Summary The Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation service at the Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System, Muskogee VA Medical Center and Tulsa Campus is recruiting for one (1) Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) Orthopedic Clinical Specialist assigned to Primary Care. Responsibilities VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Major Duties and Responsibilities: Monitors and makes work assignments, provides input on performance, resolves daily workplace issues and maintains efficient workflow. PTs at this level have experience that demonstrates the possession of advanced practice skills and judgment across many areas of physical therapy for both inpatient and outpatient clinics. Assists PTs in determining treatment options for complex patients with multiple conditions. Responsible for ensuring work is completed by distributing and balancing workload among employees in accordance with established work flow or job specialization; assuring timely accomplishment of the assigned workload; and assessing the status, quality and progress of work, and making day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial. This individual demonstrates treatment competency that qualifies him/her to perform patient treatment procedures on Veterans with acute and chronic musculoskeletal complaints prior to being seen by their Primary Care provider or Specialist. The physical therapist will function within a scope of practice to request diagnostic tests and changes to treatment pending approval notification of referring practitioner in case of adverse patient response. The physical therapist is viewed as an expert of musculoskeletal conditions in this setting by members of each PACT team, whose skills are beyond entry-level competence, functioning beyond the full performance level, in a direct access environment. Establish goals, discharge plans, and referrals to other specialties based on evaluation findings and planning with the treatment team, patient, family, and/or significant other. Appropriately coordinates with PACT provider and triages patients to outpatient rehabilitation or CHOICE for Assess the need for and the patient's ability to use adaptive equipment required to increase the patient's function, independence and safety. As necessary, orders the appropriate equipment, issues it to patients, and trains them in the proper use of the device(s) in the PACT environment. Independently solves problems and helps determine diagnosis not covered by the manuals, assists with triage to radiology and specialty clinics, adapts and modifies treatment plans, activities and procedures, without supervisory guidance, to meet complex and challenging needs of the patients evaluated in PACT. Evaluate new adaptive aids, prosthetic and/or orthotic equipment. Coordinate with Prosthetic Department on restocking items in PACT and recommendations and appropriate modifications to enhance patient functional capabilities as evaluated in PACT. Routinely consults with staff and resident physicians from all specialties and guides the multidisciplinary team in musculoskeletal examination and treatment as it relates to physical therapy. Generally, only seeks guidance from supervisor in unusual clinical or administrative conditions. Direction and advice regarding problems of treatment, effectiveness of treatment, timeliness of treatment and documentation may be offered by administrative and clinical supervisors, as appropriate. Provides and arranges in-service training lectures on various treatment techniques, discusses patient designed treatment plans, and reviews algorithms for PACT Orthopedic referrals. Evaluates, revises and develops training materials, aids, methods and plans, being free to explore basic theories and principles of physical therapy, with students and other EC&R staff to include therapies, nursing, PACT providers, social work, psychology, integrative health and other ancillary staff. Provide clinical training and supervision to physical therapy and PACT students. Assists other staff members in identifying needs and designing and implementing programs for assigned services as needed. This individual is responsible for maintaining safe and healthy working conditions and environment for patients and staff. This individual will also advise staff regarding safety, health, infection control and welfare of both staff and patients in treatment areas. Assists with coordinating follow-up appointments with PACT providers if direct access musculoskeletal examination performed by physical therapist suggest complaints are non-mechanical in origin requiring further examination. Assists with coordinating referral to Emergency Room if symptoms observed during examination are consistent with serious medical condition requiring immediate intervention. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Telework: Ad-hoc; Situational Ad-hoc as directed by agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 52356-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a trial period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination / evaluation. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualifications The PACT Physical Therapist provides a wide range of Veteran services and is assigned to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System, Muskogee VA Medical Center and Tulsa Campus. The physical therapist performs evaluation and treatment of patients in Primary Care as well as coordinates this program through communication with multiple disciplines including PACT, ER, Radiology, Orthopedics, Prosthetics and Social Work. The physical therapist is expected to carry out additional assignments and could be assigned to any area in the Physical Therapy Section as needed but serves as subject matter expert at least 95% of the time in Primary Care. The Orthopedic Clinical Specialist assigned to Primary Care has responsibility for program development and program continuity in the area of Primary Care serving as a musculoskeletal expert. The physical therapist spends the majority of his/her time working in the Primary Care clinic area performing direct access Orthopedic examinations and treatment in as well as helps guide Veteran care for musculoskeletal complaints requiring communication and coordination to/with several other disciplines in addition to the PACT team. 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 and experience. NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university (transcript required). Experience. Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR Doctorate degree in physical therapy. 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. GS 13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) Grade Determinations: GS- 13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) (Above the full performance level) 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: 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 An additional advanced degree in a related field. Preferred Experience: Ortho Physical Therapy training Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. This vacancy is for a GS-13 position, which is above the full performance level. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must demonstrate the ability to walk, to get to other hospital locations on a daily basis, standing, repeated bending, reaching overhead, and pushing Veterans and objects for up to four hours a regular shift, prolonged sitting, moderate lifting and carrying of 15-44 pounds. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
