Summary

The VISN Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) Physical Therapist position is a VISN-based position located in VISN 5. This Physical Therapist position is under the general supervision of the VISN 5 Pain CRH Medical Director. A Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) is a repository of clinical and administrative staff that serve Veterans Affairs facilities within a Veterans Integrated System Network (VISN).

Qualifications

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: 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
• Licensure
• 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
• NOTE: Individuals who have or have had multiple licenses and had any such license revoked for professional misconduct - professional incompetency or substandard care - or who surrendered such license after receiving written notice of potential termination of such license by the state for professional misconduct - professional incompetence - or substandard care - are not eligible for appointment to the position unless such revoked or surrendered license is fully restored (38 U.S.C 7402(f))
• Effective November 30 - 1999 - this is a requirement for employment
• This requirement does not apply to licensed physical therapists on VA rolls as of November 30 - 1999 - provided the individual maintains a continuous appointment and is not disqualified for employment by any subsequent revocations or voluntary surrenders of State license - registration or certification
• 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
• 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
• 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 (a) 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
• Examples of Specialized Experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level include: Independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals
• Perform 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 personal and environmental factors
• Interpret findings from examination - diagnostic studies/medical tests and - during evaluation - select appropriate clinical tests and measures - and then integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations
• Establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed
• Select appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals they treat
• Practice autonomously - making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care
• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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
• 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
• Preferred Experience (not mandatory): Evidence of a minimum of 2 -000 hours of clinical practice directly in evaluation - management - and treatment of chronic pain
• This time must be between the past two to five years
• or completion of Therapeutic Pain Specialist (TPS)
• or completion of a fellowship program
• or an additional advanced degree in a related field
• 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 GS-13
• 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.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Provide specialty care pain rehabilitation services to a panel of patients at one of the VISN facilities through a combination of virtual and in-person as part of an interprofessional specialty pain care team
• Plans and carries out the full range of treatment where therapeutic objectives are complex and procedures involved require the application of highly specialized skills and knowledge - including but not limited to the application of orthopedic manual therapy as it relates to complex chronic pain conditions
• Responsible for the application of behavioral strategies to recognize and address fear avoidance presentations - as well as for adapting physical therapy approaches to patients presenting with a combination of severe mental and physical disabilities
• Primary role in the development and application of physical therapy interventions implemented within the CARF-accredited interdisciplinary pain program
• Demonstrates expertise in assessing - planning - implementing - and evaluation treatment programs for adult patients with complex pain problems
• Provides feedback and instruction to all associated health care team members and students
• Utilizes evaluation data to plan and implement comprehensive patient treatment programs - immediately involving patient in the goals setting and treatment processes as feasible
• Modifies treatment plan according to evaluative findings on an ongoing basis to meet short- and long-term goals
• Demonstrates a full professional and current understanding of the theories of physical therapy treatment and their proper application - particularly those specialized techniques related to complex chronic pain problems
• Involves the patient - family - significant others - and pertinent health care staff in the treatment process by ongoing communication through demonstration - instruction - team conferences - and chart documentation as appropriate to each patient's treatment goals
• Participate in continuous quality improvement initiatives to enhance the delivery of safe - effective - virtual movement and pain education services
• Work Schedule: 08:00am-04:30pm Monday through Friday Telework: This position has been approved for a Return-to Office (RTO) mid term exception - which allows for the facility leader to grant employees in the identified position an extension until further guidance is provided - - as determined by agency policy
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 25101-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized