Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist - Dry Needling)

The Dry Needling Clinical Specialist Physical Therapist is assigned to the Physical Therapy Department within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Hampton, VA, which is a Complexity Level 1C facility. The Therapist is responsible for completing neuro-musculoskeletal evaluations and treatments. The Dry Needling Clinical Specialist Physical Therapist is an integral member of the Interdisciplinary Pain Management Team and PM&RS Team as needed in delivery of care for patients with chronic and acute pain. Duties include but are not limited to: Assists Physical Therapy Rehab Program Manager / Supervisor of Physical Therapy in planning, developing and sustaining various treatment programs specifically related to but not limited to Manual / Orthopedic PT to meet patient needs, as requested by PM&RS supervisor. Actively supports and promotes all programs of PM&RS. Assist with orientation of new Physical Therapy staff. Provides consultation and teaching for dry needling, IASTM, taping, cupping and other hands on / manual therapy rehabilitation research projects. Establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis at the Hampton VA Medical Center. Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of Physical Therapy service. Assists in the development, planning and implementation of monitors of quality of care with respect to PM&RS as part of the comprehensive health care services delivered to the patients within the Hampton VA Medical Center. Conducts record keeping related to patient care documentation and quality improvement (QI) data collection as specified by the Supervisor, Physical Therapy Department. Reviews and makes recommendations on supply and equipment acquisition. Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment that includes the ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services. Responsible for the examination and treatment of patients referred to the Physical Therapy Department. Establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis at the Hampton VA Medical Center. Resolves problems that interfere with delivery of physical therapy care. Demonstrates the teaching skills required to provide education to patients, family members, caregivers, employees, students, and coworkers. Demonstrates the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to provide treatment appropriate to patients despite as it related to dry needling physical therapy. Demonstrates knowledge of the changes associated with the aging/disease processes as well as possesses the ability to assess the patient's status to interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age related, physical, psychosocial and cultural needs. Performs competent written documentation of initial examinations, progress notes, and discharge summaries. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday • Friday; 8:00am • 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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. English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education and/or 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. 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. License: Candidates must possess a full, current, and unrestricted state license to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia. 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 • Dry Needling): Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level as an physical therapist; 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,(d) An additional advanced degree in a related field. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Given the probability of patient treatment, the work requires above-average agility and dexterity, heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; use of fingers, both hands required; reaching above shoulder; walking (8 hours); standing (8 hours); both legs required (1 prosthetic); far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted), and mental and emotional 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/.