Summary

The incumbent Physical Therapist is assigned responsibility for serving as the subject matter expert in Pelvic Rehabilitation with emphasis on incontinence - pelvic pain and pelvic dysfunction as provided by a Physical Therapist. This individual provides Pelvic Rehabilitation specialty services within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service's (PM&RS) Department of Physical Therapy.

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
• OR (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist
• OR (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
• Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at www.apta.org
• (4) Foreign Graduates
• Graduates of foreign physical therapy programs meet the requirements in subparagraph 3b if they have a full unrestricted and current license to practice physical therapy in a State - Territory or Commonwealth of the United States - or in the District of Columbia
• The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) is a non- 4 profit organization created to assist the United States (U.S.) Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and U.S. state licensing authorities by evaluating the credentials of Foreign Educated Physical Therapists (FEPTs) who wish to immigrate and work in the U.S. Although the licensing of physical therapists in the U.S. is a right and responsibility of each jurisdiction - foreign educated individuals must undergo an educational credentials assessment for substantial equivalency to the first professional degree in the US
• The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) is committed to protect the public and to provide leadership within the field and practice of physical therapy
• FSBPT's Foreign Educated Standards Committee has developed standards that represent "best practices" in evaluation services
• The Credentials Evaluation Standards were developed with input from the physical therapy credentialing agencies that are licensed to use FSBPT's Coursework Tool
• 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 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
• Loss of Credential
• A PT who fails to maintain the required license must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employment
• At the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation - if qualified - and if a placement opportunity exists
• 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 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) 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: 1
• 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 2
• Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS
• or 3
• Completion of a fellowship program
• or 4
• An additional advanced degree in a related field
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 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 (see paragraph 2i)
• 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 (see Definitions - paragraph 2
• i.)
• Preferred Experience: Pelvic Floor Certification 1 and 2 required
• At least 2 years experience in Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of a Physical Therapist are considered "medium duty: with regards to strength and endurance according to the Department of Labor
• Medium work entails exerting 20-50 pounds of force occasionally - and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently - and /or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects
• Positional tolerance is required as follows: - Frequent standing - walking - bending - sitting - crouching/kneeling - and changing from one position to the other frequently throughout the day
• - Sitting at a desk and using upper extremities to reach - grasp - and place papers - charts - and binders
• - Reaching - lifting - carrying - pushing - and pulling: 1-10 pounds constantly - 10-25 pounds frequently - and 20-50 pounds occasionally
• Physical Therapy requires good manual dexterity to manipulate tools and equipment with examples that may include - but are not limited to the following: - Operating all aspects of a computer - keyboarding - mouse - and control buttons
• - Demonstrating the use of all aspects of adaptive equipment for patient instruction
• - Assembling equipment with the use of hand tools such as screwdrivers and pliers
• - Treatment using specifically designed tools for soft tissue manipulation or exercise sessions.

Duties

• Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Functions: - Primary function is direct patient/client care
• Has advanced knowledge of contemporary Physical Therapy across multiple areas of practice gained through completion of rotations within the various PT clinics or outside facility experience - and the demonstrated ability to apply this advanced knowledge to provide clinical guidance to Staff Physical Therapists - residents - and PT interns
• - Provides clinically appropriate treatment programs for client evaluation and treatment - within this Veterans Administration Medical Center - with great autonomy
• - Performs and interprets tests and measures to assess normal parameters of physiological functions - as well as - pathophysiological - patho-mechanical - electrophysiological - ergonomic - and developmental deficits of bodily systems to determine diagnosis - treatment - prognosis - and prevention
• - Develops - coordinates - and implements highly specialized treatment programs within his/her assigned clinic - based on best practices for patient/client management - to relieve pain - restore or enhance performance - and maximize independence in functional abilities
• - Mentors and assists other physical therapy staff in the management of highly complex medically impaired patients/individuals with pelvic impairments via consultation or co-treatment
• - Demonstrates competence in treating both males and females with pelvic floor dysfunction
• A minimum of 50% of this clinician's time is devoted to the practice of this specialty service
• - Demonstrates clinical expertise in evaluation - interpretation - and treatment utilizing Biofeedback and specialty stimulation equipment such as Pathway CTS 2000 Continence Evaluation and Training System
• Serves as a mentor/trainer to other staff in utilizing these devices
• - Demonstrates the ability to interpret and assimilate diagnostic testing from other disciplines related to pelvic dysfunctions including Urology - Gynecology - Neurology and Colorectal Services
• Demonstrates skill in educating other staff in the utilization of this specialized information for effective client care
• - Plans and implements a comprehensive treatment regimen designed to maximize the function of the client with pelvic dysfunctions - including but not limited to pelvic/related pain - urinary/fecal incontinence - pre and post-partum - and weakness/dysfunction of pelvic floor structures
• - Demonstrates advanced manual therapy skills especially for the lumbar - sciatic - hip - and pelvis
• Performs assessment of muscles - ligaments - nerves and bony landmarks within the pelvic floor and pelvic girdle
• Skills include perineal sensory assessment - ligamentous provocation - muscle strength testing - restriction and pain assessment of pelvic girdle muscles - fascia and nerves - and coordination of pelvic floor muscles with functional activities
• - Plans an effective goal-directed treatment program - based on findings from a thorough examination and assessment that is appropriate and indicated for the impairment - functional limitation and/or disability being treated
• Implements the treatment program and modifies it as needed to achieve goals
• - Provides clients and their families with counseling - education - information - and training regarding the nature of their impairments - functional limitations - treatment plan - goals - home program - and/or disability
• This is accomplished individually or with the interdisciplinary team - family - and patient
• - Documents all evaluations - treatment - progress - education - counseling - and training in the client's medical record
• - Maintains a safe work environment to include non-technical maintenance of equipment - safety checks - cleaning - stocking - etc
• - Performs other related duties as assigned
• Education: - Maintains a high level of professional competence by continuing participation in learning experiences/continuing education courses pertaining to the area to which assigned
• Participates in - provides - and attends Physical Therapy Department in-services as well as hospital-wide in-services
• Completes all required VA annual mandatory training
• Attends mandatory in-service training as required by VA - PM&RS and PT policies
• - Student Supervision - Has a responsibility to the profession and this facility to assist with the instruction of Physical Therapy and Physical Therapy Assistant students assigned to this facility for clinical affiliations and possess skills commensurate with that responsibility
• - Community Responsibility - May serve as a resource person to the community in matters relating to Physical Therapy - the delivery of health care - and the needs of the veteran/military population Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00 am to 3:30 pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized