Physical Therapy Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Greater Los Angeles VA, seeks a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) to support the Physical Therapy Department within PM&RS.

Under a PT-established plan of care, the PTA administers and monitors interventions across clinical, administrative, and patient care areas. Applicants must meet federal requirements, hold an accredited PTA credential with NPTE passage, and be eligible for licensure.

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship as required for VA employment.
• English language proficiency for speaking and writing.
• Education as PTA per accredited program and NPTE/licensure requirements.
• Licensure: current, full, active PTA license in US state or DC.

Responsibilities

• Administer and monitor interventions under a PT plan of care.
• Collaborate with PTs and interdisciplinary team to plan discharge.
• Assist with documentation, data collection, and progress notes.

Skills

Independent treatment plan

Multifaceted PT interventions

Data collection & assessment

Patient instruction

Modify treatment techniques

Vital signs monitoring

Team collaboration

Education

Associate degree in PTA

NPTE for PTA / licensure

Military/PTA program equivalency

Job description

This position is within the Physical Therapy Department of PM&RS at the Greater Los Angeles VA. The PTA provides treatment aimed at preventing, reducing, and rehabilitating physical and psychosocial dysfunction. Under a PT-established plan of care, the PTA administers and monitors interventions across clinical, administrative, and patient care areas of the medical center. 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 in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education:
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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).

Grandfathering Provision: All individuals employed in VHA in this occupational series [or in another occupational series performing the duties as described in the qualification standard] on the effective date of the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/trademark/registration/certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

1. Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
2. Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels.
3. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of this standard.
4. Employees who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
5. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

Grade Determinations:

GS-8 Experience: Applicants must have at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7).
-AND-
In addition to experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Ability to independently implement treatment plan using knowledge of techniques related to the patient's disability and needs.
2. 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.).
3. 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.
4. Ability to instruct patient on varied interventions to provide materials to enhance compliance with home programs.
5. Ability to modify treatment techniques based on the learning needs and perceptions of the patient.
6. Ability to identify critical changes (e.g. vital signs, pain, mobility and alertness) in patient conditions to determine their medical and functional status.
7. 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: 2 years in outpatient clinical setting and experience with homeless or at risk populations.

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: May require moderate to heavy lifting involving but not be limited to assisting with transfers or gait training of the client while providing physical therapy. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.