Summary The Physical Therapist serves as a clinician, consultant, and subject matter expert for the treatment of Veterans for the Department of Veterans Affairs, primarily at the VHA CBOC site for the SLC VAHCS Responsibilities Helps coordinate scheduling and implements the evaluation and treatment of patients needing Physical Therapy services, primarily at the VHA CBOC site in Orem, UT, for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Performs physical therapy evaluations and treatments for patients and employees, ages ranging from adult to geriatric, having a variety of disabilities. Serves as a clinical instructor, attending clinician, and resident mentor, having clinical oversight with specific mentoring of professional skills for assigned PT Residents, DPT and/or PTA interns from various academic institutions. Serves as role model for PT Residents, students, and other medical center staff in having advanced clinical competency, therapy skills, and professionalism. Employs unusual motivational techniques to enlist patient participation and adapts equipment and procedures to carry out a full range of complex treatment activities and interventions. Evaluates patient's condition upon appropriate referral to physical therapy to determine treatment plan. Refers patients to other specialty providers when determined necessary. Performs tests and measurements, and interprets results for use in preparing for, modifying, and/or evaluating patients, and subsequently adjusts treatment parameters based on changes in the patient's condition, outcomes, and response. Evaluates patient's needs with respect to prescribed braces and orthotic devices. Provides and assist the application of such devices to ensure the equipment has a proper fit, and that all training and documentation requirements are completed accordingly. Responsible for completing assignments aimed to improve the outpatient physical therapy clinical operation with VASLCHCS and the CBOC. Receives triaging all applicable consults/referrals. Schedules all patient appointments through HAS department Medical Support Assistants, ensuring that clinic profiles are utilized efficiently. Performs on the spot evaluations for patient care with Walk in clinic assignments, ensuring treatment area cleanliness, keeping sufficient supplies of necessary equipment, and participating in quality improvement initiatives. Reports any unusual circumstances, including difficulties with clinical operations, or difficulties involving the treatment of patients, directly to the CBOC Clinic Manager and Outpatient Physical Therapy Supervisor, or PM&R Department Chief as needed. Establishes and maintains appropriate Quality Assurance monitoring, including, but not limited to, completing delegated tasks and assignments, patient outcome reporting for quality of care, and documentation peer reviews. Receives, and helps coordinate, patient referrals to the Physical Therapy Service, and to other non-VA providers, verifying appropriate sources, and scheduling patients for evaluation and treatment according toVASLCHCS policy. Reviews charts to assess appropriateness of referrals, possible contraindications for treatment, and communicates effectively with each referring provider as needed. Assists with scheduling patients for treatment and coordinates schedules with other members of the treatment team. Documents patient performance toward achieving treatment goals, manages time appropriately, and assures a high level of productivity and work efficiency as directed by CBOC Clinic Manager, PT Supervisor, VASLCHCS policy, and VACO requirements. Assures all documentation for the outpatient physical therapy clinic is completed according to VASLCHCS policy for all patient visits and patient encounters, as required. Identifies clinical needs for the physical therapy service, including therapy equipment and continuing education. Provides continuing education in the form of in-services and clinical training programs to other clinicians, including physical therapists, residents, students, and other medical center staff. Serves as subject matter expert in relation to Orthopedic Physical Therapy, and assists other clinicians, residents, students, and medical center staff as an expert consultant for physical therapy. Continues to learn advanced skills in the orthopedic specialty by attending and participating in continuing education courses and training; this further strengthens his/her knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to utilize evidence-based practices and achieve successful patient outcomes. Work Schedule: 4days x 10 hr shifts.; 7:00am-5:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 51258A 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 identification 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 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. 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. 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. 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- 4 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. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction, foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is committed to protect the public and to provide leadership within the field and practice of physical therapy. FSBPT's Foreign Educated Standards Committee has developed standards that represent "best practices" in evaluation services. The Credentials Evaluation Standards were developed with input from the physical therapy credentialing agencies that are licensed to use FSBPT's Coursework Tool. 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: 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs. GS- 13 Physical Therapist Clinical Specialist Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy. 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). Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy. Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area (see Definitions, paragraph 2. i.). Preferred Experience: Evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area. Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. "Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019." 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 for 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.
