Summary Incumbent provides physical therapy services within the Pain Service including Outpatient Pain Rehabilitation Program (OPRP), Pain Rehabilitation Clinic at the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System and affiliated Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Services will include evaluations, education and treatment, individually or in groups, of veterans with acute, chronic, and post-operative medical, neurological, orthopedic and pain conditions Responsibilities VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Duties include but are not limited to: Clinical Specialists have advanced knowledge and demonstrate expert clinical practice skills in providing assessment and treatment interventions across the continuum of care for chronic pain patients. Carries out the full range of treatment where therapeutic objectives are complex, and treatment involved requires the application of highly specialized skills and knowledge, particularly as related to chronic pain patients. Established treatment procedures are not always applicable and, at times, must be substantially adapted and applied with critical concern for patients who are acutely or chronically ill, or who have a combination of severe mental or physical disabilities with secondary complications. A Clinical Specialist is guided by differential and movement diagnosis, PTs perform 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 fact attributable to unique personal and environmental factors. Uses additional privileges with demonstrated training to include ordering diagnostic imaging, laboratory studies, specific pharmacy, and therapeutic medications approved by the medical facility in accordance with applicable requirements from The Joint Commission as needed to enhance clinical decision making. Incumbent utilizes advanced knowledge and expertise to modify treatment plans and to identify therapeutic activity interventions based on the changing needs, goals, and performance of patients. The employment of unusual and innovative treatment techniques is often necessary to obtain the best medical/surgical outcome. Incumbent must coordinate and employ multiple treatment approaches simultaneously to accomplish complex treatment objectives. Clinical Specialist have advanced training in specialized treatments related to their area of practice and demonstrates expertise in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating treatment programs for adult patients with chronic pain conditions. Incumbent provides feedback and instruction to all associated health care team members and students. Incumbent may be on faculty as part of the Physical Therapy Residency Program. Completes evaluation and treatment in a timely fashion; chart review will allow the incumbent an opportunity to assess appropriateness of the referral and possible contraindications for treatment. Consults are scheduled considering priority and frequency of care, and coordination of schedules with other members of the treatment team. Flexibility of schedule must be maintained to allow for unscheduled patients and for mentoring and consultation. Evaluation includes medical history, results and interpretation of the appropriate tests and measurements performed. Tests are frequently complex and may need to be adapted because of multiple physical and emotional disabilities or present conditions. Established diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identified appropriate intervention to treat and/or referred to another provider for further consultation when needed. Incumbent determines physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences for meaningful level of function to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes. Collaborates with Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R)/OPRP physicians, Pain Rehab Physician Assistants, Pain Medicine Physicians, pain psychologists, therapeutic recreation practitioners, pain pharmacists, chiropractors, program support assistants and other team members as needed to ascertain appropriate care of patients who suffer from chronic pain. Selects appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or substitute for limited function of individuals they treat. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 635-557700 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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. 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications 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: Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Education and experience. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (3) 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. Grade Determinations: GS- 13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) Experience. 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: 1. 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 2. Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; or 3. Completion of a fellowship program; or 4. An additional advanced degree in a related field. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs. 1. Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy. 2. 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 (see paragraph 2i). 3. Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy. 4. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy. 5. Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area. Preferred Experience: 2-3 years experience in Chronic Pain. Training in Battlefield Acupuncture, Yoga, Dry needling, Tai Chi and Cupping is preferred 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-13. Physical Requirements: The OKC VA HCS has a no-lift policy. There are lifts available throughout the hospital/CBOC if heavy lifting is required. Frequent lifting up to 35 pounds with frequent bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, overhead reaching and getting up and down from the floor may be required during the performance of this therapy position. 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 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.
