Physical Therapist

This position will be stationed at Palo Alto in the Outpatient Physical Therapy clinic.
FUNCTIONS OR SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• CLINICAL:
  • Independently provide assessment and treatment interventions received through provider referral or patient self-referral.
  • Perform examinations and evaluations of patients 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 personal and environmental factors.
  • Interpret findings from examination diagnostic studies/medical tests drug evaluation select appropriate clinical tests and measures and integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care.
  • Establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed.
  • Develops appropriate treatment plans and goals; performs complex treatment procedures modifying the treatment according to the patients changing medical condition or because of a variety of severe physical disabilities.
  • Determines physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patients preferences for meaningful level of function to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes.
  • Considers age-specific needs of the patient when conducting evaluations planning and conducting treatment programs. Target population: Adult and geriatric veteran.
  • Selects appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals.
  • Practices autonomously making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care.
  • Effectively communicates both orally and in writing and performs required documentation in a timely manner.
  • Works with treatment team members and other health care providers in coordinating the patients total care.
  • Recognizes contraindications or inappropriate treatments which are health-threatening to the patient.
  • Performs general assignments in any/all areas where physical therapy services are deemed necessary.
  • Provides clinical practice guidance for other staff PTs and assists with problem solving. He/she assists PTs in determining treatment options for complex patients with multiple conditions.
• EDUCATIONAL:
  • Enhances own professional growth by attending seminars workshops lectures and in-service meetings especially in the specialty field.
  • Conducts in-service programs for the physical therapy section and other disciplines and shares knowledge of new or improved techniques with staff.
  • Acts as clinical supervisor and preceptor for physical therapy and physical therapy assistant students to fulfill their educational and professional requirements.
• ADMINISTRATIVE:
  • Ensures proper supply levels are maintained for patient treatment.
  • Maintains and submits in a timely manner statistics and other required reports.
  • Understands and adheres to policies and procedures in the section manual.
• Other Duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm or as determined by the supervisor.
Compressed/Flexible:This may be authorized at the supervisors discretion.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: GSF GSF

• 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 before 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 a 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 may 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 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.

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.
• 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.
  • Masters degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
  • Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
• 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.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Individuals appointed under the authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74 to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2 section D paragraph 5a this part.

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-11 Physical Therapist:

• Education Experience and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements.
• Assignment: PTs at this level are responsible for providing assessment and treatment intervention. PTs plan and modify treatment based on a patients response to intervention and/or change in medical condition. PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required or may serve as the sole PT such as in an outpatient clinic. Licensed PTs may provide oversight and delegate patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant and/or delegate non- patient care duties to non-licensed staff. PTs that are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed PT.

GS-12 Physical Therapist:

• 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 the 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 tests 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 patients 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.
• Assignment: At the full performance level PTs are responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals. Guided by differential and movement diagnoses PTs perform 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 personal and environmental factors. PTs interpret findings from examination diagnostic studies/medical tests and during evaluation select appropriate clinical tests and measures and then integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations. PTs establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed. They determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patients preferences for meaningful level of function in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes. Physical therapists select appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals they treat. Staff PTs at this level practice autonomously making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care. The staff PT may also develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for physical therapy students in facilities with established clinical experience rotations. PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any/all areas where physical therapy services are deemed necessary and/or may serve as the sole PT at a less complex facility. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments as deemed appropriate given the needs of a facility on an occasional basis where the amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time).

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-12.

Physical Requirements: This work involves standing and walking for about 50% of a normal addition the Physical Therapist must be able to squat kneel push and pull and lift loads from the ground and from above shoulder height. The physical demand level as defined by the Department of Labor is Medium requiring the occasional lifting of20-50lbs the frequent lifting of 10- 25 lbs and the constant lifting of 10 lbs during the normal workday. Physical Therapy requires manual dexterity and coordination to use modalities such as ultrasound and TENS units and to demonstrate the use of mobility equipment such as walkers and addition physical therapists must be able to modify such equipment using tools including screwdrivers and wrenches.