Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to:

Clinical:

• Physical Therapist receives patient caseload through referrals from medical providers within ECHCS PACT clinics. Caseload will consist of patients with, but not limited to, primary musculoskeletal orthopedic deficits. Evaluation includes but is not limited to chart review, medical history, functional tests and measures, pain scale, social needs, and rehabilitation potential, patient and therapy goals with time frames, using standard and non-standard measures to assess the level of patient function. Advanced clinical roles may also include managing direct access patients, as well as performing highly specialized clinical procedures such as dry needling, prescribing and training on assistive technology devices and durable medical equipment, ordering imaging studies and regenerative rehabilitation.
• Initial Evaluation and follow-up treatment will be completed via telehealth from the providers normal work station.
• Physical Therapist develops and implements a treatment plan to meet the individual treatment needs.
• Therapist keeps the medical team providers informed regarding outcomes of treatment through a variety of communication means.
• Documents in CPRS for each patient by established policy including but not limited to: evaluation findings, rehabilitation goals, expected functional outcome, equipment provided, patient and family education, and discharge summary results including progress toward goals.
• Complies with requirements to maintain prosthetic equipment supplies, providing necessary documentation of equipment provided to patients and obtaining stock replacement of equipment issued.
• Carries a full patient caseload, accepting new patient consults as referred by medical providers. Caseload will be outpatient Physical Therapy referrals and or direct access/direct scheduled patients. Other duties as assigned.
• Physical Therapist is responsible for managing their clinic and working with their direct supervisor to modify and improve workflow to best serve the local PACT stakeholders.
• Considers age and developmental level, gender, education, cultural background, socioeconomic, medical and functional status when providing Physical Therapy services. Is aware of signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect and reports to the appropriate authorities. Therapy services will be provided to an adult population of patients.
• The therapists level of responsibility in the physical therapy program is with complete independence and is responsible for maintaining high professional standards. The therapist displays courtesy, civility and constructive behavior, and expresses empathy for the legitimate
  needs and concerns of others. The therapist will meet the needs of customers while supporting the VA mission.

Education and Experience:

• Completes annual mandatory training classes by hospital policy and practices the information learned to correct deficiencies and maintain a safe environment.
• Assists the CCCE in arranging and providing educational experiences for Physical Therapy students that affiliate with this facility, providing a suitable learning environment for the student by assisting the student when necessary and maintaining communication with the Physical Therapy Advisor from the Physical Therapy program. Physical Therapist evaluates the student's performance and provides constructive and timely feedback, guiding the student toward competency as a Physical Therapist.
• Completes continuing education for Physical Therapists annually to maintain a high level of professional competence, knowledge and skill, learn new treatment techniques, and explore new theories. Shares the knowledge with Physical Therapy staff.

Administrative:

• Physical Therapist is directly responsible to their respective ECHCS Supervisor of Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy in the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services (PM&RS). While expected to make individual patient care decisions with autonomy, Therapist is expected to perform as part of the overall PM&RS team.
• Participates in program improvement work groups and has a working knowledge of departmental program improvement projects.
• Participates in multidisciplinary meetings as appropriate.
• Participates in PM&RS staff meetings and Physical Therapy staff meetings as established.
• Participates in Joint Commission activities and assists the department with maintaining survey readiness as required.
• Therapist is responsible for program development related to coordination, education and development of PT in Rural PACT initiative at the ECHCS Rural CBOC's.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm
Telework: Ad-Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 554-55677-A
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 identification 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.

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: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:

GS- 13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist):

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 and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy.
• Ability to serve as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within a specialized content area of physical therapy (see paragraph 2i).
• 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 (see Definitions, paragraph 2. i.).

Preferred Experience: Experience supporting primary care teams with direct patient access, warm hand-offs, or similar environment (such as PT in the ED, interdisciplinary care, etc.). Experience facilitating/operating programs that support rural patient populations, including experience providing telehealth services.

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

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-13

Physical Requirements: Physical Therapy is a vocation that requires regular and recurring physical exertion with long periods of standing, bending, walking and periods of assisting patients with transfers. ECHCS has a policy of NO PATIENT LIFT, meaning that mechanical lifts are available to assist with safe patient transfers without lifting patients directly. Demonstration of various physical therapy procedures requires good physical conditioning. Physical therapy also requires manual dexterity to manipulate tools and equipment with activities such as assembling equipment with the use of hand tools such as screwdriver or pliers, and power tools as warranted and applicable. Heavy Lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs and over); Straight Pulling (up to 1 hour); Pushing (1 - 2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 3 hours); Standing (up to 3 hours); Repeated bending (up to 1 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"; Hearing (aid permitted). 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 coworkers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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.