Physical Therapist Job in White River Junction - 88210141 - ZAXKRKC9971JW

Job Title:
Physical Therapist

Department:
Department Of Veterans Affairs

Agency:
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Job Announcement Number:
2011-PMRS-009

SALARY RANGE:

Salary commensurate with education and experience.

OPEN PERIOD:
Monday, February 07, 2011 to Saturday, December 31, 2011
SERIES & GRADE:GS-0633-^/^

POSITION INFORMATION:
Part-time NTE 20 hours per week  

Permanent

DUTY LOCATIONS:
1 vacancy - White River Junction, VT

WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED:

Applications will be accepted from US Citizens, from current and former competitive service Federal employees, and people eligible under special hiring authorities.

JOB SUMMARY:

Evaluates patients, plans, establishes and executes a full range of treatment procedures designed to restore homeostasis to the individual patient or to enhance the adaptive capacities through the use of physical measures, activities, prosthesis or assistive devices. Provides home programs as appropriate and involves significant others in this process.  Physical therapists also conduct teaching activities for appropriate students and staff.  Must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients referred, and be able to evaluate and treat this population.

Additional Duty Location Info:
1 vacancy - White River Junction, VT

Receives the patient's referral from appropriate referral source and schedules the patients for evaluation and treatment in a timely fashion.  Chart review will allow an opportunity to assess appropriateness of the referral and possible contraindications for treatment.

Evaluation includes a medical history, results and interpretation of the appropriate tests and measurements performed.  Tests are frequently complex and may need to be adapted because of multiple physical disabilities or present condition.

Demonstrates a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment of physical therapy and their proper application through the use of therapeutic rehabilitation, and reconditioning procedures.

Utilizes evaluation data to implement comprehensive treatment plan, involving the patient in the goal setting process if feasible.

Demonstrates knowledge of the principals of growth and development over the life span.  Possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to age specific needs.  Provide the care needed as described in the department's policy and procedure manual.

Maintains medical records applying the principals and standards of the problem oriented system as per P.T. Procedure Manual.  Completes required statistical reports.

Recognizes adverse reaction to treatment and initiates effective action immediately.  Maintains patient safety.

Employs motivational techniques to enlist patient participation and adapts equipment and procedures to carry out a full range of complex treatment activities.

Involves the patient, family and/or significant others, and pertinent health care staff in the treatment process by maintaining effective communications.

Evaluates patient's needs of assistive devices, procuring devices form the Prosthetics Service or scheduling patient for the appropriate prosthetic clinic for definitive prescription and fabrication.

Recommends adjustments for prosthetic/orthotic devices or makes adjustments on devises or adaptive equipment to obtain maximum benefit from the device.

Plans and implements appropriate patient education programs, involving the patient, family and/or significant others in the instructional process.

Communicates readily with the multidisciplinary treatment team, advising the team of the patient's needs and progress, exchanging discharge planning information with them.  This communication occurs through team meetings, ward rounds, written reports and informal communication – such as personal contact and telephone conversations.  Written communication is done in a timely fashion.

Schedules patients for treatment, considering priority, frequency of care and coordination of schedule with other members of the treatment team.

Plans and presents in-service education programs, when requested, to P.T. Section PM&RS personnel and to other services as appropriate.

Provides clinical training for physical therapy and physical therapy assistant students.  Supervision of students will enable them to fulfill the educational professional requirements of the training program.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Basic Requirements:

     a.  Citizenship.  Citizen of the United States. 

     b.  Education

     (1)  Degree.  A baccalaureate degree in physical therapy or an equivalent certificate in physical therapy from an accredited college or university and completion of a physical therapy clinical practice program.  Both the education and clinical practice program must have been approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education and have been completed at an accredited college or university.  Verification of approved programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association website.

     (2)  Foreign Graduates.  Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 2a if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

Applicants must provide an official copy of their college transcripts.

     c.  Licensure.  Current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or in the District of Columbia

     d.  Physical Requirements.  Must pass a pre-employment physical.

e.    English Language Proficiency.  Physical Therapists must be proficient in spoken and written English.

(f.)  Experience.  Assignment as a clinical specialist requires the equivalent of 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level.  The experience must be directly related to the position to be filled.

Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist or Program Manager).  Individuals in this assignment spend a majority of their time working in a specialty or a special program area (e.g. geriatrics, spinal cord injury, musculoskeletal disorders, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, stroke/head injury and arthritis, etc.)  The assignment will generally occur at active, affiliated VA facilities where the physical therapy program has specialized patient treatment programs.  An example of such an assignment would include, but would not be limited to the following:

a.  Independently solving complex problems as related to physical therapy, adapting and modifying treatment plans, activities, and procedures to meet the need of patients with complex disabilities;

b.  Serving as a subject matter expert in the specialty area and as a consultant to physical therapy and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the specialty area;

c.  Serving as a mentor to other therapists evaluating and treating patients in the specialty or program area;

d.  Providing in-service and clinical training programs in the specialty or program area; and

e.  Teaching at the affiliated college or university in the specialty or program area.

     (1)  Degree.  A baccalaureate degree in physical therapy or an equivalent certificate in physical therapy from an accredited college or university and completion of a physical therapy clinical practice program.  Both the education and clinical practice program must have been approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education and have been completed at an accredited college or university.  Verification of approved programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association website.

     (2)  Foreign Graduates.  Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 2a if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

Applicants must provide an official copy of their college transcripts.

You must be a U.S. citizen to qualify for this position.

After appointment, you will be subject to random testing for illegal drug use.

You must have a certification, licensure, or registration credentials in Physical Therapy for this position. In some cases, these may be substituted for experience and education.

You will need to successfully complete a background security investigation before you can be appointed into this position.

Applicants for this position must pass a pre-employment medical examination.
HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Applicants schooling and licensure will be verified.

BENEFITS:You may participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, with costs shared with your employer. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#FEHB.

Life insurance coverage is provided. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#life

New employees are automatically covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). If you are transferring from another agency and covered by CSRS, you may continue in this program. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#retr

You will earn annual vacation leave. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#VACA

You will earn sick leave. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#SKLV

You will be paid for federal holidays that fall within your regularly scheduled tour of duty. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#HOLI

If you use public transportation, part of your transportation costs may be subsidized. Our human resources office can provide additional information on how this program is run.

Qualified federal employees may be covered by our child care subsidy program or dependent care flexible spending account. Our human resources office can provide additional information on eligibility. More info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#CCRS

You can use Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts for expenses that are tax-deductible, but not reimbursed by any other source, including out-of-pocket expenses and non-covered benefits under their FEHB plans. More Info: http://www.usajobs.gov/jobextrainfo.asp#FSA
OTHER INFORMATION:This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service.

You must submit all required information by the closing date. If materials are not received, your application will be evaluated solely on the information available and you may not receive full consideration or may not be considered eligible.

The materials you send with your application will not be returned.


HOW TO APPLY:

1. Interested internal candidates should submit to Human Resources an Application for Associated Health Occupations, VAF 10-2850c, as appropriate.

2. All other applicants should submit an Application for Associated Health Occupations, VAF 10-2850c, as appropriate, Declaration of Federal Employment, OF 306 and copy of college transcripts.

3. All applications and transcripts received in Human Resources Management Service by the closing date will be considered first.  Applications received after the closing date may be processed in the order of date received or may not be processed, depending on hiring needs.

4.    To claim veteran preference you must submit evidence of eligibility such as DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and, if applicable, an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and the proof requested on the form.

Application forms may be obtained from and sent to the following address:

Human Resources Management Service (05)

VA Medical Center

215 North Main Street

White River Junction, VT  05009-0001

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

Nancy Staples
Phone: 802-295-9363 ext 5327
Fax: 802-296-6350
Email: Nancy.Staples@va.gov Agency Information:
Department Of Veterans Affairs
215 North Main Street
White River Junction, VT 05009
US
Fax: 802-296-6350

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:Qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring service for review.