Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist - Lymphedema)

Summary
The primary function of this position is direct patient care, the Physical Therapist is responsible for completing complex evaluations, conducting specialized interventions and treatments, and interpreting specialized procedures, theories, and outcomes in the specialty area to a vast array of functional impairments. This individual will serve as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within this specialty area.
This job is open to

• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency
This announcement is for current permanent employees of the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and its outlying clinics only.
Videos
Duties
Physical Therapists practice autonomously, making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care. Functions of the position include the following:
Clinical

• Use advanced skills and knowledge of physical therapy theories and techniques to examine and evaluate patients as appropriate for their age and movement system diagnosis to determine current levels of functioning (range of motion, strength, balance, coordination, sensation, mobility, endurance, posture, and other musculoskeletal and neurologic assessments).
• Develop and carry out physical therapy treatment to meet the individual rehabilitation goals which may include: therapeutic exercises, therapeutic procedures, therapeutic activities, gait training, balance training, neuromuscular re-education, manual therapy, electrical stimulation, modalities, traction, iontophoresis, biofeedback, strength/ endurance training, aquatic therapy techniques, functional mobility skills, wheelchair skills, equipment recommendations, self-care, home management training, and patient/ family education.
• Assess the need for and the patient's ability to use adaptive equipment including ambulatory assistive devices, manual wheelchairs, scooters, TENS units, etc. Order the appropriate equipment, assemble, and issue it to patients. Educate and the train patient and family/caregivers in proper use and maintenance of the devices.
• Continuously re-evaluate patient performance making appropriate modifications to the treatment plan as indicated. Regularly present patient information to the physician and other team members regarding patient physical and psychosocial performance, status, and continuing goals.
• Must be able to handle, de- escalate, and defuse volatile behavior when dealing with patients with physical and psychological problems.
• Serve as a professional role model to other PT staff, and PT/PTA students.
• Expand development of telehealth with pelvic floor rehabilitation to better target and treat Veterans living remotely with improved access to Veterans and decrease travel cost to VA.

Education

• Must have attained advanced training/certification and experience in the specialty area and continually increase knowledge and skills by attending seminars, workshops, lectures, and in-services.
• Independently provide clinical training, supervision, and clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants. Develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for Physical Therapy Assistants relative to patient care as necessary to ensure individualized treatment plan is completed appropriately.
• Provide clinical training and supervision of students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs. Serve as a positive professional role model for students and develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for physical therapy students so they can successfully fulfill the appropriate learning objectives required by the school.
• Participate in PT, Rehabilitative Care Services (RCS), and interdepartmental staff development programs.
• Provide at least one clinical in-service per year to PT students, PT/RCS staff, or other facility departments or service lines as appropriate.
• Participate in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams to deliver direct patient care. Positively collaborate, participate, and support all RCS colleagues and team members in achieving patient and team goals in respectful manner.

Administrative

• Assist RCS PT Supervisors and other RCS Program Managers identify needs, and design and implement programs for the department as needed.
• Understand basics of coding for PT services to capture workload accurately and timely. Provide timely information to RCS PT Supervisors for all requested reports related to workload and statistics.
• Follow all applicable laws, regulations and policies regarding confidentiality, computer security, and software licensing; protect hardware, software, and all sensitive information (both on screen and computer printouts).
• Monitor PT equipment, informing the RCS PT Manager/Supervisor when items are broken or missing; enter VA facility work orders, and advocate for any equipment needs.
• Progress lymphedema Dysfunction Rehabilitation through the National committee, working to improve professional and program development, and Veteran access.
• Draft, outline, and annually update standard operating procedure and any competencies required of, or related to specialty area.

Work Schedule: Mon - Fri, 7:30am to 4:00pm
Telework: 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
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
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS.
The basic requirements for employment as a VHA Physical Therapist are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C. § 7402. To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of Physical Therapist in VHA must meet the following:
Citizenship.
Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. After a determination is made that it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens, necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States. Candidates must meet all other requirements for the grade and position concerned.
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.

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.
GRADE REQUIREMENTS.
Creditable Experience:
(1) Knowledge of Contemporary Professional Physical Therapy Practice. To be creditable, a candidate must have demonstrated possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the scope of physical therapy practice. The candidate's experience may be evidenced by one or more of the following:

• Active professional practice. Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional PT as defined by APTA or the appropriate licensing board. Experience gained after graduation but prior to licensure is creditable provided the candidate was utilized as a graduate PT and subsequently passed the licensure examination.
• Completion of a post-graduate fellowship or a post-graduate residency program may be substituted for creditable experience on a year for year basis.

(2) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it was post degree experience as a professional PT and is directly related to the duties to be performed. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding the professional PT experience at the next lower grade level.
Grade Determination:
In addition to the basic requirements for appointment, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.
GS-13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist).
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:
1. 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
2. Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS.
or
3. Completion of a fellowship program.
or
4. An additional advanced degree in a related field.
In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the all following KSAs.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
1. Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy.
2. Ability to serve as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within a specialized content area of physical therapy.
3. Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
4. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
5. Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area.
References: VA Handbook 5005/99, Part II, Appendix G12, February 7, 2018.
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