The primary functions of this position include the development, coordination, administration, direct patient care, and supervision of all aspects of a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program across all phases and the continuum of care.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. English Language Proficiency: Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Education and experience: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below (COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS WITH CONFER DATE REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE): (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy. NOTE: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PTs 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. 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. COPY OF LICENSURE REQUIRED WITH APPLICATION PACKAGE. 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 (Program Coordinator) Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs. Ability to apply advanced knowledge of contemporary physical therapy within specialty area to provide clinical guidance, training or education for internal and external stakeholders. Ability to serve as a consultant within the assigned program area for intra-agency and interagency planning and to provide service coordination to optimize program continuity, efficiency and effectiveness. Knowledge of and skill in management, administration and/or education methodologies. This includes the ability to monitor and track data, utilize available resources effectively, evaluate program quality, and generate reports for local, and/or VISN and/or VACO leadership. Ability to develop and coordinate treatment and/or educational programs within a concentrated field or specialty area, such as, but not limited to, amputee, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, student clinical education/residency programming, polytrauma/traumatic brain injury. Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships within department and with other departments or affiliated programs. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team. Preferred Experience: AACVPR Rehabilitation Certification. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: heavy lifting (45 lbs and over), heavy carrying (45 lbs and over), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (1 hr), standing (1 hr), crawling (1 hr), kneeling (1 hr), repeated bending (1 hr), both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination, mental and emotional stability, exposure to outside and inside elements, working alone.
The incumbent will establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with both cardiac and pulmonary physician teams and departments, with the primary focus on providing evidence-based clinical programming across the continuum of care for pre/post cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programming. The incumbent will spend at least 75% of his/her time performing direct patient care duties related to cardiopulmonary clinical programming, including inpatient, outpatient, and VVC/Telehealth care as applicable. Duties will include: Examine and evaluate patients as appropriate for their age and movement system diagnosis to determine current levels of functioning. Based on evaluation findings, completes differential diagnosis process. This process provides the physical therapist with a consistent way to screen for systemic diseases and medical conditions that can mimic neuromuscular and musculoskeletal problems. Based on evaluation findings, differential diagnosis, and planning with the treatment team, patient/family, and/or significant others, the physical therapist determines prognosis and provides a customized and integrated plan of care to achieve the individual's goal-directed outcomes and eventual discharge plans. Develops and carries out physical therapy treatment to meet the individual rehabilitation goals which may include: therapeutic exercises, therapeutic procedures, therapeutic activities, gait training, balance training, neuromuscular re-education, manual therapy, electrical stimulation, modalities, traction, iontophoresis, biofeedback, strength/ endurance training, aquatic therapy techniques, functional mobility skills, wheelchair skills, equipment recommendations, self-care/home management training, and patient/ family education. Serves as subject matter expert in the area of geriatrics with an emphasis on cardiopulmonary theory and fundamentals, including evaluating appropriateness of this treatment and treatment strategies in that environment. Assess the need for and the patient's ability to use adaptive equipment including ambulatory assistive devices, manual wheelchairs, scooters, TENS units, etc. Continuously re-evaluates patient performance making appropriate modifications to the treatment plan as indicated. Serves as a professional role model to other PT staff, PT/PTA students, and volunteers by providing efficient and quality patient care. Responsible for the coordination of multiple professionals from a variety of disciplines for optimal clinical care and educational programming. Implements programs, policies, and procedures to meet program goals, policy, and external accreditation requirements. Monitors outcomes, participates in strategic planning, and implements strategies for continual program improvement. Orients patients, medical residents, allied health professionals, community organizations, students and volunteers to the purpose and function of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation within this area of PT service delivery. Provides patient and family education relating to each patient's diagnosis, prognosis, treatment plan, and goals established related to movement system, including functional strengths and weaknesses in areas of mobility. Independently provides clinical training, supervision, and clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants, physical therapy technicians, and nursing assistants. Will develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for Physical Therapy Assistants relative to patient care as necessary to ensure individualized treatment plan is completed appropriately. Participates in PT, RCS, and interdepartmental staff development programs. Attends scheduled meetings and in-services. Provides at least one clinical in-service per year to PT students, PT/RCS staff, or other facility departments or service lines as appropriate. Participates in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teams to deliver direct patient care. Will positively collaborate, participate, and support all RCS colleagues and team members in achieving patient and team goals in respectful manner. Responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals. Assists RCS PT Service Chief, RCS PT Supervisors and other RCS Program Managers in identifying needs, and designing and implementing cardiopulmonary rehab programs for the department as needed. Participates in the collection of data for QI monitors, and outcome measures relating to services provided by PT as assigned by the RCS PT Service Chief, RCS PT Supervisors and other RCS Program Managers. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized