Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) - Pelvic Health

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Qualifications:

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-13.

Basic Requirements:

United States Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy)

English Language Proficiency. Candidates 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.

Education and Experience. Candidates 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.

Creditable Experience: To be creditable, a candidate must have demonstrated possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the scope of physical therapy practice. Experience is only creditable if it was post degree experience as a professional PT and is directly related to the duties to be performed. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding the professional PT experience at the next lower grade level. The candidate's experience may be evidenced by one or more of the following:

1. Active professional practice. Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional PT as defined by APTA or the appropriate licensing board. Experience gained after graduation but prior to licensure is creditable provided the candidate was utilized as a graduate PT and subsequently passed the licensure examination.
2. Completion of a post-graduate fellowship or a post-graduate residency program may be substituted for creditable experience on a year for year basis. A post-graduate fellowship is a planned program of post professional clinical and didactic education for a physical therapist who demonstrates clinical expertise in an area of clinical practice related to the practice focus of the fellowship. (Fellows are frequently post-residency prepared or board-certified specialists). A post-graduate fellowship program includes advanced clinical and didactic instruction within a subspecialty area of practice with mentored clinical experience and sufficient and appropriate patient population to create an environment for advanced clinical skill building.

Licensure. Candidates 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.

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.

Grandfathering Provision. Applicants 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: In addition to the basic and education requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates:

GS-13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist)

Applicants at the GS-13 grade level must possess:

Experience. One year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals; 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 personal and environmental factors.

In addition to the above requirements, candidates must also possess one of the following:

1. 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,
2. Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; OR,
3. Completion of a fellowship program; OR,
4. An additional advanced degree in a related field.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the all following KSAs:

1. Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy.
2. 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.
3. Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
4. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
5. 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: Has 2 years of experience in men and women's outpatient pelvic floor therapy. Clinical training experience with post-cancer diagnoses and/or post-transplant care is preferred. Training in lymphedema management also preferred.

References: VA Handbook 5005/99 Part II, Appendix G12

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over, Use of fingers, both hands required, Reaching above shoulder, Walking (8 hours), Standing (8 hours), Both legs required (1 prosthetic), Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Ability to distinguish shades of colors, Hearing (Aid permitted), and mental and emotional stability. Will meet and maintain physical and drug test program requirements for the position as required.

Responsibilities:

The physical therapist (PT) assignedto the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the Washington, DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, a complexity level IB facility. The incumbent is assigned to work primarily in one of the following settings: outpatient therapy, inpatient therapy or CLC rehabilitation. However, the therapist is trained as needed to cross-cover to other areas. All therapists are on a rotating back-up schedule to cover inpatient therapy on the weekends. The incumbent can use professional knowledge effectively and must possess initiative, tact, resourcefulness, and good judgment in exercising authority. The incumbent is responsible for assessing quality of physical therapy referrals, performing evaluations, creating plans of care, and coordinating with referring providers and community care partners.

The clinical specialist spends at least 25% or greater of their time working with specialized populations (Pelvic Health). The incumbent is assigned responsibility for serving as a subject matter expert in pelvic health and as a consultant to physical therapy and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in this specialty area. The clinical specialist abilities and skills are necessary for treating both male and female patients having complicated pelvic floor and/or pelvic health medical conditions. The incumbent actively participates and mentors' trainees and/or students in the accredited orthopedic residency program and student affiliations programs.

Clinical Duties:

• Demonstrates advanced knowledge and demonstrates expert clinical skills in providing assessment and treatment interventions across the continuum of care.
• Possesses specialized training in pelvic health and demonstrates expertise in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluation treatment programs for geriatric adult and adult veterans with complex pelvic health and orthopedic problems.
• Utilizes advanced knowledge and expertise to modify treatment plans and to identify therapeutic activity interventions based on the changing needs, goals, and performance of veterans.
• Demonstrates advanced training in specialized technology, advanced knowledge, and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment related to orthopedics and pelvic health rehabilitation
• Serves as a consultant for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within pelvic health physical therapy.

Educational Duties:

• Acts as Clinical Instructor for affiliating schools for physical therapy for at least 1 student per year.
• Educates other facility personnel in the scope of PM&RS services and programs involving pelvic health specialties.
• Functions as a mentor to medical center staff in complicated pelvic health cases and provides specific instruction and training to medical center trainees.

Administrative Duties:

• Acts as the point of contact for the DCVA Transplant program, assisting to coordinate services for patients.
• Establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in veteran care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis.
• Receives and/or reviews all applicable consults/referrals, and maintains sufficient supplies and equipment from Prosthetics and Logistics departments needed for patient care.
• Reports any unusual circumstances, difficulties with clinical operations, or difficulties involving the treatment of patients, directly to the Physical Therapy/Kinesiotherapy Supervisor or Clinical Coordinator of PM&R.
• Performs competent written documentation of initial examinations, progress notes, and discharge summaries in compliance with medical center and APTA standards in a timely manner consistent with medical center guidelines.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday; 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telework: Available- as determined by the agency policy
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact the VISN 5 EDRP Coordinators at VISN5EDRPCoordinators@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Salary : $200,000 - $0