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This Position is located in the Physical Therapy Department of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center in Saginaw. This position may also be responsible for occasional mandatory detail coverage of the Bad Axe and Clare Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) if needed. Duties include but not limited to:

• Evaluates patients, plans, establishes and executes a full range of treatment procedures designed to restore homeostasis to the individual patient or to enhance the adaptive capacities through the use of physical measures, exercises, manual techniques, activities, prostheses or assistive devices. Provides home programs as appropriate and involves significant others in this process. Physical Therapist may also conduct teaching activities for PT students.
• Receives the patient's referral from an appropriate physician or primary care provider and schedules the patient for evaluation and treatment in a timely fashion; chart review will allow an opportunity to assess appropriateness of the referral and possible contraindications for treatment. This position may be responsible for sole PT participation in the Patient Multidisciplinary Treatment Team. Incumbent will demonstrate 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.
• Evaluation includes a medical history and performing and interpreting of the appropriate tests and measurements of the patient's condition for use in preparing the treatment plan, modifying treatment, evaluating results of treatment. Tests are frequently complex and may need to be adapted because of the patient's multiple physical disabilities or present medical condition.
• Independently modifies treatment plan and treat patients according to evaluative findings on an on-going basis to better meet short and long-term goals.
• Evaluates patient's needs for assistive devices, procuring devices from the Prosthetics Department or scheduling patients for the appropriate prosthetics/orthotics clinic for definitive prescription and fabrication.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Valid State Driver's License is required.

Qualifications

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: 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.
• 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.

• 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 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. (MUST SUBMIT COPY OF LICENSURE WITH APPLICATION)
• English Language Proficiency: Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English.

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 affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate's education and experience and recommend the grade and salary at which the candidate will be placed. For internal selectees eligible for promotion, the board will recommend grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.