This position is located at the RR&D National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR), which is part of the VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS; aka Portland VA Medical Center PV AMC), Portland, OR. The incumbent will serve as a Research Physical Therapist (RPT) on an RR&D Service-funded project (#C3924-R) titled, "Developing Tools and a Care Path for Somatosensory Tinnitus." This is a part-time, temporary position. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. 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 the VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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. 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 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. 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. 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). 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. OR, Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR, Doctorate degree in physical therapy Grade Determinations: GS-12 Full Performance Level: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSAs).In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. 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. 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. 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. Ability to determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals, optimize outcomes and maximize functional independence. Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs. Preferred Experience: Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) certification and experience in a clinical or human subjects research setting such as a hospital or medical center that provide knowledge and experience performing the above duties and responsibilities with a significant degree of autonomy. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/99 PART II APPENDIX G12. Physical Demands: Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (.25 hours); Standing (.25 hours); Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Depth perception; Hearing (aid may be permitted).; Working alone To receive credit for experience in your resume that is not within the official series and grade level of your position, you must provide official documentation of such experience as indicated above. 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit OPM's web site at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/standards/indexes/alph-ndx.asp. ["This is a bargaining unit position. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Total Rewards Work Schedule: Part-time, 16 hours per week Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not available Telework: Available Duty Location Status: Will work from a VA owned or leased space Position Description Title/PD#: Physical Therapist/ PD287170 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Physical Demands: Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (.25 hours); Standing (.25 hours); Near vision correctable at 13\" to 16\" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Depth perception; Hearing (aid may be permitted).; Working alone. Major Duties: Serves as a Research Physical Therapist (RPT) and co-investigator of one or more local or multi-site clinical trials at this VAMC and, in connection with such research studies, to provide quality health care as a licensed practicing physical therapist and as a research professional trained to perform specific study related procedures, assessments and operations related to orthopedic and manual therapy. This position involves interaction with and/or clinical care delivery to a culturally diverse population of Veterans, active military, family members, friends and/or acquaintances - any of whom may be approved under a specific protocol to become officially enrolled study subjects. Works on potential project preparation and/or continuation/ completion/ closure post- funding is by arrangement.; Mentors, advise, assists, supervises, and/or performs on behalf of potential/ current / past sponsors, collaborators, investigators (mostly physicians) and/or others new to research in general, at the VAPORHCS or within VHA; Conducts research formulation, research project budget creation and management, staff recruitment/ credentialing/ hiring; Acts within guidelines research protocol, when applicable, to effectively implement applicable physical therapy practices such as health promotion and prevention interventions, identification and/or management of impairments and/or associated acute and chronic illness states. Leads and/or manages clinical projects that might investigate intervention with roots in other health care disciplines."]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
