Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist - Dry Needling)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Hampton (VA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

The Dry Needling Clinical Specialist Physical Therapist at Hampton VA Medical Center, within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, provides advanced neuromusculoskeletal evaluations and targeted treatments.

Candidates must meet VA requirements: US citizenship, English proficiency, CAPTE-accredited degree with licensure, and appropriate experience or board certification; GS-13 level with potential for grandfathering.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctorate in Physical Therapy with required experience or board certification.
• Must be a CAPTE-accredited program graduate and licensed in the U.S.
• U.S. citizenship and English proficiency are required.
• One of: 5 years (Bachelor's), 2 years (Master's) with progression, or Doctorate in PT.

Responsibilities

• Perform neuro-musculoskeletal evaluations and treatments.
• Serve as a clinical specialist and consultant in dry needling within PM&R.
• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team in the specialty.

Skills

Advanced PT interventions

Clinical consultation

Mentor staff

Lead multi-disciplinary team

Interpret outcomes tests

Job description

The Dry Needling Clinical Specialist Physical Therapist is assigned to the Physical Therapy Department within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Hampton, VA, which is a Complexity Level 1C facility. The Therapist is responsible for completing neuro-musculoskeletal evaluations and treatments.

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.
• English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education and/or 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.
  • 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.
• License: Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted state license to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia.

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

Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level as an physical therapist; AND

GS-13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist - Dry Needling)

• 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,
• Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; OR,
• Completion of a fellowship program; OR,(d) An additional advanced degree in a related field.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy.
• 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.
• Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
• Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy.
• Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area.

Reference

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

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

Physical Requirements

Given the probability of patient treatment, the work requires above-average agility and dexterity, 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.