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This position is located in the Therapy Section of Rehab & Extended Care Service at the Hudson Valley VA Medical Center. The PTA administers and monitors therapeutic interventions based on goals formulated by a Physical Therapist, but must be able to carry out a general treatment plan without the direct involvement of a Physical Therapist. The incumbent may be assigned duties at either Castle Point or Montrose campuses, as well as any one of the 7 community-based clinics (CBOCs).
05/28/2025 to 06/06/2025
$65,202 - $84,769 per year
GS 8
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
No
Not required
No
Permanent
Full-time
Excepted
None
No
No
CBTE-12742479-25-JB
837682000
Duties include, but not limited to:
A. Patient Care Management
1. Receives and interprets requests or instructions for procedures from the Physical Therapist or physician. Plans and implements specialized treatment programs and applies physical therapy procedures to patients under the general supervision of a Physical Therapist. Employee may carry out or oversee the work of lower graded assistants to accommodate requests.
2. Completes a preliminary review/examination of patient data (including medical history), compiles and organizes pertinent information, and develops/presents a patient profile to the Physical Therapist, to be used in assessing patient's status. Assists with or renders a course of treatment based on the assessed needs of the patient, developing progressive types of physical therapy treatment programs. This is done in consultation with a Physical Therapist or physician.
3. Assists Physical Therapists in development of a comprehensive specialized treatment plan that includes long and short-term goals. Persuades and motivates veterans and family members to participate in treatment plans and comply with indicated regimens and post-discharge activities. Interacts with the patient and family regarding goals for treatment.
4. Assists in the performance of, or independently performs, highly specialized and diversified treatment procedures. Utilizes the full range of modalities including heat, cold, sound, electricity, and massage. Administers non-complex active and passive therapeutic exercise. Fits, adjusts, and instructs patients in the use of orthoses, prostheses, and mobility appliances. Instructs, motivates, and assists patients to learn activities and daily living and improve functional activities. Prepares and maintains appropriate equipment and supplies required for these treatments.
5. Varies procedures or positions to adjust for patients' medical conditions. Modifies intervention environment, tools, materials, and activities in response to each patient's response to treatment. With prior approval of the therapist, adapts the technical procedures and approaches involving new and unusual treatment and rehabilitation objectives to meet the individual patient's needs. Modifies or adapts specialized treatment approaches within the scope of the established treatment plan to reflect the changing needs of the patient.
6. Assists the physical therapy staff in research projects, in-service training, public relations programs, and quality assurance/performance improvement initiatives.
7. Prepares and presents written and oral reports for physicians, physiatrists, nursing staff, fellow therapists, and all other professionals concerned with the patient's care. Participates in family and multidisciplinary team meetings to identify patient's needs, report on patient's goals and progress, and to assist in planning patient's treatment program.
8. The PTA independently documents all patient care rendered and initiates consults for appropriate patient care equipment inherent to the physical therapy scope of practice.
9. Maintains a safe work environment to include non-technical maintenance of equipment, safety check, cleaning, stocking, etc. Develops safe work habits to prevent injury to patients, co-workers, and self. Reports to Therapy Supervisor the need for equipment or items necessary for patient treatment.
B. Human Resources Management:
1. Maintains a high level of competence through participation in continuing education programs. Assists with the supervision and training of Physical Therapist Assistant Students, volunteers, work students and other healthcare practitioners.
2. Participates in training of new physical therapy staff.
3. Continually participates in various committees in the hospital to give input from the rehab perspective.
4. Participates in continuing education and in-service training to further professional development.
5. Completes the annual training/education required by the facility as mandatory.
6. Completes required continuing education to maintain current and valid licensure.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00a-4:30p
Compressed/Flexible: Not available
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 12492F
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
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.
You will not be contacted for additional information.
Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.
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.
The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, series and grades for all federal positions held, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 06/06/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12742479.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
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NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/837682000. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.