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This position will provide physical therapy for patients with physical and/or functional disabilities limiting independence in self-care and living skills. Independently plans, develops, and implements physical therapy services including patient care, staff in-servicing and clinical education. Evaluates and treats patients with multiple medical problems involving physical, psychosocial, and cognitive disabilities. Evaluates and treats patients appropriate to diagnosis and age. 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: (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (3) 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. English Language Proficiency. Individuals appointed under 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. Knowledge of Contemporary Professional Physical Therapy Practice. To be creditable, a candidate must have demonstrated possession of the required knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the scope of physical therapy practice. The candidate's experience may be evidenced by one or more of the following: (a) Active professional practice. Active professional practice means paid/non-paid employment as a professional PT as defined by APTA or the appropriate licensing board. Experience gained after graduation but prior to licensure is creditable provided the candidate was utilized as a graduate PT and subsequently passed the licensure examination. (b) Completion of a post-graduate fellowship or a post-graduate residency program may be substituted for creditable experience on a year for year basis. Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it was post degree experience as a professional PT and is directly related to the duties to be performed. Qualifying experience must also be at a level comparable to or exceeding the professional PT experience at the next lower grade level. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level) (a) 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: (b) 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 patient's 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. Preferred Experience: 3-5 Years of Physical Therapy experience in an outpatient type setting. References: VA Handbook 5005/24, Part II Appendix G12 The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. Physical Requirements: This position provides direct services to patients and their families through casework. Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others. Normal work of the position requires visual acuity (with the ability to read typewritten characters without strain, corrective lenses permitted), keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially moderate levels of lifting and carrying (15-44 pounds). The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. ["Clinical Responsibility:\nProvides direct patient care as assigned delivering physical therapy services according to department requirements. Position will split time providing outpatient physical therapy services from the Casper CBOC and Casper Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) program. Outpatient services from the Casper CBOC will include treatment of common musculoskeletal and neurologic conditions, safety evaluations and assessment for appropriate assistive devices. Home Based Primary Care services will include in-home treatment of Veterans enrolled in HBPC. Treatment will focus on maintain independence and safety within the home. Work will include collaborative planning and communication with the HBPC team. Screens patients for physical therapy services for appropriateness, types of services and rehabilitation potential. Independently develops and implements physical therapy treatment using clinical judgment to modify the treatment because of changing medical conditions. Evaluates a wide range of patients with complex disabilities to determine level of function using standardized and non-standardized tests. Measures, fits and instructs patients for the use of complex adaptive equipment, assistive devices, functional mobility aids, and splints/braces. Assists multidisciplinary medical teams in coordination of patient care. Collaborates with other care providers including Physicians, physical therapy assistant, Occupational, Speech and Recreation Therapists as appropriate to provide comprehensive therapy treatment. Communicates care plans to patients, caregivers and medical providers. Utilizes physical therapy assistants, aides, students, and volunteers to implement physical therapy services as appropriate. Safely and effectively uses equipment required for patient care using hospital policies and procedures, including appropriate cleaning and disinfection of reusable medical equipment.\nAdministration:\nAssists in policy and procedure development as assigned. Assists in the development of Quality Assurance, performance improvement projects as assigned. Assists in the development of standards of care to ensure compliance with accrediting and professional organizations. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00a-4:30p\nCompressed/Flexible: Not Available\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Title/Functional Statement #:Physical Therapist/PD53489\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]