Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist)

About the role

This position is located in the Physical Therapy Department within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service at the VA Medical Center in Salem, Virginia. The Staff Physical Therapist is a licensed professional therapist responsible for evaluating, planning, and implementing the treatment program for patients with various disabilities and medical conditions.

Responsibilities

• Clinical Interprets the prescriptions requesting physical therapy using specialized skills and medical knowledge in the evaluation of the patient's medical condition.
• Evaluates, assesses, differentially diagnoses, and treats patients who utilize physical therapy as primary point of entry into medical care through direct access or self-referral.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and expertise to provide referral to other primary providers and specialists when examination/treatment suggests red flags or patient is not responding to clinical course of care.
• Documents care in medical record for correspondence between therapist and patient's medical team.
• Evaluates the patients' present functional levels and disabilities.
• Assesses the need for home equipment and orders or devises the necessary equipment to ensure optimal functioning in the home environment.
• Pain Specialist Assignments: Independently solves complex problems, demonstrates expert clinical practice skills in providing assessment and treatment across the continuum of care for the pain population.
• Utilizes acquired advanced knowledge, training, expertise to adapt and modify treatment plans, activities, and interventions to meet the changing needs, goals, and performance of patients.
• Provides in-service and clinical training programs in pain management.
• Maintains a high level of professional competence through participation in continuing education.

Requirements

The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in physical therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
• Master's degree in physical therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
• Doctorate degree in physical therapy.

Qualifications

• 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Individuals must be proficient in written and spoken English.

Skills

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.

Benefits

Not specified.

Pay

Not specified.

Schedule

Not specified.