Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent Department of Veterans Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

Videos

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

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Participates in the implementation of the admissions process, developing interventions and goals that maximize function for patients on 12-bed inpatient rehab unit. Collaborates with interdisciplinary team.
• Liaise with staff to communicate concerns to interdisciplinary team.
• Engages in the rehabilitation referral process, serving as the primary liaison for outside consultations requesting rehabilitation services. Manages outside consults for potential admission into VA Inpatient Rehab by performing chart reviews to verify admission criteria and appropriateness in collaboration with PM&R Resident and Medical Providers. Coordinates admissions from the EOVAHCS other VA units, outside hospitals, SNFs, and home.
• Attend meetings and patient rounds as needed. Communicates regularly with staff to ensure pertinent and timely exchange of information.
• Demonstrates effective oral and written communication skills to develop a rapport with patients, families, healthcare providers, referral sources, and home health agencies. Documents appropriately in Electronic Medical Record.
• EOVAHCS Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program (CIIRP), responsible for implementation and management of program compliance, performance improvement, strategic plan development, and analysis of patient outcomes.
• Ensures compliance with regulatory agencies such as Joint Commission. Assists with submission of outcomes data to VA Data Systems, Outcomes, and GG scores.
• Develops and documents Strategic Plan, Performance Improvement Plans, Outcomes Analyses and other documentation requirements.
• Safety issues for the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit. As needed participates as Hospital Falls Committee member. Coordinates annual emergency safety training for the Interdisciplinary Team.
• Develops and implements quality improvement efforts related to all aspects of patient care and the rehabilitation program.
• Collect data, analyze trends, and identify areas of improvement on patient safety and risk management.
• Assists in the development of policies and standard operating procedures with both Department and Hospital-wide committees. As needed acts as Chair of Rehab Steering Committee.
• Collaborates with authorization staff to ensure funding sources are utilized in a fiscally responsible manner.
• Completes Community Care Consults for Medical Rehab to ensure timely and efficient care. Provides recommendation for alternative level of care. Collaborate with Community Nursing Home Program staff and Community Care staff as needed.
• The Physical Therapist is responsible for developing and administering treatment programs. In addition, s/he is responsible for his/her own professional development, keeping current with treatment techniques.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Compressed/Flexible:Not available
Telework: Not Available
Functional Statement #: 623-61073-0

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.

Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• 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.

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 appointment the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

GS-13 Physical Therapist (Program Coordinator)

• Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
  • Ability to apply advanced knowledge of contemporary physical therapy within specialty area to provide clinical guidance, training or education for internal and external stakeholders.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships within department and with other departments or affiliated programs.
  • Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team.

Preferred Experience: Acute Care/ acute Inpatient Rehabilitation

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.

Physical Requirements: Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, and reach frequently throughout the workday. Strength and endurance: To lift and support patients, especially during transfers or exercises. Visual acuity: Clear vision to assess client needs and observe movements. Auditory perception: Ability to understand verbal instructions and client communication. Cognitive abilities: Quick decision-making, problem-solving, and adaptability to different situations. Incumbent must be able to lift 50 pounds to chest height and maintain good body mechanics. 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.

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.
3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.

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.