Physical Therapist (Home Based Primary Care)

VA Careers - Physical Therapy: Duties:

• Independently develops implements and evaluates therapeutic rehabilitation programs within the framework of HBPC or in the inpatient/outpatient setting at OGJVAMC. Considers the populations served by the medical center when assessing and validating the knowledge skills and ability of clients to fulfill therapy goals and interventions.
• Assesses the goals living skills physical abilities and related needs for each patient referred for in-home assessment and assessment at the facility.
• Completes safety assessments after falls to include recommendations relevant to the Veterans home environment health/disease status and available resources.
• Performs a comprehensive in-home environmental and functional assessment initially and follow-up assessments when clinically indicated or at minimum annually that will include identifying functional deficits (Barthel Index Katz FIM or other functional assessment tool) fall risk home safety risks assessing and planning for emergency preparedness planning and implementing intervention using evidence based practice guidelines and monitoring and evaluating a patients progress preferable in person. Performs evaluation and ongoing patient management for patients are OGJVAMC.
• Evaluates the patients home on admission and annually and as clinically indicated to identify the need for structural modification and adaptive equipment to improve the safety and accessibility of the home environment.
• Develops a treatment plan directed toward achieving maximum level of functioning within the home consulting with other clinicians as indicated and developing the plan in collaboration with the patient caregiver and other involved HBPC disciplines.
• Implements the treatment plan by providing direct patient care; procuring necessary equipment/ adaptive devices; instructing and training the client and caregiver concerning exercises activities of daily living rehabilitation techniques and equipment/adaptive devices; and recommending community referrals. Provides follow-up assessments after equipment has been provided to assure correct use and understanding of the equipment.
• Reassess patients levels of functioning and home environment revising the treatment plan as indicated.
• Evaluates the need for additional services and uses professional judgment to initiate consultation with other professionals to provide such services.
• Evaluates the home for positional changes to promote the patients safety and independence.
• Participates in the HBPC Performance Improvement Program including completing assessment and documentation required by performance measures applicable to the PTs role.
• Is an active participant in 4 East Community Living Center (CLC) or HBPC interdisciplinary team meetings. This involves providing up-to-date assessments and progress toward functional goals.
• Serves as content expert in ordering complex and specialized medical equipment.
• Practices safe home care recognizing the potential risks associated with various home and communities and adjusts visit times to assure to personal and client safety. Provides the team with weekly visit schedule.
• Participates in HBPC disaster and emergency planning. Incorporates plan into home therapy visits re-enforcing the plan developed for management of disasters.
• Shall follow all policies and procedures to ensure compliance with all applicable environmental regulations and requirements and be good stewards of the environment through pollution prevention waste minimization and resource conservation. When applicable shall consider environmentally preferable and recycled products in all purchasing.
• 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.
• Additional duties as assigned.

• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment evaluation.
• 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.

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 Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Education and Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below:
  • Bachelors degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR
  • (2) Masters degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. OR
  • (3) 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. Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at .
• 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- 4 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.
• Licensure: Must 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.
  • NOTE: 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.
• 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.