Physical Therapist Clinical Specialist-Geriatric

The incumbent Physical Therapist is assigned responsibility for serving as the subject matter expert in Geriatric Physical Therapy and the Inpatient Team Lead for Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy (OT). The PT/GCS who works at this level provides assessment and treatment intervention on an independent basis across the continuum of care and services provided by PM&RS. Incumbent's primary function is direct patient/client care. The PT/GCS has advanced knowledge of contemporary Physical Therapy across multiple areas of practice and the demonstrated ability to apply this advanced knowledge to provide clinical guidance to Staff Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants, and PT students and other healthcare providers. Clinical The PT/GCS is responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare providers and patient self-referrals. The incumbent establishes a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy. Incumbent formulates a treatment plan and goals, and is responsible for implementation, modification, and documentation of treatment. Incumbent exhibits complex clinical skills. The incumbent applies knowledge of the anatomical, biological, physical, cognitive, psychological, and psychosocial changes that occur with aging clients, including disease and disability, and the effects of inactivity on these changes, including the interpretation of examination findings and appropriate intervention plans for aging individuals, familiarity with medications commonly prescribed for older adults, drug interactions and factors to consider when providing physical therapy interventions to older adults, indications and contraindications for risks of restraints, alternatives to physical restraints use that are safe and least restrictive, and assessing elderly clients for positioning device, enabling devices, environmental adaptation, and caregiver intervention with regards to risk reduction. The PT/GCS 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. The PT/GCS demonstrates competence in objective assessment of acute and chronic pain conditions in older clients regardless of cognitive or communication abilities. The PT/GCS demonstrates the ability to identify and assess barriers to communication due to hearing, sight, and speech impairments, consult other disciplines and make referrals when appropriate. The PT/GCS demonstrates knowledge in current evidence of therapeutic exercises for all aging adults; designing and applying therapeutic exercise interventions including but not limited to balance, coordination and agility training, fall risk reduction and education, neuromuscular education, perceptual training, posture awareness training, sensory training and task specific performance training. The PT/GCS recognizes the appropriateness of responses to treatment based on indications, precautions and contraindications. Recognizes when to refer conditions outside the scope of physical therapy practice to the appropriate provider. The PT/GCS serves as a mentor to other therapists/students in the evaluation and treatment in the areas of geriatric physical therapy. Administrative Responsibilities: PT/GCS will demonstrate ability to develop and coordinate clinical education programs with evidence of advanced experience in the area of clinical education. PT/GCS will demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain productive relationships with academic affiliates. The incumbent will provide in-service and clinical training programs as assigned by the Physical Therapy Supervisor or Service Chief. The incumbent will design, conduct, and evaluate educational experiences within specialty content area for staff members, taking an active role in literature searches, and seeks educational opportunities to enhance the Physical Therapy Section, PM&RS, and the Medical Center. The PT/GCS will represent the Physical Therapy Department and PM&RS at various clinical and administrative meetings/rounds at the discretion of the Physical Therapy Supervisor or Service Chief. The PT/GCS will develop program planning, staff education/training, QI monitoring, and program evaluation within area of specialty. Educational Responsibilities: Complete all VAMC mandatory training in a timely manner. Incumbent will continually seeks to improve knowledge and skill by review of current literature, participation in in-service training, and attendance at continuing education programs especially in their area of expertise. Continuing education and training will be focused on maintaining and improving competency in all general clinical functions including coursework directed toward improving PM& R patient services. Work Schedule: 8am-4:30pm Monday • Friday Compressed/Flexible: Yes Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60683-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. After a determination is made that it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens, necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States. Candidates must meet all other requirements for the grade and position concerned. Education and Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: 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. 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. Grandfathering Provision. All licensed PTs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees grandfathered into the GS-0633 occupational series as PTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or changed tolower grade within the occupation. PTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of this qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of this standard. PTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration, meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard and must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If PTs who are grandfathered under this provision leave the occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. 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: 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 Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; or Completion of a fellowship program; or 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: 5-years Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: The incumbent of the position will meet and maintain physical and drug test program requirements for the position as required. Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over, moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds, straight pulling, pulling hand over hand, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, repeated bending, both legs required, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid permitted), far vision correctable in one eye to 20/50 and to 20/100 in the other, emotional and mental stability You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.