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Duties include but are not limited to the following:

Clinical

• The age of patients receiving care ranges from young adult to geriatric. Age-related, cultural and developmental needs of patients will be recognized at all times.
• Provides Physical Therapy based on best practices to home based primary care patients with a variety of disabilities. Many cases are complex including patients with acute or chronic stroke, Parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, and musculoskeletal pathologies including pre-operative and post-operative patients.
• Employs techniques to enlist patient participation and adapts equipment and procedures to carry out a full range of complex treatment activities.
• Performs patient assessments and develops treatment plans of care while incorporating diagnostic test results and modifying treatment plans as appropriate.
• Ability to teach the veterans at their level of understanding complex exercises for a home program. Teaching includes the proper use of TENS units and walk aide stimulators.
• Demonstrates advanced knowledge of contemporary Physical Therapy across multiple areas of practice and applies this while providing clinical guidance to other staff Physical Therapists.
• Has the ability to monitor and evaluate clinically appropriate treatment programs with great autonomy. Demonstrates skill in coordination of clinical activities within the physical therapy section.
• Demonstrates the ability to assist in Physical Therapy program development, outcome management and strategic planning. Also has skill in acting as a liaison between staff therapists and supervisor.
• Demonstrates ability to provide professional oversight and consultation for staff therapists. Coordinates clinical activities within Physical Therapy section.

• Schedules, assesses, and implements the delivery of Physical Therapy services at VA EKHCS, pro-actively identifying areas in need of improvement.
• Informs supervisor of equipment and supply needs in the department. Monitors equipment performance for safety and repair needs.
• Contributes to the development and monitoring of the quality assurance program to monitor quality of care and/or effectiveness of treatment.
• Collects and compiles appropriate data for statistical and narrative reports
• Assures all documentation is performed in a timely fashion.

• Responds to requests from patient, families, visitors and co-workers in a prompt and friendly manner.
• Relationships with supervisors and co-workers are cooperative and polite, contributing to the overall effectiveness of organizational goals and customer satisfaction.
• Obtains feedback from patients, families, visitors and co-workers to contribute to the overall effectiveness of a customer driven organization.

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

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: Must be a graduate from a degree program in physical therapy from an approved college or university approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical therapy Education (CAPTE). 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. You must submit a copy of your transcripts.
• License: Must possess a full, current and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory, Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or the District of Columbia. Non-licensed PT's, who otherwise meet the basic requirements, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate PT not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2). Non-licensed individuals appointed as a temporary graduate PT may be appointed as PT without being fully licensed. You must submit a copy of your current License.
• English Language Proficiency: PT's must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by VA Handbook 5005, Part II, chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3j.

1. Ability to make autonomous clinical decision 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.

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.