Physical Therapy Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair's Ann Arbor VA Health System seeks a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) to support the Physical Therapy Department within PM&RS. The PTA will promote prevention, remediation and rehabilitation of physical and psychosocial dysfunction across acute and chronic cases.

Applicants may be referred and tentatively selected while meeting educational and licensure requirements; full hire is contingent on meeting all requirements, including licensure and credential

Qualifications

• United States citizenship is required or eligible per VA policy.
• Education: PTA associate degree or equivalent and NPTE pass.
• Licensure: active PTA license in the United States or DC.

Responsibilities

• Independently implement treatment plans based on patient needs and disability.
• Provide varied PT interventions (exercises, gait, neuromotor development, etc.) per care plan.
• Collect and assess data to monitor patient progress and outcomes.
• Instruct patients on home programs and materials to improve adherence.
• Modify treatment techniques based on learning needs and perceptions.
• Identify critical changes in vital signs, pain, mobility, or alertness to adjust care.

Skills

Independent treatment plan development

Interdisciplinary team collaboration

Patient instruction and education

Assessment/data collection

Monitoring patient progress

Recognizing critical changes in status

Education

Associate degree PTA program (accredited)

NPTE pass for PTA

Military PTA program NPTE

Job description

Position is located in the Physical Therapy Department of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) in the Ann Arbor VA Health System. The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) provides treatment that promotes the prevention, remediation and rehabilitation of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction.

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. Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • (1) Associate degree from an accredited community college, junior college, college or university in a physical therapy assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; OR
  • (2) [Graduate of foreign physical therapy assistant degree programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs. OR
  • (3) Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs.]
• Licensure. Current, full, active and unrestricted license as a PTA in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States, or 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

Physical Therapy Assistant, GS-8

(1) Experience. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade in the normal line of progression.

(2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.

In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• (a) Ability to independently implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patient's disability and needs.
• (b) Ability to independently provide varied and multifaceted physical therapy interventions based on the established care plan (e.g., therapeutic exercise, balance, body mechanics, flexibility, strength, gait training, neuromotor development, physical agents, functional training, etc.).
• (c) Knowledge of physical therapy data collection and assessment techniques in order to perform specific interventions and to monitor and capture progress of the patient/client.
• (d) Ability to instruct patient on varied interventions to provide materials to enhance compliance with home programs.
• (e) Ability to modify treatment techniques based on the learning needs and perceptions of the patient.
• (f) Ability to identify critical changes (e.g. vital signs, pain, mobility and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status.
• (g) Ability to work with PTs and other interdisciplinary healthcare team members to evaluate patient information for planning, modifying and coordinating treatment programs and discharge planning.

Preferred Experience:

Acute care setting, complex patients, inpatients rehabilitation.

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 8.

Physical Requirements:

This position frequently requires moderate to heavy lifting. Normally such lifting will involve, but not be limited to assisting with transfers or gait training of the client in the physical therapy clinic. Part of this position will involve sedentary work involving computers and communications.