Career Center

Summary

This position will be assigned to the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Services Department within the Montana VA Health Care System. Primary responsibility of this position is to the Assisted Mobility workload however - the incumbent has the clinical experience to provide coverage for the general physical therapy needs of the Rehabilitation Services Department. The Assisted Mobility specialist duties will encompass over half of the assignment.

Qualifications

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
• 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 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
• NOTE
• Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct - professional incompetency or substandard care - or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the state for professional misconduct - professional incompetence - or substandard care - are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C 7402(f))
• Effective November 30 - 1999 - this is a requirement for employment
• This requirement does not apply to licensed physical therapists on VA rolls as of November 30 - 1999 - provided the individual maintains a continuous appointment and is not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license - registration or certification
• Loss of Credential: A PT who fails to maintain the required license must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment
• At the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation - if qualified - and if a placement opportunity exists
• 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- 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 4
• An additional advanced degree in a related field
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate 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 (see paragraph 2i)
• 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 (see Definitions - paragraph 2
• i.)
• Preferred Experience: Experience in Assisted Mobility patient care Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent must demonstrate the ability to walk - to get to other hospital locations on a daily basis - standing - repeated bending - reaching overhead - and pushing Veterans and objects for up to four hours a regular shift - prolonged sitting - moderate lifting and carrying of 15-44 pounds.

Duties

• The Assisted Mobility Clinical Specialist is responsible for the screening - assessment - prescription - ordering - assembly - patient training - and delivery of all specialty assisted mobility devices with the goals of timeliness - efficiency - and accuracy
• The goal of the prescriptions is to properly fit the patient with a specialty mobility device that enhances their function - minimizes pressure areas - provides mobility and maintains their comfort and quality of life
• This requires that the therapist be familiar with all internal and external processes related to the procurement of prosthetic equipment - including National VA regulations and local policies
• He/she is able to identify problems in the system that hinder the above goals - and work with other departments in an effort to resolve obstacles
• The incumbent must be familiar with VA benefits and current technology regarding specialty assisted mobility and is a subject matter expert for other therapists and staff on this topic
• This provider is also called upon to make repairs and adjustments to manual and power mobility devices and seating systems as needed (and within scope) to ensure the safety and optimal function of the device for Veterans with changing/progressing conditions
• For Veterans with assisted mobility needs - the incumbent is responsible for independently providing physical therapy assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals (as applicable)
• The incumbent interprets findings from examination - diagnostic studies/medical tests and then integrates findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations
• This includes using standard and nonstandard methods for evaluating complex cases to identify problems and baseline levels of function - aligning examination findings with the patient's preferences for meaningful level of function in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes - and/or referring to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care
• The incumbent assesses the patient's need for adaptive devices - equipment - or modifications to ensure maximum safety and independence including - but not limited to - ADL equipment - special seating - custom wheelchair prescription - environment control systems and architectural barrier assessments
• In the provision of care - the incumbent will provide the full range of comprehensive treatment procedures designed to improve or restore function through the use of evidence-based physical therapy
• The incumbent will utilize pertinent developed protocols - recognize any contraindications or precautions - and modify treatment as needed for patient's changing medical condition(s)
• Additionally - the incumbent provides patient/caregiver education as part of planned treatment progress regarding utilization of devices - safety - therapeutic exercises - and rehabilitation potential
• Documentation of all care will be completed in accordance with local directives - guidelines - and Joint Commission standards
• The incumbent is responsible for completing all encounters for workload (patient care) in accordance with national and local directives and guidelines - including correct CPT and diagnosis code usage
• He/she assists with clinical management of consults - including consideration for referral to community care for initial or ongoing care requests
• This individual offers interdepartmental and intradepartmental in-services - attends and participates in department in-services - medical center educational offerings - annual mandatory training - and professional conferences and workshops
• The incumbent has the ability to develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for - and independently provide clinical oversight of physical therapy or physical therapy assistant students
• He/she interprets and explains physical therapy programs to patients - residents - medical/nursing staff - allied health professionals - students - volunteers - visiting public and MTVAHCS officials The incumbent consistently follows all department administrative processes - including but not limited to - consult triaging - scheduling - prosthetic item ordering - and maintains current knowledge of all applicable directives and standard operating procedures (SOP)
• The incumbent ensures inventory and supplied needed for patient care are maintained and follows departmental procedures for the ordering and re-ordering of supplies
• He/she attends departmental staff meetings - and shares ideas and concerns regarding the program with peers and supervisor
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: AD Hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 436-59837-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized