The Physical Therapist Pain Clinical Specialist is assigned to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Service at the Wilmington VA Medical Center, a facility of the Delaware and Southern New Jersey Health Care System. The PT performs evaluation and treatment of patients as well as coordinates this program through communication with multiple disciplines including PACT, ER, Radiology, Orthopedics, Prosthetics and Social Work. 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 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. 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-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. 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. Non-licensed PTs, who otherwise meet the basic requirements in this standard, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate PT at the GS-11 grade level under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 (a)(1)(D) for a period not-to-exceed two years from the date of employment. Physical Requirements. Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required 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 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 licensed PTs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. 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 grandfathered into the GS-0633 occupational series as PTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation. (2) PTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this 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. (3) PTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard and must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) If PTs who are grandfathered under this provision leave the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: GS-13 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level) (a) Education, Experience and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level, hold a valid unrestricted state license and demonstrate all the KSAs below: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 1. Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment. This includes ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services. 2. Skill in performing 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 effects attributable to unique psychosocial and environmental factors. 3. Ability to interpret findings from examination and evaluation, select appropriate test and measures, and integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations. 4. Ability to establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate rehabilitation intervention, including referral to another provider for further consultation as clinically indicated. 5. Ability to determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals, optimize outcomes and maximize functional independence. 6. Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005, PART II Appendix G12The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-12 only. Physical Requirements: Work includes regular and recurring physical excretion, with long periods of standing, bending, kneeling, walking, reaching, gripping, sitting, twisting, pulling, or pushing carts with inventories or activities involving retrieving items from shelves and cabinets. and patient transfers. Moderate to heavy lifting required. The position demands significant physical stress and strain such as lifting patients, crouching and crawling on mats, and occasionally defending him/herself against combative patient assigned to the incumbent. The work involves moderate risks or discomforts requiring normal safety precautions typical of a hospital setting. Must follow universal infection control precautions that may include having to "gown and glove" when providing treatment to patients. Sitting at meetings, desks or computer terminals for documentation purposes is also required. Operation and driving of a motor vehicle is also required. The job requires a high level of energy and may be psychologically stressful at times. ["VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Clinical Duties: Physical Therapist must provide the following: 1. Patient Care: Physical Therapist are expected to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the promotion of health, prevention of illness, treatment of disease, and care at the end of life, within traditional consult processes and within direct access delivery of care. 2. Medical/Clinical Knowledge: Physical Therapist are expected to demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving evidenced based practices, and the application of their knowledge to patient care and the education of others. The incumbent monitors and ensures provision of evidence-based, patient-centered diagnosis and treatment of disorders consistent with his/her training, scope of practice, and competencies. The Physical Therapist will function within their approved scope of practice as defined by APTA, State Licensing Board for their License. The incumbent must maintain a State PT license. Additionally, the PM&R clinician will complete annually, all the required competencies for their position. 3. Clinical Judgment: To ensure evidenced based learning and improvement, Physical Therapist are expected to be able to use scientific evidenced based practice and methods to investigate, evaluate, and improve patient care, through both the traditional Physical Therapy Consults and within the Direct Access Care models of delivery of care. 4. Interpersonal & Communication Skills: Physical Therapist are expected to demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that enable them to establish and maintain professional relationships with patients, families, and other members of the health care team. 5. Professionalism: Physical Therapist are expected to demonstrate behaviors that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development, ethical practice, and understanding and sensitivity to diversity, and a responsible attitude toward their patients and their profession. 6. Systems-Based Practice: Physical Therapist are expected to demonstrate both an understanding of the contexts and systems in which health care is provided, and the ability to apply this knowledge to improve optimizing health care. 7. Telehealth: Physical Therapist are expected to provide telehealth services to appropriate patients, through means of Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT), VA Video Connect (VVC), and other telehealth means approved by VA. Additionally, return phone calls and contact patients as necessary through telephone. 8. Provide individualized evaluation and treatment: The Physical Therapist will utilize standard medical evaluation procedures and physical therapy evaluation to evaluate and develop a physical therapy treatment plan. The Physical Therapist shall incorporate various evidenced based treatment techniques. The Physical Therapist will collaborate with the interdisciplinary team, including PM&R to ensure the whole health approach to patient centered care. The Physical Therapist will complete evaluations, re-evaluations, plan of care, treatments, and discharges. The incumbent is also responsible for coordination and supervision of treatment plans with the staff Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA), if position exists. Oversees treatment provided by staff physical therapy assistants (PTA) if one exists, as well as PT students and PTA students. 9. Provide group Physical Therapy: The Physical Therapist may provide group physical therapy, as determined, to be medically indicated and appropriate. 10.Complete clinical notes in electronic health record system: The Physical Therapist shall document and code information for billing related to patient care in the VA's electronic health care record on a timely basis following VHA policies. The Physical Therapist communicates with other health care providers as appropriate. 11.Maintain trainings and attend required meetings. Education 1. Physical Therapist are expected to show effectiveness in teaching, monitoring, and coordinating educational activities, and comply with necessary trainee supervision. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: May consider if fully staffed Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: Physical Therapist Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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