Physical Therapist Rehabilitation Care Coordinator Inpatient

• Reviews and triages of all incoming outpatient Physical Therapy consults for medical necessity and appropriateness of services. Follows all local and national guidance for proper consult triage. Works closely with the in-house Physical Therapy providers and Medical Support Assistant (MSA) to ensure proper timing of scheduled appointments.
• Consults that are eligible for Care in the Community (CITC) services the incumbent will apply Referral Coordination Initiative (RCI) principles and procedures. Monitors wait times of both in-house and community services. Discusses treatment options including but not limited to available appointment modes (face-to-face telehealth VA Video Connect (VVC)) wait times and clinic location to allow the Veteran to make an informed decision regarding their care.
• Collaborates with the Referral Coordination Team (RCT) to coordinate care between community providers and VA Rehabilitation providers.
• Communicates directly and indirectly with the following VA and Non-VA parties on a regular basis to ensure quality of care is provided appropriately and in a safe and timely manner: referring medical providers/nurse managers therapists inpatient/outpatient rehab clinics and facilities licensed social workers/case manager prosthetic department(s) adaptive equipment vendors local and regional Community Care program departments third party billing agencies and most importantly the Veteran and their family.
• Oversees the direct patient care and effective case management of Physical Therapy patients in all inpatient locations at the Grand Junction VAMC including Medical Intensive Care Unit Surgical Intensive Care Unit Medical Surgical Inpatient Mental Health and Community Living Center Beds.
• Participates as a member of interdisciplinary inpatient care coordination teams. Coordinates outpatient services with the local PM&R department other VA facilities Fee Based referral sources for PM&R disciplines or home health rehabilitation services.
• Coordinates PM&R focused in-service training opportunities for PM&R and the facility as a whole.
• Monitors and performs all data/metric gathering assessments on inpatients with appropriate diagnosis.
• Coordinates additional staffing based on inpatient census.
• Coordinates weekend coverage of inpatient services with weekend call therapist.
• Acts as the subject matter expert regarding inpatient Physical Therapy services and mentors other staff as appropriate.
• Primary patient care responsibilities will be inpatient physical therapy intervention. Ancillary responsibilities may include outpatient physical therapy responsibilities as directed by the Supervisory of Physical Therapy.
• Patient medical records are reviewed to assess appropriateness of physical therapy intervention note any potential risks or contraindications to treatment and to assist in guiding the evaluation process.
• Evaluations include medical history results and interpretation of appropriate functional tests and measurements such as: range of motion muscle strength sensory/perceptual deficits coordination functional mobility pain scales and social needs.
• Evaluations address rehabilitation potential behavior motor skills and psychosocial development at an age appropriate level.
• Determines patients rehabilitation candidacy for transfer to an appropriate rehabilitation setting.
• Evaluation findings are used to develop and implement comprehensive patient treatment plans including objective measurable goals and timelines for completion.
• Demonstrates a full professional understanding of the theories or treatment of physical therapy and their proper application through the use of therapeutic physical rehabilitation and reconditioning procedures.
• Recognizes adverse reaction to treatment and initiates effective action immediately.
• Ensures appropriate patient referrals and discharge planning in conjunction with the Physical Therapist and Medical Center staff.
• Provides Physical Therapy specific wound care and prevention for all inpatient units.
• Identifies collects and analyzes appropriate patient care information to provide a data base for performance improvement activities within the VA system.
• Investigates current concepts and scientific principles in Physical Therapy practice through literature reviews study of current research clinical practice and through attendance at continuing education courses and conferences.
• Serves as Clinical Instructor for student Physical Therapist and Physical Therapy Assistant students as assigned.
• Consults with staff and physicians through patient presentations attendance at interdisciplinary patient care conferences and/or specialty clinics.

Conditions of employment

• 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 ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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.

• 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.

Qualifications

***This is an open continuous announcement until March 31 2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. ***

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) Bachelors degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
(2) Masters 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 masters 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate masters 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 postbaccalaureate 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 .

(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-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. FSBPTs 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 FSBPTs 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.

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
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Ability to determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patients preferences in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals optimize outcomes and maximize functional independence.
6. 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.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: This position requires frequent bending and lifting and the ability to assist patients with a variety of therapeutic activities. Incumbent must be able to lift 50 pounds to chest height and maintain good body mechanics. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.