Clarification from the agency

This is a PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT and is open to Federal employees from agencies other than the Department of Veterans Affairs and All US Citizens. If you are a current permanent employee of the Iowa City VA Health Care System or current permanent VA Nationwide employee, you should apply under the internal announcement number CARX-24-12430022-DTh.

Videos

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY
This is a bargaining unit position.VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Total Rewards
Work Schedule: Mon - Fri
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not available
Telework: Not available
Position Description Title/PD#: Physical Therapist/ PD287170Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Physical Demands: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), straight pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, crawling, kneeling, repeated bending, climbing, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/50and to 20/100 in the other, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid permitted), mental and emotional stability, far vision correctable in one to 20/50 and to 20/100 in the other. Operation of motor vehicle. (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services).

Major Duties:

• Participates in data collection and procedures, selection of appropriate measures and techniques, study implementation, and interpretation of results.
• Attends training for study protocol, rating scales, and all VA required trainings.
• Recruits and schedules human subjects for intake assessments and follow-up visits.
• Enters data into electronic databases and software platforms (e.g., VA REDCap, MS Access, excel, etc.)
• Collects and abstracts medical records for subjects according to research protocols.
• Screens subjects against protocol requirements and takes medical history. Must maintain confidentiality of patient medical records.
• Administers baseline assessment and follow-up assessments according to research protocols and level of training.
• Completes study assessments, interventions, and phone calls within protocol-mandated time frame.
• Conducts clinical interview as part of physical therapy assessment, using a variety of methods, consistent with standard of care.
• Provides physical therapy consistent with study protocol and as appropriate to the bio-psychosocial needs of the population served.
• Provides culturally competent care to a diverse patient population.
• Answers questions relating to protocols and determines appropriate action. Move complex cases require additional scheduling, supervision, and follow up
• Gains the trust, confidence, and cooperation of the study participants and provides feedback throughout procedures.
• Recognizes adverse events and brings them to the attention of the PI and study team.
• Assembles project records. Files individual documents information in records.
• Monitors quality of data and procedures and assures human subjects rights are protected. Maintains patients' confidentiality at all times.
• Maintains accurate chart notes in the electronic medical record following study visits. Assigns patient flags if required.
• Extracts, edits, and/or codes patient records or other pertinent research data. Retrieves patient information from other clinical/management settings and other computer systems.
• Conducts literature searches and obtains literature reviews.
• Programs databases for data entry of research questionnaires, booklets, data, and creates codebook for these databases. Runs various computer programs to edit and clean data for analyses.
• Maintains accurate and timely case report forms, source documents, and regulatory files. Collaborates in data analysis, report and manuscript writing. Summarizes research data into meaningful statistical tables and narrative.
• Writes abstracts, protocols, research advertisements and informed consents for submission to the Institutional Review Boards (IRB).
• Performs other duties as assigned by the PI.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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
• A pre-employment physical examination is required..
• 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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education: 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.
• 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.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations: Physical Therapist, GS-0633-12
Education, Experience and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, hold a valid unrestricted state license and demonstrate all the KSAs below: Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to coordinate workflow and clinical activities as well as monitor data reports.
• Ability to articulate and communicate to the clinical team the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, and objectives as well as to advise on work methods, practices, and procedures.
• Prior experience working with patients with temporal mandibular join disorders and cervical disorders.

Preferred Experience: Clinical or human subjects research setting such as a hospital or medical center that would have given them knowledge and experience performing the following duties and responsibilities with a significant degree of autonomy.

References: VA Handbook 5005/99 Part II Appendix G12, Physical Therapist, GS-0633, Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), moderate carrying (15-44 pounds), straight pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, crawling, kneeling, repeated bending, climbing, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/50and to 20/100 in the other, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid permitted), mental and emotional stability, far vision correctable in one to 20/50 and to 20/100 in the other. Operation of motor vehicle. (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services).

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.