intervention
• PTs plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition
• PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required or may serve as the sole PT such as in an outpatient clinic
• Licensed PTs may provide oversight and delegate patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant - and/or delegate non-patient care duties to non-licensed staff
• PTs that are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed PT
• Physical Therapist GS-12: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: 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Assignment
• At the full performance level - PTs are responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals
• Guided by differential and movement diagnoses - PTs perform 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 personal and environmental factors
• PTs interpret findings from examination - diagnostic studies/medical tests and - during evaluation - select appropriate clinical tests and measures - and then integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations
• PTs establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed
• They determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences for meaningful level of function in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes
• Physical therapists select appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals they treat
• Staff PTs at this level practice autonomously - making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care
• The staff PT may also develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for physical therapy students in facilities with established clinical experience rotations
• PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any/all areas where physical therapy services are deemed necessary - and/or may serve as the sole PT at a less complex facility
• Individuals may perform ancillary assignments as deemed appropriate given the needs of a facility on an occasional basis - where the amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time)
• References: VA Handbook 5005/99 - Part II - Appendix G12 - dated February 7 - 2018 ***Qualifications continue under Additional Information***

Duties

• Duties include but not limited to: Performs patient evaluations - the physical therapists: - Coordinates Veteran schedule with other interdisciplinary team members
• - Guided by differential and movement (examine and evaluate the movement system -including diagnosis and prognosis- to provide a customized and integrated plan of care to achieve the HBPC Veteran individual goal-directed outcomes
• - Perform 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
• - Evaluations address home safety - home environment and home modifications - rehabilitation potential - behavior - motor and sensory skills - durable medical equipment - adaptive equipment and psychosocial development
• - Evaluates the home for structural or positional changes in order to promote the patient's safety and independence
• Assists patients/caregivers in applying for HISA grants
• - Review of medical records to interpret findings from examination - diagnostic studies and/or medical tests
• - Establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider
• - Determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences
• - Select appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals they treat
• - Makes recommendations and follows up on status of assistive devices/DME
• - Practice autonomously - making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care
• - Evaluates patients at risk for falls
• - May also develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for physical therapy students in facilities with established clinical experience rotations
• - Performs and interprets specialized evaluative procedures and tests in the assigned clinical area (examples include but are not limited to: 2-Minute Walk Test - TUG - STS - Gait Speed - Berg - Tinneti - etc.)
• Complex evaluations are conducted independently or in consultation with senior or clinical specialist therapists - if necessary
• - Identifies patient and caregiver learning needs
• - Appropriately plans veteran discharge and/or need for continuing treatment and terminates treatment when the veteran reaches maximum rehabilitation potential
• - Responds to referrals by administering initial - interim - and final evaluations .- In addition - serves non-HBPC Veteran's to perform home safety assessments - to identify and recommend adaptive/assistive equipment needs and recommend home modifications as applicable
• Treatment Implementation: - Evaluation findings are used to develop and implement comprehensive patient treatment plans including objective - measurable goals - timeliness for completion
• These goals are developed in collaboration with the patient - family and/or stakeholder input
• - Develops a treatment plan directed toward achieving maximum level of functioning within the home
• - Implements the HBPC treatment plan by: providing direct patient care
• procuring necessary equipment /adaptive devices
• training the patient and caregiver concerning exercises - functional mobility - activities of daily living - rehabilitation techniques and equipment/ adaptive devices
• and recommending community referrals
• in accordance with rehabilitation and patient/caregiver goals
• - Modifies treatment plan according to patient response to treatment and towards meeting established goals
• - Develops Home Programs for patients as indicated at discharge
• - Assesses - selects - adapts - and/or fits assistive and adaptive devices in accordance with rehabilitation goals
• - Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team and participates in interdisciplinary team meetings - rounds - family conferences and other meetings as needed
• - Demonstrates skills and knowledge to make clinical decisions and functions independently in the field
• - Documents patient care services timely
• Documents in CPRS care rendered - completes encounter - FIM and HBPC Care Plans in accordance with PM&R - GEC and VANTHCS policies
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm - or 8:00am - 4:30pm
• 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 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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