Physical Therapist (Home Based Primary Care)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Iron Mountain (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center seeks a licensed Physical Therapist to deliver in-home assessments, planning, and rehabilitation management for HBPC patients. The role emphasizes autonomous clinical decision-making and independent patient care in the home setting.

You will evaluate musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and other system concerns, establish diagnoses within PT scope, and coordinate care with the broader VA team to optimize outcomes and functional independence.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship or eligible per VA policy.
• English proficiency in speaking and writing.
• Education and experience: 1) BPT + 5 yrs independent experience; 2) MPT + 2 yrs; 3) DPT.
• CAPTE-accredited program graduation.
• Foreign grads must have full unrestricted U.S. license.
• Current, unrestricted PT license required.
• Temporary appointment possible for graduates under supervision.
• Maintain licensure; potential reassignment if needed.
• Grandfathering provisions may apply for current VHA employees.

Responsibilities

• Provide in-home PT assessments and planning for OGJVAMC HBPC patients.
• Deliver in-home physical therapy services to patients with complex conditions.
• Administer and manage rehabilitation in the home setting.
• Collaborate with care teams and refer when clinically indicated.

Skills

Autonomous clinical decisions

Clinical evaluation skills

Interpret findings & plan care

Diagnosis within PT scope

Prognosis & goals setting

Oversight of PTAs & students

Education

Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy

Master's degree in Physical Therapy

Doctorate in Physical Therapy

Job description

Carries primary responsibility for providing in-home physical therapy assessments, and the planning, and administration and management of rehabilitation in the home for patients of the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center (OGJVAMC) and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) Home Based Primary Care Program (HBPC). The physical therapist provides in-home services to patients with a wide variety of multiple, complex chronic illnesses and/or profound disabilities. 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 Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• 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.
• 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-profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration 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.
• Licensure: 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.
  • NOTE: 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.
• Loss of Credential: A PT who fails to maintain the required license must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. At the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation, if qualified, and if a placement opportunity exists.

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).

IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE, YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING GRADE REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION.

GS-11 Grade Requirements: Education, Experience, or Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-12 Grade Requirements: Education, Experience and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level and hold a valid unrestricted state license.

AND

GS-12 KSAs: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

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.

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: This position frequently requires moderate to heavy lifting. Normally such lifting will involve, but is not limited to, assisting with transfers or gait training of the client in the physical therapy clinic.