Physical Therapist

Summary Position located in the Physical Therapy division of the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation service within the Sheridan VA Health Care System working at the Rock Springs VA CBOC location. Provides Physical Therapy for patients with physical and/or functional disabilities limiting independence in self-care and living skills. Independently plans, develops, and implements Physical Therapy services including patient care, staff in-service and clinical education. Learn more about this agency Duties VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Clinic Responsibilities: Provides direct patient care as assigned delivering Physical Therapy services according to department requirements. Screens patients for Physical Therapy services for appropriateness, types of services and rehabilitation potential. Independently develops and implements Physical Therapy treatment using clinical judgment to modify the treatment because of changing medical conditions. Evaluates a wide range of patients with complex disabilities to determine level of function using standardized and non-standardized tests. Measures, fits, and instructs patients for the use of complex adaptive equipment assistive devices, functional mobility aids, and splints/braces. Assists multidisciplinary medical teams in coordination of patient care. Collaborates with other care providers including Physicians, Physical Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, and Recreational Therapist as appropriate to provide comprehensive therapy treatment. Communicates care plans to patients, caregivers, and medical providers. Utilizes Physical Therapy Assistants, aids, students, and volunteers to implement Physical Therapy services as appropriate. Safely and effectively uses equipment required for patient care using hospital policies and procedures, including appropriate cleaning, and disinfecting of reusable medical equipment. Administration: Assist in policy and procedure development as assigned. Assist the development of quality assurance, performance Improvement projects as assigned. Assist in the development of standards of care to ensure compliance with accrediting and professional organizations. Responsible for proper supply inventory levels and clinical maintenance for the physical therapy clinic. Serves on local, regional, and national VA committees and teams as assigned. Education: Acts as clinical supervisor for professional or technical level students as assigned. Educates other health professional and their trainees on the role of Physical Therapy services. Participates in department Grand Rounds and presents as assigned. Completes assigned VA trainings in TMS in a timely manner. Provides in-service and clinical training programs to other staff as needed. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 52340-A 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. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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. The basic requirements for employment as a VHA physical therapist are prescribed by Public Law 96-151 codified in 38 U.S.C. § 7402. To qualify for appointment, all applicants for the position of physical therapist in VHA must meet the following: Citizenship. Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. After a determination is made that it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens, necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States. Candidates must meet all other requirements for the grade and position concerned. 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. 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. 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-11 Physical Therapist (Entry) Education, Experience, and Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. (NOTE: See exception to licensure requirement in subparagraph 3c above.) Assignment. PTs at this level are responsible for providing assessment and treatment intervention. PTs plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition. PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required or may serve as the sole PT such as in an outpatient clinic. Licensed PTs may provide oversight and delegate patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant, and/or delegate non patient care duties to non-licensed staff. PTs that are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed PT. GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level) Education, Experience and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, hold a valid unrestricted state license and demonstrate all the KSAs below: 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 7 well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs. 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 11 to GS 12. Physical Requirements: 1. Heavy Lifting (45lbs and over) 2. Heavy Carrying (45lbs and over) 3. Straight Pulling (up to 4 hours) 4. Pushing (up to 4 hours) 5. Reaching above shoulder 6. Use of fingers (both hand required) 7. Walking (up to 8 hours) 8. Standing (up to 8 hours) 9. Repeated bending (up to 8 hours) 10. Both legs required ( or prosthesis use) 11. Ability to rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously 12. Specific visual requirement: Read typed chapters Correctable vision: 20/40 in one eye Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors. 13. Hearing Requirements: Hearing (Aid permitted) 14. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. 15. The incumbent must be a mature, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situation and able to shift priorities based on patient needs. 16. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. 17. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. 18. Transferring patients and objects may be required. 19. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to donn protective clothing in isolation situations or operative invasive procedures. 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. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.