Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This position is open to Current Permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees and Federal employees in the competitive and excepted service.

Videos

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


Duties include but are not limited to:

• Performs comprehensive patient evaluations and treatment implementation
• Veterans are scheduled for evaluation considering caseload complexity and acuity.
• Demonstrates advance competence in the examination and treatment of Polytrauma and Amputee patients.
• Conducts advanced comprehensive patient examinations to identify rehabilitation problems, establish treatment goals and develop the plan of care.
• Guided by differential diagnosis (screen for systemic diseases and medical conditions that can mimic neuromuscular and musculoskeletal problems) and movement diagnosis
• Integrates relevant TBI/polytrauma and amputee literature, theory, and evaluation data to promote functional movement, activities engagement, health and well-being and minimize disability in patients.
• Utilizes evidenced based treatment approaches in the delivery of amputee care.
• The Physical Therapy clinical specialist in polytrauma serves as a mentor and consultant for patients, Physical therapy staff, and Medical Center Healthcare team members in the areas of Physical therapy, TBI/ Polytrauma and amputee rehabilitation.
• Designs and provides primary, secondary, or tertiary prevention programs, such as safety and fall prevention programs, to facilitate patient's optimal engagement in functional movement, activities performance and /or lifestyle. Takes in consideration principles of
  optimal aging across physiological systems (musculoskeletal, neuromotor, cardiopulmonary and integumentary).
• Is responsible for reporting any unusual difficulties involving the treatment of veterans needing long term Physical therapy directly to the Polytrauma Medical Director, Amputee Coordinator, Extended Care (GEC), the PM&R physician, and to the PM&R Supervisor Program Manager.
• Understands and adheres to PM&RS and VANTHCS policies and procedures.
• Assist to receive and triage patient referrals/consults, patient self-referrals, from appropriate source and schedules patients for evaluation and treatment in a timely fashion. Schedules patients for treatment, considering priority and frequency of care and coordinating schedules with other members of the treatment team. Flexibility of schedule must be maintained to allow for unscheduled patients and for family conferences. Assists with coverage to other PM&R clinics as needed.
• Documents in CPRS care rendered, completes encounter, and FIM in accordance with PM&R and VANTHCS policies.
• Identifies learning activities for self and others. Participates and contributes to the advancements of knowledge and techniques related to physical therapy via in-services, mentorship projects. Conducts in-services for interdisciplinary team and other rehabilitation programs. Serves as the TBI/polytrauma and amputee subject matter expert.
• Fulfills continuing education performance measure and complies with mandatory training as required by VANTHCS and APTA.
• Keeps up with current trends in TBI/Polytrauma and amputee care and evidence based medicine/rehabilitation practices through literature review, clinical practice, and attendance to continuing education courses and in-services.
• Delivers 2 in-services per years to staff in the specialty area of TBI/polytrauma and amputees.

Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00000
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.
• 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• 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.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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:

• Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
• Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
• 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:
GS-13: Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and one of the following:

• Evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area. This time must be between the past two and five years; or
• Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; or
• Completion of a fellowship program; or
• An additional advanced degree in a related field. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions andtreatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy.
• Ability to serve as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providersregarding the delivery of care within a specialized content area of physical therapy.
• Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
• Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
• Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area

Preferred Experience:

• 5 years of physical therapy experience
• 3-5 years experience with Polytrauma and Amputee populations.
• Leadership development experience or Project Development
• Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) and PT or PTA student supervision.
• Experience performing comprehensive evaluations and assessment involving muscular strength and mobility, neurological and vestibular deficit.
• Possesses certification and/or specialized training in neurorehabilitation, polytrauma, and amputee care, with emphasis on complex neurological impairments and multi-system trauma recovery.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements:

• Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds
• Light lifting, under 15 pounds
• Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds
• Light carrying, under 15 pounds
• Straight pulling (2 hours)
• Pulling hand over hand (2 hours)
• Pushing (2 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (6 hours)
• Standing (6 hours)
• Crawling (1 hours)
• Kneeling (2 hours)
• Repeated bending (6 hours)
• Climbing, legs only (2 hours)
• Both legs required
• Operation of crane, truck, tractor, or motor vehicle
• 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
• Both eyes required
• Depth perception
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Ability to distinguish shades of colors
• Hearing (aid permitted)
• Simple grasping/Pinch (6 hours)
• Fine manipulation - Keyboarding (6 hours)
• Sitting (6 hours)
• Twisting (6 hours)

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.