Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. Area of Consideration: Current Permanent Fayetteville Facility Employees.

Videos

The Staff Physical Therapist is responsible for completing neuromusculoskeletal evaluations and treatments, completing medical record documentation, and providing patient/family education in both inpatient and outpatient settings. They are required to apply evidence based evaluation methodologies and treatment theories in the provision of care to patients with a vast array of functional impairments.

2. Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties:

• Assists Supervisory Therapist, Physical Medicine and Rehab Service (PM&RS) in planning and developing· various treatment programs to meet patient needs, as requested by PM&R Chief.
• Directly supervises the Physical Therapist Assistant {PTA) in clinical duties in the care of patients being treated by the PT's plan of care.
• Actively supports and promotes all programs of PM&RS.
• Assists with orientation of new PM&RS staff.
• Establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers inside and outside the VA network as needed in efforts to provide exceptional patient care (via written, telephone, and personal communication) on a regular basis.
• Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of Physical Therapy care.

Quality Assurance (QA) / Quality Improvement (QI):

• 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 Fayetteville VA Coastal Health Care. System (FVACHCS).
• Conducts record keeping related to patient care documentation and quality improvement (QI) data collection as specified by the Supervisory Therapist.
• Participates in Departmental program development and quality improvement projects to include, but not limited to, chart reviews, committee membership, and process improvement projects.

Treatment:

• Responsible for the examination and treatment of patients referred to the physical Therapy Section of the PM&R Service. Assesses patient dysfunction using appropriate measures/tests/tools.
• Communicates effectively with other internal and external healthcare providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis.
• Demonstrates the teaching skills required to provide education to patients, family members, caregivers, employees, students, and coworkers.
• Functions autonomously in providing patient education, specialized treatments, and applying physical therapy procedures for which
  competency has been established and in accordance with laws or regulations and within the scope of practice outlined by American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) standards.
• Responsible for modifying treatment plans, therapeutic activities and interventions based on the changing needs, goals and performance of the patient.
• Responsible for modifying treatment plans when either the established goals or time frames for achievement of those goals have been attained.

Documentation:

• Performs competent written documentation of initial examinations, progress notes, and discharge summaries. Demonstrates advanced competency in knowledge of electronic documentation and computer skills.
• Enters consults within the PM&R Section (i.e., to Occupational or Recreational Therapy) or to the Prosthetics department for durable medical equipment in accordance with PM&R and medical center policies.

Education

• Educates other facility personnel in the scope of PM&R Service programs involving a variety of health care specialties.
• Continually seeks to improve knowledge and skill by review of current literature, participation in in-service training, and attendance at continuing education programs.
• Provides continuing education and training to other staff members. The focus will be on maintaining and improving competency in all general clinical functions but may also include coursework directed toward the development and improvement of clinical instruction, delivery of patient care, data collection and reporting techniques, and utilization and reporting of outcome measures.

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

Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00a.m-4:30p.m
Telework: Ad-hoc- as determined by the agency
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives:
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.
• 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: 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.
    • 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.
• 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. The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is a non-profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and U.S. state licensing authorities by evaluating the credentials of Foreign Educated Physical Therapists (FEPTs) who wish to immigrate and work in the U.S. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction, foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is committed to protect the public and to provide leadership within the field and practice of physical therapy. FSBPT's Foreign Educated Standards Committee has developed standards that represent "best practices" in evaluation services. The Credentials Evaluation Standards were developed with input from the physical therapy credentialing agencies that are licensed to use FSBPT's Coursework Tool.

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).

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.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

• GS-11 Physical Therapist (Entry) Education, Experience, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements.
  • NOTE: See exception to licensure requirement above.
• 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 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.

Preferred Experience: 1. A graduate of (or soon to be graduate of) an accredited Doctorate of Physical Therapy program.
2. Licensed (or is eligible to sit for PT licensure exam within the next 6-12-months).

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is 11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 11 to 12.

Physical Requirements:
Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over, use of fingers, both hands required, reaching above shoulder, walking (8 hours), standing (8 hours), both legs required (1 prosthetic leg permitted), far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid permitted), and mental and emotional
stability.

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.