Physical Therapist ( Amputee Clinical Specialist)

The Physical Therapist (PT) is assigned to the PT department within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&R) at the William S Middleton Veterans Affairs Hospital (VAH) in Madison, WI. The primary function of the PT in this position is direct patient care to a medically complex and diverse population in the outpatient, inpatient, and Community Living Center (CLC) settings, based on workload demand. At least 25% of the therapist's caseload will be focused on patients with amputation.

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 :

• Citizenship: citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• Education: graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy program earning a Bachelor's or Master's degree or clinical doctoral degree in Physical Therapy from a program accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
• Licensure: current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice as an Physical Therapist in a state, territory, or commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.
• English Language Proficiency: spoken and written English language proficiency in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j.
• The qualified individual will meet and maintain the qualification requirements for the position, assignment and grade as outlined in the Physical Therapy Qualification Standard, VA Handbook 5005/99, Part II, Appendix G12.
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent of the position will meet and maintain physical and drug test program requirements as required by hospital policy. There will be periods of walking and ambulating patients, providing patient transfers, and potential to lift 50 pounds and supporting patients.

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-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level): Education, Experience and Licensure:

• In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, hold a valid unrestricted state license and demonstrate all the KSAs below:

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment. This includes 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.

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;

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 10 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: 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. Candidate must have experience concerning case management, coordination of care, and prosthesis management in an Amputee Clinic setting.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit . IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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: . 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: .