Clarification from the agency

Current permanent employees of the Milwaukee VA, Product Lines, Canteen and CBOCs

Videos

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY

Primary function is direct patient care. Independently plans, develops, and implements comprehensive, complex treatment programs for individual patients or groups of patients to relieve pain, restore or enhance performance, and maximize ability to function as independently as possible. Performs appropriate assessments, evaluations, and treatments, involved in the prevention of physical disability, movement dysfunction, and pain resulting from injury, disease, disability, or other health-related conditions. Additional functions include the interpretation of test and measurements to assess normal parameters of physiological functions as well as pathophysiological, patho-mechanical, electrophysiological, ergonomic, and developmental deficits of bodily systems to determine diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention.

Major Duties:

• Serves as the subject matter expert for Neurologic physical therapy and consultant to physical therapy and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in this focus area.
• Provides in-service and clinical training program as assigned by the Supervisor of the Physical Therapy Department.
• Maintains timely data input utilizing care plans, initial assessments and/or specialty protocols as part of an ongoing process in coordination with other key interdisciplinary staff to provide effective patient care.
• Possesses advanced knowledge and demonstrates expert clinical practice skills in providing assessments and treatment interventions across the continuum of care.
• Reviews and interprets physicians' orders for accuracy and appropriateness.
• Performs competent written documentation of initial examinations, progress notes and discharge summaries within the mandated timelines.
• Participates in quality improvement (01) data collection as specified by the Supervisor of Physical Therapy or Chief, Rehab Services Division.
• The PTCS spends at least 25% of their time working within their designated clinical specialty. The remainder of their clinic time is determined by the needs of the clinic, the patient variety and patient load of the clinic. The clinical specialist is expected to carry a full patient load.
• Designs, conducts, and evaluates education and experiences within the specialty content area for staff members, takes an active role in literature searches, and seeks educational opportunities to enhance the Physical Therapy Department, and Rehab Services Division.
• Establishes and maintains contact with other key staff involved in patient care via written, telephone, and person communication on a regular basis at the Zablocki VAMC.
• Develops and provides timely reports to the Supervisor, Physical Therapy Department or Division Manager of Rehab Services when Supervisor Physical Therapy not available.
• Maintains timely data input utilizing care plans, initial assessments and/or specialty protocols as part of an ongoing process in coordination with other key interdisciplinary staff to provide effective patient care.
• Represents the Physical Therapy Department and Rehab Services Division at various clinical and administrative meetings/rounds.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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

Applicants must met all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements: The following are the basic requirements and qualifications for appointment as a Physical Therapist in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

English Language Proficiency Requirement - Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.

Education Requirement - 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. Transcripts Required

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. Copy of Licensure Required.

Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements as stated above, the following criteria must be met for appointment at the GS-12 grade level.

GS-13 Grade level - Education, Experience and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and one of the following:

1. Evidence of minimum of 2,000 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 related field.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's.

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, Physical Therapist Qualification Standards, dated 2/7/2018.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

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, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.