Pain Physical Therapist — Clinical Specialist

Allmed Staffing•New York, NY

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) Services of the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System requires a full-time Physical Therapist specializing in chronic pain management to serve the Pain Management Service under a five-year VA contract (base year plus four option years beginning September 30, 2026). This is a GS-13 Clinical Specialist-equivalent role delivering on-site and VA Video Connect (VVC) physical therapy consistent with The Joint Commission, APTA, ABPTS, and the VA Stepped Care Model for Pain Management. At least 50% of clinical time is spent facilitating Pain Management group-based pain care, in person or via VVC. Approximately 90% of time is direct patient care; 10% is documentation, team meetings, and quality improvement. Occasional travel between the Manhattan and Brooklyn campuses is expected.

Requirements

Physical therapy degree from a CAPTE-accredited program recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Current, full, and unrestricted physical therapy license in any U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia; no history of license restriction, suspension, revocation, or denial.
GS-13 Clinical Specialist equivalency — at least one of: (a) a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in chronic-pain physical therapy within the past two to five years; (b) ABPTS board certification in a specialty area; (c) completion of a fellowship in a related specialty; or (d) an additional advanced degree in a related field.
Minimum two years of hospital or ambulatory care experience, or equivalent experience in chronic pain management.
Current AHA BLS certification (or ability to obtain before start); eligibility for VA credentialing and privileging; NPI number.
Proficiency in CPRS/VistA and telehealth delivery (VA Video Connect training provided at onboarding); fluent spoken and written English.

Nice To Haves

Prior VA Medical Center experience valued.

Responsibilities

Evaluate Veterans with chronic pain and related musculoskeletal, neurologic, cardiopulmonary, and geriatric conditions through Direct Access, exercising autonomous clinical decision-making; develop time-limited, functionally based treatment plans and update them within 24 hours of each visit.
Facilitate Pain Management group-based pain care (≥50% of clinical time) via VVC or in person at VA NY Harbor HCS or designated CBOC locations.
Deliver interventions including therapeutic exercise, neuromuscular re-education, gait and functional training, Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) and graded exposure, adaptive equipment evaluation and prescription, modalities, wound/lymphedema, pelvic health, aquatic therapy, and wheelchair seating and positioning.
Apply evidence-based behavioral strategies to address fear-avoidance and adapt physical therapy approaches for Veterans with co-occurring severe mental and physical disabilities.
Document initial, progress, and final evaluations with measurable goals and functional outcomes in CPRS/VistA within 24 hours, 90% of the time; complete QM/PI documentation; begin discharge planning at admission with home programs and aftercare instructions.
Participate in the weekly Pain Management Service Team Meeting, the monthly PM&R/PT meeting, the quarterly Pain Committee, rounds, discharge planning, and in-services; assist with routine equipment care and department operations.
Report patient-safety incidents within 24 hours, maintain patient confidentiality, and complete all VA mandatory training on schedule.