Summary

The Physical Therapist position is in the Physical Medicine & Rehab Service (PM&RS) at the VA Boston Healthcare System in West Roxbury - MA location. The incumbent delivers Physical Therapy care in an Acute Care environment. This position is full time at 40 hours a week including weekend/holiday rotation at West Roxbury.

Qualifications

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
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• 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: 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 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
• 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
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the Basic Requirements listed above - the following education and experience criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-11 Physical Therapist (Entry): Assignment
• PTs at this level are responsible for providing assessment and treatment intervention
• PTs plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition
• PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required or may serve as the sole PT such as in an outpatient clinic
• Licensed PTs may provide oversight and delegate patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant - and/or delegate non-patient care duties to non-licensed staff
• PTs that are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed PT
• Education - Experience - and Licensure
• None beyond the Basic Requirements
• GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance): 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 KSA's below
• Experience includes but is not limited to: Providing assessment and treatment intervention
• plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition
• general assignments in any physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required or may serve as the sole PT such as in an outpatient clinic
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• Candidates must demonstrate ALL of the KSAs below: 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 7 well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs
• Preferred Experience: Experience in delivery of Physical Therapy care in an Acute Care environment
• Leadership - self-directed - and strong communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work/collaborate within an interdisciplinary team
• Creditable Experience: To be creditable - the experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics (KSAs) - also referred to as core competencies - and associated with the scope of physical therapy practice Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12
• Physical Requirements: The work requires frequent stooping - bending - walking - handling of wheelchairs and lifting in conjunction with treatment of patients
• At times - there may be undue heavy lifting due to unforeseen circumstances such as preventing a patient from falling
• Dexterity and skill in safe machinery techniques are required.

Duties

• The primary functions of this position are to perform PT examinations and evaluations - interpret findings from examinations - establish a diagnosis and prognosis within the scope of PT - and implement appropriate PT intervention plans for all patients referred
• Duties may include - but are not limited to: Provides assessment and treatment interventions to patients
• Develops rehabilitation objectives for individual patients - creates/implements patient treatment plans to restore and enhance their performance and potential for independent living or maximum function within their lifestyles
• Evaluates a wide range of patients with complex disabilities to determine level of function using standardized and non-standardized tests
• Plans an effective treatment program that is appropriate and indicated for the disabilities & conditions being treated
• Establishes short and long-term goals that are objective - measurable - and within certain time frames
• Works in collaboration with patient - family/caregivers - and other team members (MD - SW - Collaborative Care RN - etc.) to establish appropriate discharge plans
• Develops and carries out a full range of Physical Therapy treatment using a wide variety of evidence based treatment techniques and modalities
• Provides thorough written documentation of patient status - progress with therapy - therapy plan - and patient response to treatment
• Independently manages time to allow adequate time for direct patient care - administrative tasks - and patient care conferences
• Assists in the maintenance of the clinic and exhibits good safety practices following proper safety & infection policies and procedures
• Respond to patients - families - visitors - and co-workers requests for assistance in a timely - friendly and cooperative manner
• Participate in activities promoting problem solving and teamwork that support organizational goals and demonstrate initiatives to improve operations in the workplace that contributes to overall performance of the medical center
• Serves as clinical instructor - when assigned - for the training and supervision of part time and/or full time doctoral physical therapist student affiliates and physical therapist assistant student affiliates
• Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory - qualification - and performance requirements are met
• Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level
• Work Schedule: West Roxbury - Full Time - Sun-Thurs 08:00a.m
• to 4:30p.m
• Weekend and holiday rotation at West Roxbury
• Telework: Ad hoc - as determined by the agency policy
• Functional Statement #: F00240 - 523-F03273 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Notifications: Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay
• The incumbent may be required to work at any VA Boston Healthcare System campus or CBOC's as needed
• Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.