Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist)

Summary

The Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) position is located at Audie L. Murphy VAMC in San Antonio - Texas within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R).

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
• 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
• (4) 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
• Grandfathering Provision
• 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)
• Physical Requirements
• 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 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
• 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
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities 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 (see Definitions - paragraph 2
• i.)
• Preferred Experience: -3 or more Years experience as a physical therapist -2 or more Years experience working with all levels of brain injury/Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)s -Advanced musculoskeletal/orthopedic skills -Experience with vestibular -Experience working with active duty service member population Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Duties

• Duties may include but are not limited to: -Responsible for serving as a subject matter expert and as a consultant to physical therapy and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients
• -May perform ancillary assignments - including program management duties on an occasional basis
• -Responsible for in-depth evaluations of specialty patients for Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and orthotics including mobility aids - specialty lifts - bathroom equipment - bracing and other adaptive equipment
• -Understands rationale for all clinic procedures and has good operating knowledge of all equipment available for physical therapy treatments
• -Maintains all data for quality assurance monitoring and evaluates data at specific intervals
• -Maintains adequate level of supplies
• -Demonstrates the ability to teach and mentor staff in a specialty area
• -Provides in-services training for physical therapy staff and other professionals - as necessary
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7:30a.m
• to 4:00p.m
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 54262-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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