Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist)

Summary

The Minneapolis VA Health Care System (VAHCS) is recruiting for one (1) full-time Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) assigned to the SCI/D Center and physical therapy service. As a neurologic clinical specialist, the incumbent serves as a subject matter expert and consultant to physical therapy and medical center staff in managing neurologic patients and will spend most of their time in outpatient SCI/D physical therapy.

Duties

Major duties include, but are not limited to: The MVAHCS is a Complexity Level 1 facility with a National Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center (PRC), a Spinal Cord Injury and Neurological Disease Center (SCI/D), an Amputation Regional Center (ARC), a Polytrauma Transitional Rehabilitation (PTRP) program and a Polytrauma Network Site (PNS). The incumbent applies knowledge, skills, and abilities in professional physical therapy practice to provide care and treatment to patients referred to the Physical Therapy Section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS), spending the majority of time working within outpatient SCI/D physical therapy. Therapist is highly self-directed, works independently to treat patients within this population, and is proficient in delivering both inpatient and outpatient services for a broad range of orthopedic, neuromuscular, and mobility conditions, while maintaining the flexibility to cross-cover departmental needs. A portion of the services may be provided via telemedicine, and the work schedule may include weekends and holidays as needed. A. Clinical: Demonstrates advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities, and ability to interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating treatment outcomes in the area of neurologic physical therapy. Demonstrates the ability to guide the work of multidisciplinary team in the clinical management of the neurologic and SCI/D population. i. Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment, including independently evaluating and treating patients seeking physical therapy. ii. Performs routine to complex physical therapy evaluation and treatment considering the stage of life and tailoring education to meet patient learning needs involving family/significant others. iii. Involves the patient, family/significant other and medical team in treatment planning and goal setting through ongoing communication. iv. Plans and executes a full range of interventions and treatment modalities for a broad range of outpatient conditions (orthopedic, neuromuscular, vestibular, pelvic health, falls and mobility), adapting procedures based on current theory, research, and practice. v. Demonstrates independent problem-solving skills for frequent modification of treatment plans, employing innovative techniques and critically assessing treatment outcomes. vi. Assesses and requests prosthetic/orthotic equipment as needed and modifies them as necessary. vii. Appropriately recommends and refers to other medical specialties/services based on ongoing patient assessment. viii. Maintains a flexibility of schedule to allow for unscheduled patients, consultation and mentoring. ix. Consistently documents patient encounters in the electronic medical record per accepted PT practice, facility and service policies. B. Education: Teaches and mentors staff, and serves as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding delivery of care within the SCI/D Center and physical therapy programs. i. Provides clinical training experiences for physical therapy students, evaluating performance per APTA and academic guidelines. ii. Serves as teacher and mentor to staff and health professional trainees (including physical therapy students and residents). iii. Shares knowledge and expertise with the SCI/D Center team, physical therapy department, PM&R Service, medical center, and community through consultation, mentorship, in-services, and clinical training. iv. Provides regular educational offerings to teams/providers on Physical Therapy. C. Administrative: Knowledge and ability to comply with all applicable regulations governing documentation, medical records, reimbursement, and workload statistics in accordance with established professional practice and VHA. i. Actively participates in program development to improve efficiency and quality of the SCI/D Center. ii. Represents SCI/D Center and physical therapy in developing policies, procedures, quality assurance monitors, and standards of care. iii. Attends PM&R Service, Physical Therapy Department, and and SCI/D Center team educational and developmental meetings. Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm CST 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: (a) United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. (b) 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. NOTE: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PT's was either a bachelors or master's degree. In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate, master's, and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs. Effective 2002, CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in post-baccalaureate degrees(eliminating the baccalaureate degree). Effective 2015, professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students. 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. (c) Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. (d) 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. (e) 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. Grade Determinations: GS-13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and one of the following: 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 program; or An additional advanced degree in a related field. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the all following KSAs. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs. Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specia