Videos

The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Participates in planning, design, and construction phases of all projects so that all projects in spaces Veterans use include VA medical facility SPHM Program Coordinator input incorporating VHA Design guides.
• Completes, leads, and updates ergonomic assessments to implement appropriate SPHM technology to prevent hazards identified across all areas that provide patient care.
• In collaboration with stakeholders, report unsafe and unhealthful workplace conditions and initiate safe patient handling technology corrective action where appropriate.
• Performs comprehensive rounding throughout the VA medical facility using the SPHM template within the Performance Logic Application to monitor facility performance measures.
• Investigates employee and patient safety and health incidents related to patient handling, providing recommendations and tracking these injuries by unit, area, hospital-wide, and across the continuum, in collaboration with the worker's compensation program personnel, facility safety, OSHA record keeper, and facility patient safety manager.
• Ensures that patients are screened before mobilization and that methods chosen for mobility are safe, effective, and appropriate for individual needs across the continuum of care.
• The SPHM Bariatric Guidebook is crucial in advocating for holistic care and health equity for plus-sized patients. By implementing the principles within this guidebook across the healthcare system, we can ensure that the specific needs of plus-sized patients are met, promote a caring environment, and support ethical decision-making.
• Selects and coordinates the acquisition of SPHM-related equipment and supplies with appropriate stakeholders within the healthcare system across the continuum.
• Establishes and maintains highly effective relationships at all levels of the organization, working in collaboration with VA medical facility stakeholders on resource availability for programmatic support. This collaborative approach ensures that the SPHM Program Coordinator evaluates SPHM staffing methodology/equivalency needs by submitting annually to the National SPHM Program Office.
• This position may require additional duties as assigned.

Preferred Experience: 5 years of experience as a Physical Therapist in Inpatient (Acute, long term care) setting. Experience with safe patient handling coordinator processes and protocols for staff and patient safety.
Preferred Certification: American Physical Therapy Association Clinical Specialist certification is preferred but not required.

Note: This position supports all 3 campuses and may require rotation as needed.

Work Schedule: 7:30am-4:00pm, variable with WHEN hours
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: PD12366F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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).

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• Education: 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;
  • A master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR;
  • A 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.
• License: All applicants must be licensed to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
  • NOTE: Grandfathering Provision - All licensed PTs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it additional provisions apply per the qualification standard.

• Experience: . In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • (a) Ability to apply advanced knowledge of contemporary physical therapy within specialty area to provide clinical guidance, training or education for internal and external stakeholders.
  • (b) Ability to serve as a consultant within the assigned program area for intra-agency and interagency planning and to provide service coordination to optimize program continuity, efficiency and effectiveness.
  • (c) Knowledge of and skill in management, administration and/or education 11 methodologies. This includes the ability to monitor and track data, utilize available resources effectively, evaluate program quality, and generate reports for local, and/or VISN and/or VACO leadership.
  • (d) Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships within department and with other departments or affiliated programs.
  • (e) Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team.

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.