Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

Videos

• Serves as a consultant for all health care providers regarding Orthopedic Physical Therapy and rehabilitation.
• Educates/orients students, nurses, and other clinical staff regarding PT in general and specifically, as it relates to Orthopedic mgmt. Mentors therapy staff.
• Reviews and updates Orthopedic protocols, policy, and program at the VASTLHCS.
• Provides evaluations and treatments that are in alignment with up-to-date clinical practice guidelines and treatment for Orthopedic care that are evidence based.
• Plans, implements, and reports on performance improvement activities related to Physical Therapy services.
• Serves as subject matter expert (SME) for Orthopedic modalities and equipment, as it relates to Orthopedic mgmt.
• Collaborates with local, and regional universities, in the area of Orthopedic PT rehabilitation.
• Performs complex Physical therapy evaluation and treatment for male and female patients aged 20-85+ years old.
• Utilizes standardized, and non-standardized assessments, and compiles overall
  Occupational Health Information, concerning patient's social, physical, psychological and vocation status to determine a patient-centric treatment plan, based on current PT theory, research and practice.
• Plans and carries out the full range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities where therapeutic objectives are complex, and procedures involved require the application of specialized skills and knowledge in the area of Orthopedic . PT.
• 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.
• Treatment will be provided on the ward, in the facility and in the community as appropriate for the patient's needs. These skills and interventions will be based on current occupational therapy theory, research, and practice.
• Assesses for and requests prosthetic/orthotic equipment as needed and can make modifications as necessary.
• Makes recommendations and referral to other medical specialties/services as needs are identified during ongoing assessment of this complex patient population.
• Assists in the scheduling of patients according to the occupational therapy treatment plan while coordinating with the treatment plans of other disciplines within the team and facility. Maintains a flexibility of schedule to allow for unscheduled patients, patient/team consultation and mentoring.
• 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.
• Assists in the care of patients other than those of the specialized area Orthopedic rehab as caseload permits, or as the needs of the department dictate. Maintains a workload and productivity consistent with the standards established by the Physical Therapy Section and the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service.
• Fosters an environment that supports hope, be committed to eliminating barriers to the recovery, utilize ICARE values in the recovery process.\
• Develops and provides individualized clinical training experience for Physical Therapy students.
• Attends PM&RS in-services as well as hospital-wide in-services. Attends and completes mandatory in-service training as required by VA, PM&R, and PT policies.
• Provides necessary guidance, direction, and supervision to occupational therapy students, volunteers, and/or CWT workers assigned to the PM&R clinic.
• Specialist that participates as a PT Residency Mentor or Coordinator will work with the PT Residency Director and PT Supervisor and are required to maintain VA and ABPTFRE guidelines.
• Incumbent is responsible for over-seeing the day-to day operation of the clinic area to which assigned.
• Compiles and submits statistical data, reports and quality assurance findings to document program effectiveness, caseload, and attendance.
• Assists in the maintenance of the clinic and exhibits good safety practices following proper safety policies and procedures per VA, Joint Commission, CARF, OSHA, etc. for infection control, equipment etc.
• Participates in quality assurance projects and completes reports as required on patient treatment. Participates in quarterly occupational therapy peer review process.
• Participates in or coordinates program development for special programs
• Aware of safety concerns, regulations, policies, and procedures, and employs appropriate safety practices.
• Attends/participates IDT, as an active PT member of the Orthopedic team.
• Maintains adequate supplies, materials, and equipment for anticipated treatment needs, in line with budget.

Work Schedule: Tuesday-Saturday rotating holidays - Saturday is Acute care
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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 dentification 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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Education. Degree. Graduate from a degree program in physical therapy from an approved college or university approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). 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) Web site, or at their office address: American Physical Therapy Association, 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1488,703-68 4-2782, or 800-999-2782. (NOTE: Effective, January 1, 2002, CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in post-baccalaureate degrees).
• Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 2b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Any PT who has, or has ever had, any license(s) revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with regulations issued by the Under Secretary for Health or designee.
• 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.
• Licensure: Current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) 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 not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2).
• Non-licensed individuals appointed as a temporary graduate PT may not be appointed as a PT without being fully licensed.
• Note: A PT who fails to maintain the required licensure must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists. A PT who has, or has ever had, his/her PT license revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status may be appointed only in accordance with the provisions in Chapter 3, section B, paragraph 16 of this part.

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 meeting the basic requirements, the candidate must have one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and one of the following to qualify for GS- 13 Physical Therapist.· 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/residency program; or
• An additional advanced degree/certification in a related field.

Important Note: In addition to the experience above, the candidate RESUME must demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) or attach completed KSAs as separate Document to your resume:

• 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: Board certified clinical specialist or physical therapist with additional certifications related to pain education, or pain management or physical therapist with 5 years experience in direct pain management care. Preferred experience with pain modalities.
Position is Tuesday -Friday outpatient and Saturday works acute care

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

Physical Requirements: Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrids occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their health or the health of their co-workers. 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.