Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist)- Orthopedics
What you'd do
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. As an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, the physical therapist serves as subject matter expert and role model for other members of the health care team by coordinating and triaging care for Veterans who present to Primary Care with musculoskeletal complaints.
Major duties
VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY 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. 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, i.e. Orthopedist or Neurologist. 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. Develops and carries out physical therapy treatments as indicated to meet the patients rehabilitation objectives of decreasing pain and rapidly improving function. Conducts treatment interventions one on one with patients in PACT. Appropriately coordinates with PACT provider and triages patients to outpatient rehabilitation or CHOICE for additional rehabilitation visits as needed. Assess the need for other services and refers as necessary based on subjective and objective evaluation, medical history and response to treatments if performed. 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. As an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist in musculoskeletal dysfunction, expertise is essential in examination of the orthopedic patient with knowledge required for all aspects of these complex impairments. This includes not only musculoskeletal limitations, but also other associated multisystem dysfunction that may result in referral to non orthopedic specialists. A thorough understanding of psychological changes associated with acute and chronic pain and loss of functional skills and abilities is also required. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Situational (Ad Hoc) Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 623-52356-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
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: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PT's was either a bachelors or master's degree. In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate, master's, and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs. Effective 2002, CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in post baccalaureate degrees(eliminating the baccalaureate degree). Effective 2015, professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students. 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. 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 on the condition that such PT provide care only under the supervision of a PT who is licensed. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. 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). 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: Ortho PT Training 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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-13 . 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
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.