Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. 1st Area of Consideration: Current Permanent Durham Facility Employees. 2nd Area of Consideration: Current Permanent VHA Employees. 3rd Area: US Citizens.

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The Staff Therapist is responsible for completing neuromusculoskeletal evaluations and treatments. They are required to apply evaluation methodologies and treatment theories in the provision of care to a vast array of functional impairments and patients.

Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties:
A. The Physical Therapist will function in accordance with:

• Federal law.
• The North Carolina Physical Therapy Practice Act published by the North Carolina Board for Physical Therapy (or other State Board in the location the license is held and is in active status).
• The Standards of Practice for Physical Therapists and the Physical Therapy Code of Ethics as published by the American Physical Therapy Association.

• Assists Chief, Physical Therapy in planning and developing various treatment programs to meet patient needs, as requested by PM&RS supervisor.
• Actively supports and promotes all programs of PM&RS.
• Assist with orientation of new Physical Therapy staff.

• Establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis at the Durham VA Medical Center.
• Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of Physical Therapy service.

• Assists in the development, planning and implementation of monitors of quality of care with respect to PM&RS as part of the comprehensive health care services delivered to the patients within the Durham VA Medical Center.
• Conducts record keeping related to patient care documentation and quality improvement (QI) data collection as specified by the Supervisor, Physical Therapy Department.
• Reviews and makes recommendations on supply and equipment acquisition.

• Responsible for the examination and treatment of patients referred to the Physical Therapy Department. Additionally, this therapist will evaluate and treat patients within approved DIRECT ACCESS/PACT process, when indicated, without a Physician referral.

• Assesses patient dysfunction using appropriate tests/tools.
• Establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis at the Durham VA Medical Center.
• Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of physical therapy care.

• Performs competent written documentation of initial examinations, progress notes, and discharge summaries.
• Demonstrates advanced competency in knowledge of electronic documentation and computer skills.
• Entering consults within the PM&RS Service (i.e., to Occupational or Recreational Therapy) or to the Prosthetics service for rehabilitation equipment in accordance with PM&RS and medical center policies.
• Reviews and co-signs notes written by the PTA to whom the PT has delegated patient care or for patients seen by the PTA within the PT-DME clinic.

• Acts as Clinical Instructor for affiliating schools for physical therapy.
• Educates other facility personnel in the scope of PM&RS services and programs involving a variety of health care specialties.
• The PT continually seeks to improve knowledge and skill by review of current literature, participation in in-service training, and attendance at continuing education programs especially in their area of expertise.

• Maintaining state licensure.
• Completing all VAMC mandatory training in a timely manner.
• Completing Encounter information in accordance with Durham VA Medical Center guidelines.

• Demonstrates awareness of safety hazards and takes appropriate corrective action.
• Assists in the establishment of clinic and practice safety guidelines impacting all Physical Therapy patients and programs.
• Adheres to infections control programs.

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.
• 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.
• Citizenship
  • Candidates must be a citizen of the United States.
• 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.
  • NOTE. Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct, professional incompetency or substandard care, or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the state for professional misconduct, professional incompetence, or substandard care, are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C 7402(f)). Effective November 30, 1999, this is a requirement for employment. This requirement does not apply to licensed physical therapists on VA rolls as of November 30, 1999, provided the individual maintains a continuous appointment and is not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license, registration or certification.
  • Loss of Credential.
  • 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, the following provisions apply.
• Physical Requirements. Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• g. 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.

• GRADE REQUIREMENTS
  • a. Creditable Experience
  • (1) Knowledge of Contemporary Professional Physical Therapy Practice. To be creditable, a candidate must have demonstrated possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the scope of physical therapy practice. The candidate's experience may be evidenced by one or more of the following:
  • (a) 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.
  • (b) Completion of a post-graduate fellowship or a post-graduate residency program may be substituted for creditable experience on a year for year basis.
  • (2) Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it was post degree experience as a professional PT and is directly related to the duties to be performed. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding the professional PT experience at the next lower grade level.

• 1. 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
• 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.