Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to U.S. Citizens NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

Videos

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

The incumbent in this assignment may serve as the sole Southern Tier Physical Therapist (PT) at the VISN 10 Sensory Aid and Prosthetic Service. The incumbent serves as the subject matter expert for this Service on all matters pertaining to complicated medical cases requiring wheelchairs, special seating surfaces and special mattresses. In addition, the incumbent serves as a consultant on a multidisciplinary specialty care team that provides complex prosthetic devices to a wide variety of patients requiring advance specialty care. Incumbent is also responsible for training the patient and family members on use of the prescribed device. The incumbent also serves as the Physical Therapist Wheelchair Coordinator for VISN 10 Southern Tier, Indianapolis, Marion, Fort Wayne and Cincinnati VA Medical Centers. Designs and evaluates wheelchair seating system components of unusual or complex cases. In addition, the incumbent also provides assistance to and for the Orthotic Lab as needed and directed by the Orthotic Lab Supervisor.

Duties:

• Devises specific activities and routines to maintain or improve general state of health, physical fitness or conditioning where it is absent or to restore it where it has been lost due to disease or disability.
• Develops therapeutic programs for various types of disabilities, which include orthopedic conditions, amputation, muscle weakness, chronic cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, psychiatric diagnoses, dementia, and patients with multiple diagnoses. Incumbent strives to retard physical and mental deterioration, maintaining the highest degree of self-help and independence within the limitation of patient's disability.
• Employs therapeutic objectives which are complex.
• Interprets and administers physician's exercise prescription, schedules patients for treatment and integrates Wheelchair Coordinator activities along with other treatments in order to achieve the goals established for the patient. Incumbent reports to physician's patient reactions to treatment which have medical significance and diagnostic value.
• Incumbent administers therapeutic exercise that strengthens debilitated muscles and teaches transfer activities and mobility training following prolonged bed rest, amputation, fractures, wounds and joint replacement.
• Establishes meaningful therapeutic goals and independently designs a treatment plan to meet the goals.
• Special emphasis is placed on minimizing further debilitation through energy conservation, joint protection, pain management techniques, and ongoing exercise.
• Inputs scheduling data into hospital Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) also closes out Orthotic Workorder Lab (OWL) for initial fitting of and all repairs to wheelchair and wheelchair seating systems. Completes and documents initial
• evaluations, treatment interventions, re-evaluation, and discharge notes in accordance with Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) and VA policy that covers the entire course of treatment. Utilizes Microsoft Office programs i.e. Word, Excel, Power Point, etc ...
• Frequently selects, adapts, and adjusts PT intervention in accordance with rehabilitation goals.
• Incumbent performs home evaluations for the purposes of prescribing modification to the home to allow accessibility by wheelchair or other ambulatory devices. Also, evaluates for ramps or porch lifts. Incumbent evaluates for all types of Activities of Daily Living Equipment needed in the home. Also, trains patient in use of the equipment. In addition, he/she will evaluate for home modification under the requirements of the Home Improvement Structural Alteration (HISA) Program.
• Incumbent participates in regularly scheduled ward rounds and at the time provides technical assistance to the physician in prescribing adjustments and modifications to existing wheelchairs, and seating systems. He/she is also responsible in assisting in the development for new prescriptions.

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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.
• Education and experience. 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.
• 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. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

• GS-11 Physical Therapist
  • Education, Experience, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level)
  • 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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) below:
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Ability to determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patients preferences in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals, optimize outcomes and maximize functional independence.
• Active professional practice. Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional PT as defined by APTA or the appropriate licensing board. Experience gained after graduation but prior to licensure is creditable provided the candidate was utilized as a graduate PT and subsequently passed the licensure examination.
• Completion of a post-graduate fellowship or a post-graduate residency program may be substituted for creditable experience on a year for year basis.

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.