Summary

The Primary Purpose of the Position is: The Orthopedic/Manual Therapy Clinical Specialist Physical therapist (PTICS) performs higher-level duties which consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety. The Organizational Location of the Position is: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service, primarily assigned to Fort Worth campus of the VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS), Dallas, TX Outpatient Clinic.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• The basic requirements for employment as a VHA physical therapist are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C. §
• 7402
• To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of physical therapist in VHA must meet the following: 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: 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
• 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
• The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is a non-profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and U.S. state licensing authorities by evaluating the credentials of Foreign Educated Physical Therapists (FEPTs) who wish to immigrate and work in the U.S. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction, foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US
• The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is committed to protect the public and to provide leadership within the field and practice of physical therapy
• FSBPT's Foreign Educated Standards Committee has developed standards that represent "best practices"
• in evaluation services
• The Credentials Evaluation Standards were developed with input from the physical therapy credentialing agencies that are licensed to use FSBPT's Coursework Tool
• Licensure
• Individuals must 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. chapter 73 or 74, to serve in direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English
• 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 all of the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 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
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Five or more years of experience in an outpatient clinical setting with acute musculoskeletal conditions
• Experience collaborating with the Safety Data process, ordering and requesting equipment quotes
• Experience interpreting, integrated and establishing a diagnosis within the scope of PT, identifying appropriate rehab intervention and plan of care to include referral to another provider for further consultation as clinically indicated
• Experience interpreting findings from examination, diagnostic studies and/or medical test
• selecting appropriate clinical test and measures, including relevant evidence-based data and norms
• Experience supervising physical therapy assistants and physical therapy students
• Experience performing evaluations for acute and/or chronic injuries to include systems review and impairments of: musculoskeletal, neurological, orthopedic, cardio-pulmonary, pain management, integumentary, etc
• References: VA Handbook 5005/99, Part II, Appendix G12, dated February 7, 2018 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13
• **Qualifications continue under Additional Information section**

Duties

• Clinical Functions: Patient Care include but not limited to: Physical Therapist Clinical Specialist is assigned responsibility for serving as the subject matter expert in the content specialty area and as a consultant to physical therapy and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the specialty area
• Performs comprehensive patient evaluations and treatment implementation
• Veterans are scheduled for evaluation considering caseload complexity and acuity
• Evaluations address rehabilitation potential, behavior, motor skills, and psychosocial development
• Barriers to learning are identified and strategies to overcome them developed and implemented to ensure accurate patient evaluation
• Conducts advanced comprehensive patient examinations to identify rehabilitation problems, establish treatment goals and develop the plan of care
• Guided by differential diagnosis screens for systemic diseases and medical conditions that can mimic neuromuscular and musculoskeletal problems
• Reviews past medical history, risk factor assessment, clinical presentation, associated signs and symptoms, and review of bodily systems
• Perform examinations and evaluations of individuals with acute and chronic illnesses, who have or may have developed impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary systems, cognitive and/or physical limitations, while considering the effects attributable to unique personal and environmental factors
• Determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences for meaningful level of function in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes
• Reviews of medical records to interpret findings from examination, diagnostic studies and/or medical tests
• Treatment Implementation include but not limited to: Evaluation findings are used to develop and implement comprehensive patient treatment plans including objective, measurable goals, timeliness for completion
• Demonstrates a full professional understanding of selective therapeutic techniques and modalities related to the patient population being treated
• Collaborates with nursing and the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team to facilitate the operation of the ward/unit/clinic to meet common goals
• Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, rounds, family conferences and other meetings as needed
• As a member of the treatment team, maintains a working relationship with medical and allied health care providers
• Provides the equipment, materials, instruction, encouragement, or counseling necessary to promote functional mobility and activities performance
• Assesses, selects, adapts, and/or fits assistive and adaptive devices in accordance with rehabilitation goals
• Identifies clinical situations where standard treatment recommendations, based on best evidence, should be modified with regard to Neurology patient's preferences & treatment/care goals, life expectancy, co-morbid conditions, and/or functional status
• Administrative functions include but not limited to: Receive and triage patient referrals/consults, patient self-referrals and adheres to consult compliance established guidelines and is knowledgeable of admission criteria for each program (inpatient/outpatient) for appropriate continuum of care placement
• Select appropriate adaptive devices and equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals they treat
• Manages and coordinates schedules and programs determined by patient caseload
• Work Schedule: 7:30a.m
• - 4:00p.m
• 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 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required