Physical Therapist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Shavano Park (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Physical Therapist to provide comprehensive physical therapy evaluation and treatment for Veterans across inpatient, outpatient, rehabilitation, community living, and specialty care settings.

The role requires a PT degree and state licensure with progressive independence based on experience, working Monday–Friday with standard clinic hours. Strong interdisciplinary collaboration and quality improvement involvement are expected.

Qualifications

• Must hold a Physical Therapy degree and a valid license to practice in the United States.
• Experience or readiness to work across inpatient, outpatient, rehabilitation, community living and specialty care settings.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate patients to determine functional status and rehabilitation needs.
• Develop individualized, comprehensive PT plans of care.
• Provide therapy using exercises, modalities, education, and assistive devices.
• Monitor progress and adjust treatment plans as needed.
• Coordinate care with physicians and other health professionals.

Skills

Autonomous practice

Clinical evaluation

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Direct access evaluation

Assessment & diagnosis

Education

PT degree required

State licensure in PT

Job description

Summary

Provides comprehensive physical therapy evaluation and treatment for Veterans across inpatient - outpatient - rehabilitation - community living - and specialty care settings. Develops individualized plans of care - documents outcomes - coordinates with interdisciplinary teams - educates patients - caregivers - students - and staff - and supports quality improvement - equipment safety - and program operations. Work is performed with increasing independence based on experience and demonstrated competence.

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
• Foreign Graduates
• Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the education requirement 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
• 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: GS-11 Physical Therapist (Entry): Education - Experience - and Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level): 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 KSAs below: Demonstrated 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: Experience evaluating and treating chronic orthopedic pain populations Experience working in a direct access setting Determining differential diagnoses Assessing imaging and referral appropriateness Experience working within an interdisciplinary team 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: Heavy lifting - 45 pounds and over
• light carrying - under 15 pounds
• straight pulling for 0.5 hours
• pushing for 0.5 hours
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers
• both hands required
• walking for 0.5 hours
• standing for 0.5 hours
• crawling for 0.5 hours
• kneeling for 0.5 hours
• repeated bending for 1 hour
• climbing - legs only - for 0.5 hours
• climbing using legs and arms
• ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• both eyes required
• ability to distinguish basic colors
• hearing - with aid permitted
• specific visual requirement - with corrective lenses acceptable
• mental and emotional stability.

Duties

• Evaluates patients to determine functional status - impairments - rehabilitation needs - and treatment priorities
• Develops individualized - comprehensive physical therapy plans based on each patient's condition and goals
• Provides treatment using therapeutic exercise - physical modalities - education - prostheses - assistive devices - and other appropriate interventions
• Monitors patient response - progress - and functional outcomes and adjusts treatment plans as needed
• Recommends appropriate mobility - adaptive - and therapeutic equipment to improve safety and independence
• Coordinates physical therapy services with physicians and other health care professionals to support the patient's total care
• Establishes treatment goals - expected duration of care - and discharge plans
• Educates patients and caregivers on treatment activities - equipment use - safety - and management of functional limitationsDocuments evaluations - treatment goals - interventions - equipment recommendations - progress - and discharge summaries in the medical record
• Provides physical therapy services across inpatient - outpatient - rehabilitation - community living - home-based - and specialty care settings
• Participates in interdisciplinary conferences and medical meetings concerning patient care
• Ensures clinic procedures and standards of care support safe - effective - and professionally compliant treatment
• Maintains physical therapy equipment in safe - operable condition and reports needed repairs
• Supports quality assurance activities by collecting - reviewing - and evaluating clinical data
• Trains physical therapy students - volunteers - staff - and other health care professionals
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7:30am to 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 54320-F - 54271-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized