Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees.

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Major duties include, but are not limited to:

The MVAHCS is a Complexity Level 1 facility with a National Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center (PRC), a Spinal Cord Injury and Neurological Disease Center (SCI/D), an Amputation Regional Center (ARC), a Polytrauma Transitional Rehabilitation (PTRP) program and a Polytrauma Network Site (PNS).

The incumbent applies knowledge, skills, and abilities in professional physical therapy practice to provide care and treatment to patients referred to the Physical Therapy Section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS). The incumbent will spend the majority of time working in the area of Acute Medicine/Surgical PT. Therapist is highly self-directed, works independently to treat patients within this population, and is proficient in delivering services for a broad range of orthopedic, neuromuscular, and mobility conditions, while maintaining the flexibility to cross-cover departmental needs. The work schedule may include weekends and holidays as needed.

A. Clinical: Demonstrates advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities, and ability to interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating treatment outcomes in the area of acute medicine/surgical physical therapy. Demonstrates the ability to guide the work of multidisciplinary team in the clinical management of this patient population.
i. Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment, including independently evaluating and treating patients seeking physical therapy.
ii. Performs routine to complex physical therapy evaluation and treatment considering the stage of life and tailoring education to meet patient learning needs involving family/significant others.
iii. Involves the patient, family/significant other and medical team in treatment planning and goal setting through ongoing communication.
iv. Plans and executes a full range of interventions and treatment modalities for a broad range of outpatient conditions (orthopedic, neuromuscular, vestibular, falls and mobility), adapting procedures based on current theory, research, and practice.
v. Demonstrates independent problem-solving skills for frequent modification of treatment plans, employing innovative techniques and critically assessing treatment outcomes.
vi. Assesses and requests prosthetic/orthotic equipment as needed and modifies them as necessary.
vii. Appropriately recommends and refers to other medical specialties/services based on ongoing patient assessment.
viii. Maintains a flexibility of schedule to allow for unscheduled patients, consultation and mentoring.
ix. Consistently documents patient encounters in the electronic medical record per accepted PT practice, facility and service policies.

B. Education: Teaches and mentors staff, and serves as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding delivery of care within the acute medicine/surgical physical therapy area of practice.
i. Provides clinical training experiences for physical therapy students, evaluating performance per APTA and academic guidelines.
ii. Serves as teacher and mentor to staff and health professional trainees (including physical therapy students and residents).
iii. Shares knowledge and expertise with the Acute Medicine/Surgical PT team, greater physical therapy department, PM&R Service, medical center, and community through consultation, mentorship, in-services, and clinical training.
iv. Provides regular educational offerings to teams/providers on Physical Therapy.

C. Administrative: Knowledge and ability to comply with all applicable regulations governing documentation, medical records, reimbursement, and workload statistics in accordance with established professional practice and VHA.
i. Actively participates in program development to improve efficiency and quality of interventions within Acute Medicine/Surgical PT team.
ii. Represents the Acute Medicine/Surgical PT team and physical therapy department in developing policies, procedures, quality assurance monitors, and standards of care.
iii. Attends PM&R Service, Physical Therapy Department, and Acute Medicine/Surgical PT team educational and developmental meetings.

Work Schedule: Full-time, Tuesday - Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm CST; every other Saturday 7:00am -3:30pm CST
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
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

Basic Requirements:

(a) United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

(b) 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.

• NOTE: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PT's was either a bachelors or master's degree. In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate, master's, and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs. Effective 2002, CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in post-baccalaureate degrees(eliminating the baccalaureate degree). Effective 2015, professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students.
• NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university. The CAPTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit entry-level physical therapy programs. Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at www.apta.org.

(c) Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

(d) 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.

(e) 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 Determinations:

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:

1. 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
2. Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; or
3. Completion of a fellowship program; or
4. An additional advanced degree in a related field. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the all following KSAs.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs.

1. Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy.
2. 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).
3. Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
4. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
5. 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.).

All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety. Clinical Specialists spend at least 25% or greater of their time working with specialized population(s) within their department. Physical therapists at this level perform assignments in specialty areas such as geriatrics, neurology, cardiopulmonary, orthopedics, spinal cord injury, amputee, wound care, chronic pain, electromyography, women's health or pelvic health, polytrauma, brain injury, lymphedema, vestibular, assistive technology, seating and mobility. The individual is assigned responsibility for serving as the subject matter expert in the content specialty area and as a consultant to physical therapy and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the specialty area. Clinical Specialists have advanced knowledge and demonstrate expert clinical practice skills in providing assessment and treatment interventions across the continuum of care. He/she utilizes advanced knowledge and expertise to modify treatment plans and to identify therapeutic activity interventions based on the changing needs, goals and performance of patients. Clinical Specialists have advanced training in specialized technology related to their area of practice. He/she establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis. He/she exercises expert professional judgment to establish appropriate discharge planning recommendations to ensure safe discharge from inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation programs. If the medical center has a PT residency program, the clinical specialist may be on faculty for the program.

Preferred Experience: Minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical experience with acute medicine/surgical physical therapy setting.

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

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.