Physical Therapist - Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a GS-13 Physical Therapist to coordinate and enhance the Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program (CPRP) within APMS.

You will align medical and administrative priorities with program goals and serve as a subject matter expert for specialized physical therapy practices. Responsibilities include program development, evaluation, and leadership in a multidisciplinary setting, ensuring CARF or equivalent accreditation standards are met and patient care is

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with APMS and CPRP Medical Director to address medical and administrative issues affecting patient care and program operations.
• Coordinate, develop, implement and evaluate CPRP activities in APMS.
• Serve as consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers in specialized PT content area.
• Lead and mentor staff in specialized PT practice and ensure program compliance with accreditation standards.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy

Master's degree in Physical Therapy

Doctorate in Physical Therapy

Tools

CAPTE accreditation

Job description

The incumbent will coordinate with the Chief of Anesthesia Pain Management(APMS), the Chronic Pain Rehabilitation Program (CPRP) Medical Director to ensure that both medical and administrative issues effecting patient care and the general operations of the program are addressed. Incumbent is responsible for coordinating, developing, implementing and evaluating activities of the CPRP program in APMS.

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.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• 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: 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

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

GS- 13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) (Above Full Performance Level)

Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs (listed below)

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities

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 10 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

• 3+ years of experience in performing comprehensive functional assessments and developing physical therapy treatment plans for Veterans with chronic pain, particularly neck and low back pain.
• 3+ years of experience in scheduling, case coordination, and managing multidisciplinary chronic pain care, including coordination with vendors and logistics for physical therapy¿related items.
• 1+ years of experience in leading or coordinating a chronic pain rehabilitation program, including patient education, program administration, and ensuring the program meets CARF or equivalent accreditation standards.
• 2+ years of experience in providing virtual or telehealth physical therapy services for Veterans with chronic pain.
• 1+ years of experience with Whole Health physical therapy related modalities such as acupuncture and other complementary and integrative approaches.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety. Clinical Specialists spend at least 25% or greater of their time working with specialized population(s) within their department. Physical therapists at this level perform assignments in specialty areas such as geriatrics, neurology, cardiopulmonary, orthopedics, spinal cord injury, amputee, wound care, chronic pain, electromyography, women's health or pelvic health, polytrauma, brain injury, lymphedema, vestibular, assistive technology, seating and mobility. The individual is assigned responsibility for serving as the subject matter expert in the content specialty area and as a consultant to physical therapy and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the specialty area. Clinical Specialists have advanced knowledge and demonstrate expert clinical practice skills in providing assessment and treatment interventions across the continuum of care. He/she utilizes advanced knowledge and expertise to modify treatment plans and to identify therapeutic activity interventions based on the changing needs, goals and performance of patients. Clinical Specialists have advanced training in specialized technology related to their area of practice. He/she establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis. He/she exercises expert professional judgment to establish appropriate discharge planning recommendations to ensure safe discharge from inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation programs. If the medical center has a PT residency program, the clinical specialist may be on faculty for the program.

Reference can be found at the VA Qualification Repository, VA Qualifications Standards - Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO) GS-0633, Physical Therapist VA Qualification Standard dated February 7, 2018.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements (continued from Qualifications Section)

The incumbent should have the ability to perform physical activities such as sitting, typing, standing, walking (2-3 hours), bending, kneeling, reaching down to floor and up overhead, manual dexterity and coordinated use of all limbs and all digits, moderate to heavy lifting/carrying (45-60lbs.) and ability to be on feet most of the day (4-6hrs.)

Patient Safety Competency Statement

The incumbent will be responsible for promoting a culture of safety and will fully cooperate in efforts to improve patient safety and eradicate potential events including the reporting of events resulting in actual or potential injury to a patient. Incumbent must demonstrate knowledge of the reporting procedures involving safety issues relating to patients.