Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. Area of Consideration: First consideration is current, permanent employees of the VA Phoenix Healthcare system, second consideration all current, permanent employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Incumbent is responsible for the care and treatment of patients referred to the Outpatient clinic at the Phoenix VA, spending the majority of time working in the area of general outpatient PT. Incumbent will be competent in provision of both inpatient and outpatient physical therapy services for a broad range of orthopedic, neuromuscular and mobility conditions. Incumbent demonstrates advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in routine to complex primary care PT populations (e.g. comprehensive multisystem assessments beyond the musculoskeletal system including cardiopulmonary, integument, neurologic, lymphatic, pain and function) as well as advanced ability to incorporate relevant findings from laboratory tests, pulmonary function tests, imaging and other medical tests in the comprehensive management of the Outpatient PT population. Incumbent will maintain a high level of flexibility to allow cross-coverage to meet departmental needs. The incumbent may provide a portion of his/her services via telemedicine. Tour may include weekends as department need dictates.

Duties include but not limited to the following:

• Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment.
• Ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy.
• Involves the patient, family/significant other and medical team in treatment planning and goal setting through ongoing communication.
• Plans and carries out the full range of complex interventions and treatment modalities across body systems and conditions where therapeutic objectives are complex and procedures involved require the application of advanced knowledge and skill in the area of outpatient primary care physical therapy in a direct access PACT setting (e.g. exercise and wellness recommendations in context of Health Promotion Disease Prevention, psychologically informed approaches based on biopsychosocial models, complex pain interventions, advanced manual therapy techniques including spinal manipulation, dry needling, vestibular rehab interventions).
• Adapts and applies treatment procedures with critical concern for patients who are acutely ill, or who have a combination of severe mental/emotional or physical disabilities.
• Demonstrates independent problem solving skills that allow for frequent modification of treatment plans in response to subtle, but significant changes in the condition of the patient.
• Demonstrates advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in primary care PT populations (e.g. comprehensive multisystem assessments beyond the musculoskeletal system including cardiopulmonary, integument, neurologic, lymphatic, pain and function).
• Advanced ability to incorporate relevant findings from laboratory tests, pulmonary function tests, imaging and other medical tests in the comprehensive management of the PACT PT population.
• Demonstrates an understanding of epidemiology and population health regarding impacts on lifespan management.
• Makes recommendations and referral to other medical specialties/services as needs are identified during ongoing assessment of this routine to complex patient population.
• Early recognition of hallmark signs for chronic disease processes and ability to make appropriate referral/consultation, recognition and referral for psychological health conditions including depression and suicide screening, incorporating appropriateness criteria in making informed recommendations for laboratory, imaging, electrophysiological or other medical testing.
• Assesses for and requests prosthetic/orthotic equipment as needed and is able to make modifications as necessary.
• Maintains consistent and timely documentation of patient encounters in the electronic medical record in accordance with accepted PT practice, facility and Rehabilitation Service policies and procedures.
• Participates in regular team meetings, verbal and written communication and consultation amongst team members in order to guide and evaluate the work of the multi-disciplinary outpatient programs.
• Assists in the care of patients other than those of the specialized area of outpatient physical therapy as the needs of the department dictate.

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 evaluation.
• 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:

• Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education. Applicants must meet one of the following requirements below possessing a degree from an approved program by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university.

1. A Bachelor's degree in physical therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist; OR
2. A Master's Degree in physical therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist; OR,
3. A doctorate degree in physical therapy

• Licensure. Applicants must hold a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice physical Therapy in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.

• Note: 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

• Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs.

1. Ability to apply advanced knowledge of contemporary physical therapy within specialty area to provide clinical guidance, training or education for internal and external stakeholders.
2. Ability to serve as a consultant within the assigned program area for intra-agency and interagency planning and to provide service coordination to optimize program continuity, efficiency and effectiveness.
3. Knowledge of and skill in management, administration and/or education methodologies. This includes the ability to monitor and track data, utilize available resources effectively, evaluate program quality, and generate reports for local, and/or VISN and/or VACO leadership.
4. Ability to develop and coordinate treatment and/or educational programs within a concentrated field or specialty area, such as, but not limited to, amputee, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, student clinical education/residency programming, polytrauma/traumatic brain injury.
5. Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships within department and with other departments or affiliated programs.
6. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team.

• Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. PTs at this level have experience that demonstrates advanced practice skills and judgment across one or more areas of physical therapy. The individual may be assigned broad administrative responsibility. The individual is assigned a major content specialty area to include assessing, planning, evaluating and delivering care within a special clinical program or component of a Rehabilitation Service, which usually involves multiple disciplines. See the definition for specialty areas in paragraph 2. i, that includes Polytrauma/Traumatic Brain Injury, Chronic Pain, Amputation, Spinal Cord Injury and clinical education programs. PTs provide administrative direction and decisions related to the program. The Physical Therapy Program Coordinator is responsible for the coordination of multiple professionals from a variety of disciplines for optimal clinical care and educational programming. He/she implements programs, policies, and procedures to meet program goals, policy and external accreditation requirements. He/she monitors outcomes, participates in strategic planning and implements strategies for program improvement particularly in assigned content specialty area. The Program Coordinator supports the rehabilitation service and serves as a point of contact providing guidance to facility leadership on matters related to specialty content area. He/she collaborates with Clinical Specialists and with Rehabilitation Service leaders to assist with administrative processes to obtain resources and equipment for operations of content specialty area. He/she assists with developing local policy for new or emerging practices and technologies.

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.