Physical Therapist

Summary

This occupational series is eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). Repayment is limited to $10,000 annually, up to $100,000 in lifetime awards. Participants must sign a service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program.

Duties

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Major duties include but are not limited to: Receives the patient's referral from an appropriate physician/ provider or via Direct Scheduling / Direct Access protocols within NWIHCS. Written communication is consistently done in a timely fashion and in accordance with the guidelines of the PM&RS policy. Independently provides assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals. Evaluation includes a medical history, results, and interpretation of the appropriate tests and measurements performed. PTs interpret findings from examination, diagnostic studies /medical tests and, during evaluation, select appropriate clinical tests and measures, and then integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations. Establishes a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identifies the appropriate rehab intervention, including referral to another provider for further consultation as clinically indicated. Participates in team meetings, patient conferences, interdepartmental meetings, in-services, ward rounds, or other opportunities as they arise to share information with the health care team and support seamless health care provision for our veterans. Evaluates the patient's needs for assistive devices and procures these devices from the Prosthetic Department or works with Prosthetics to schedule the patient for the appropriate Prosthetics/Orthotics Clinic for prescription and fabrication. Routinely employs unusual motivational techniques to enlist patient participation and adapts equipment/procedures to carry out a full range of complex treatment activities. Routinely supervises students from programs affiliated with the Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System. Student supervision consistently requires orientation, goal setting and provision of a suitable learning environment for the student by readily assisting the student when needed, in service education of the student as needed and objective evaluation of student performance, both verbally and in writing. Physical Therapists may be called upon to serve in one or more multidisciplinary programs. Participates in team performance improvement projects on a routine basis. Utilizes concepts of performance improvement in daily practice. Successfully completes training on proper outpatient scheduling practices if required to enter patient appointments in appointment management. Routinely supports effective patient scheduling practices following the VA Directive. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm, weekends and holidays as assigned. Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. After a determination is made that it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens, necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States. Candidates must meet all other requirements for the grade and position concerned. Education and experience. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy. 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. 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. 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. 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: 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: 1.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. 2.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. 3.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. 4.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. 5.Ability to determi