Physical Therapist - Fee

About the role

The physical therapist is responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to outpatients received through health care provider referrals for individual patients or groups of patients to relieve pain, restore or enhance performance, and maximize ability to function as independently as possible. The physical therapist is under the overall supervision of the Department Chief of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&R).

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 following:

• 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

Note on degree history: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PTs was either a bachelor's 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 to include only programs that culminate in postbaccalaureate 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. 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. Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at www.apta.org.

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 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. 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. A PT who fails to maintain the required license must be removed. 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).

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment, including ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services
• 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

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/

Physical Requirements

• Requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity
• Requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• May be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• May occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders
• Must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment

Responsibilities

The Fee Basis Physical Therapist will apply a wide range of knowledge and clinical skills in the practice of physical therapy to evaluate and treat Veterans with musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and functional impairments across diverse populations. Duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center, including all clinical and patient-care areas served.

Major Responsibilities:

• Complete physical therapy evaluations
• Conduct re-evaluations/assessments as clinically indicated
• Plan and implement individualized treatment interventions based on patient needs and functional goals
• Provide recommendations for mobility equipment, therapeutic exercise programs, and safety strategies to support functional independence
• Enter consult results and progress notes in the electronic medical record
• Notify provider of assessment results and recommendations

Schedule

Intermittent; specific tour to be discussed during interview. This is not a virtual position.

Pay

$65 per consult or re-evaluation/assessment; $30.00 per physical therapy treatment. Salary cap: $5,633.