Physical Therapist

Summary
Incumbent is a Staff Physical Therapist with the Nebraska-Western Iowa VAHCS. Physical Therapists 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.
This job is open to

• The public
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency
This position is open to all U.S. Citizens and other current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
Employees from other federal agencies will be referred on a separate certificate.
Current, permanent employees of the VA should apply to: CBSY-11959234-23-JJA
Videos
Duties
This is an OPEN CONTINOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. We are accepting applications on an ongoing basis; applicants will be reviewed on a weekly basis, as long as vacancy exists.
VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY
Major duties include, but are not limited to:
Evaluation and Treatment:

• Receives the patient's referral from an appropriate physician/ provider or via Direct Scheduling / Direct Access protocols within NWIHCS. Demonstrates the ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment. Adheres to the VA scheduling directive.
• Independently provides assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals. This encompasses (but is not limited to) the following environments of care within NWIHCS: Community Living Center, Outpatient Clinics, Acute Inpatient, Amputee Clinic, W/C Seating and Mobility Clinics , Primary Care (PT in Primary Care), Specialty Pain Clinics, Whole Health, etc.
• Chart review is routinely performed to assess appropriateness of the referral and contraindications for evaluation/treatment.
• Evaluation includes a medical history, results , and interpretation of the appropriate tests and measurements performed; tests are frequently complex and are adapted as needed due to multiple physical disabilities or present medical condition. Guided by differential and movement diagnoses , the PT performs exams 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.
• Establishes a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identifies the appropriate rehab intervention, including referral to another provider for further consultation as clinically indicated. Demonstrates sound knowledge of clinical signs and symptoms needed to make appropriate referrals for further medical attention/assessment.
• Evaluates the patient's needs for assistive devices and procures these devices from the Prosthetic Department or works with Prosthetics to schedule the patient for the appropriate Prosthetics /Orthotics Clinic for prescription and fabrication. Determine and provide appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function.
• NWIHCS is one of 18 flagship sites for Whole Health. Physical Therapists within our system will integrate concepts of Whole Health into their plans. This includes incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals, optimize outcomes, optimize functional independence and to actionize concepts of whole person care.
• To better meet established goals, treatment plans are routinely modified according to evaluative findings found during on-going assessment of the patient's status.
• Routinely employs unusual motivational techniques to enlist patient participation and adapts equipment/procedures to carry out a full range of complex treatment activities.

Education:

• Provides and documents patient and/or significant other education appropriate to the disability being treated and goals to be achieved.
• Participates in continuing education programs both on and off station for professional and personal growth.
• Provides in service training as requested by Manager, PM&RS.
• Assists in the orientation of new staff members and students.
• Independently provides clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as well as PTA students on clinical affiliations. Independently provides clinical oversight to PT students who are in Doctoral PT Programs. NWIHCS is a multi-affiliated organization that offers ongoing clinical opportunities for both PT and OT students.

Discharge Planning:

• Appropriately plans discharge and needs for continuing physical therapy treatment. Coordinates discharge with patient, significant others, and appropriate members of the health care team.
• Consistently arranges patient's discharge equipment needs prior to discharge. Home program and/or instruction is consistently completed prior to discharge.

Oral and Written Communication:

• Routinely involves the patient, family and/or significant others and the appropriate members of the health care team in the treatment process by maintaining effective and customer sensitive communications.

Work Schedule: 20 hours per week, Days/Times are negotiable
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications
BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
(a) Citizenship: Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part)
(b) 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: 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.

(c) Licensure: Individuals must 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.
GS-11 (Entry Level) Grade Determinations:
(a) Education, Experience, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.
GS-12 (Full Performance Level) Grade Determinations:
(a) 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:

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: Outpatient Orthopedic Experience preferred
References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G12. 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-11 and GS-12.
Physical Requirements: Lifting (up to 35 pounds), moderate carrying (15-35 pounds), pushing, pulling, reaching above the shoulders, walking, standing, kneeling, repeated bending, use of arms and legs to climb, sitting, twisting, simple grasping and fine manipulation.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

• Benefits
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How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may ...