Physical Therapist

Responsibilities

• Responsible for high quality examination and treatment of patients referred to and/or independently/directly accessing Physical Therapy Services
• Develops and implements physical therapy patient education content - based on the most current evidenced based practice
• Provides in-service and clinical training programs as assigned by the Physical Therapy Supervisor and respective chain of command
• Designs - conducts - and evaluates educational experiences on physical therapy subject matter for staff members and seeks educational opportunities to enhance the Physical Therapy Department - PM&RS - and GLAVAHC
• Maintains timely data input utilizing care plans - initial assessments and /or specialty protocols as part of an ongoing process in coordination with other key interdisciplinary staff to provide effective patient care
• Professionally represents the Physical Therapy Department and PM&RS at various clinical and administrative meetings/rounds at the discretion of the Physical Therapy Supervisor(s)
• Performs physical therapy evaluation and treatments - male and female - ages ranging from adult to geriatric - having a variety of disabilities
• These cases may be complex in nature with chronic and acute disease entities including but not limited to central nervous system disorder - joint diseases - circulatory and pulmonary diseases - diabetes mellitus - altered thought processes and multisystem disease combinations

Requirements

• Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs

Qualifications

• 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
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 1Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environmentThis includes ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services2Skill 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 factors3Ability 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 populations4Ability 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 indicated5Ability 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 independence6Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs