Physical Therapist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Laughlin (NV); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Southern Nevada Healthcare System is seeking a Physical Therapist to provide care across outpatient, inpatient, and home settings.

The role includes performing tests, evaluations, and education in physical therapy, with cross-coverage as needed and rotations including nights, weekends, and holidays. The candidate must meet US licensure requirements; education and experience pathways are outlined for PT (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate) with

Qualifications

• Candidates must meet licensure requirements in the United States.
• Foreign graduates must have full unrestricted license to practice in a U.S. state or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Examin es and treats patients referred to the Physical Therapy Department.
• Perform tests such as range of motion, manual muscle testing, and gait analysis.
• Develop and modify therapy plans using manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, and neuromuscular reeducation.
• Provide education to patients, families, and caregivers.
• Coordinate with the care team and supervise trainees as appropriate.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy

Master's degree in Physical Therapy

Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy

Job description

Summary

The Physical Therapist serves the outpatient - inpatient - and home settings within the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System with responsibility for the performing various tests (manual muscle testing - gait training - range of motion - etc.) - evaluations - and education in the area of physical therapy. She/he may require rotation and are skilled in their ability to provide cross-coverage in all settings - works off-hour shifts - weekends - and holidays as priorities demonstrate a need.

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: (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 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-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: Holds 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
• GRADE DETERMINATION: GS 12 (a) Experience
• In addition to meeting the basic requirements - one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs.GS 11 Equivalent experience include but no t limited to the following: 1
• 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
• 2
• 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
• 3
• 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
• 4
• 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
• 5
• 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
• 6
• 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
• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSA) 1
• Ability to coordinate workflow and clinical activities as well as monitor data reports within physical therapy section to ensure optimal patient care
• 2
• Ability to articulate and communicate to the clinical team the assignment - project - problem to be solved - actionable events - and objectives - as well as to advise on work methods - practices and procedures
• 3
• Ability to provide new staff orientation - staff development - and training
• 4
• Demonstrates advanced skill to serve as mentor and coach of the clinical team
• 5
• Ability to manage staffing requirements and priorities - and coordinate work in order to complete duties in an accurate and timely manner
• This includes the ability to follow-up on pending issues and demonstrating an understanding of the impact of incomplete work
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 12
• Physical Requirements: Work includes regular and recurring physical exertion in standing - bending - kneeling - reaching - gripping and walking
• Moderate to heavy lifting is required to assist patients and operate equipment
• Sitting is required in meetings and for conducting administrative work
• Above average agility may be desirable in defending oneself (or others) against physical attack/abuse
• Work may require good physical health - normal use of arms and legs and good visual and auditory acuity
• 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)
• CONTINUATION OF QUALIFICATIONS IS FOUND IN ""ADDITIONAL INFORMATION""

Duties

• VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Duties to include but not limited to the following: Responsible for the examination and treatment of patients referred to the Physical Therapy Department Follows the orders detailed in consults from a physician or other approved provider - reviews the medical record independently - and evaluates each patient to determine functional deficits and the best method to accomplish rehabilitation goals
• Evaluates patients - including medical history - interpretation of imaging results - administering and interpreting the results of measurements such as: range of motion - muscles testing - sensory deficits - coordination - functional mobility - pain scales - etc
• Uses standard and non-standard methods for evaluation and interpretation of a wide variety of patient physical functional levels and providing progressive treatment
• Develops therapy programs in accordance with the instructions of a physician or other approved provider through the use of manual therapy - therapeutic exercise - therapeutic activities - neuromuscular reeducation - gait training - postural training - heat - cryotherapy - ultrasound - TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) - and other appropriate methods/modalities
• Demonstrates the teaching skills required to provide education to patients - family members - caregivers - employees - students - and coworkers
• Deals tactfully and effectively with the physically and mentally disabled patients
• Functions autonomously in carrying out patient education - specialized treatments - and applying physical therapy procedures for which competency has been established and in accordance with laws or regulations and APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) documents
• Observes condition of patients during treatment and may modify the treatment plan if deemed injurious to the health of the patient
• consults with referring provider to outline long range programs for a patient and reports progress or results
• Modifies the treatment plan based on the changing needs - goals and performance of the patient
• Demonstrates proper judgement on the appropriate length of time for a patient's episode of care based on the patient's functional progress
• Provides supervision - guidance - instruction to SDPTs (Student Doctor of Physical Therapy) - SPTAs (Student Physical Therapy Assistant) - and other members of the healthcare team
• Demonstrates advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform home safety assessments - plans and develops comprehensive programs to meet patients' needs in the home-based setting - and provide specialized physical therapy interventions and treatment modalities used in the home-based setting
• This may include - but is not limited to - evaluating Veterans' homes for structural modifications needed to make the home environment safe and accessible - determining needs for durable medical equipment (DME) - training and monitoring safe use of DME - teaching body mechanics to patients and caregivers to minimize risk of injury and monitoring Veterans' functional status
• Attends IDT meetings - regularly presents patients to physicians and other team member providing information regarding performance - current status - and continuing goals
• Works effectively with treatment team members and other healthcare providers in coordinating the patient's care
• Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 7:30 am - 4:00pm PST Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: : 09082-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized