Physical Therapist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Bedford (MA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a full-time Physical Therapist for the Bedford Healthcare System. The role involves evaluating and treating patients, making autonomous clinical decisions, and providing oversight to assistants. Ideal candidates should have a degree in Physical Therapy and relevant experience, with a focus on patient care in a rehabilitation setting.

Benefits

Education Debt Reduction Program

Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen and proficient in English.
• Requires a full, unrestricted license to practice physical therapy.

Responsibilities

• Conduct evaluations and treatment for patients in a Direct Access environment.
• Provide clinical oversight to Physical Therapy Assistants and students.

Skills

Autonomous Clinical Decision Making

Patient Evaluation

Treatment Planning

Clinical Oversight

Education

Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy

Master's degree in Physical Therapy

Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy

Job description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program 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 review of the EDRP application.

Duties

This Physical Therapist position is in the Sensory and Physical Rehabilitation Service at the VA Bedford Healthcare System, located at the Bedford, Massachusetts location. This position is full time at 40 hours per week.

The majority of clinical duties and responsibilities are carried out in the Rehabilitation Clinic with additional services that may be required throughout the medical center.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

Requirements

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: Individuals 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: 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.

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.

Grandfathering Provision: 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 DETERMINATION: GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level)

In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSA's (Knowledge Skills and Abilities):

• 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: Minimum 2 years outpatient experience. Alzheimer certified preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Appendix 12 Physical Therapy Qualification Standard 0633 Veterans Health Administration.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 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, such as patient lifts, are required.

Work Environment: The work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts which require special safety and health precautions, e.g., working regularly with patients and in situations where there is risk of exposure to contagious diseases, odors and/or flammable gases. The therapist is required to wear protective clothing such as gloves and a mask to prevent disease and the spread of infection.