Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Program Coordinator (Interdisciplinary) Physical Therapist

Veterans Health Administration • Garland, TX

12d • Onsite

About The Position

Physical therapy program coordinators evaluate, plan, and direct programs to ensure coordinated care within the local facility, including coordination with regional and national stakeholders. The coordinator manages the program’s day-to-day activities and collaborates with leadership, supervisors, and staff to facilitate efficient, effective, patient-centered care.

The position provides advanced physical therapy practice and clinical guidance, particularly in amputee care, geriatrics, and seating and mobility. It involves complex examination and evaluation, review of medical records and diagnostic findings, selection and interpretation of clinical tests and measures, diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy, treatment planning, and determining prognosis and goals based on patient preferences and functional needs.

The coordinator oversees administrative and program functions, including monitoring outcomes and safety data, supporting performance evaluation and improvement, coordinating outsourced rehabilitation referrals, overseeing safety standards and clinical policies, and coordinating occupational and physical therapy student placements. The role also provides administrative direction for assigned patient-care services and collaborates with clinical specialists, coordinators, leads, facility staff, and rehabilitation managers.

The position implements and modifies treatment based on patient response, documents progress, consults on program planning and service coordination, and collaborates with nursing and interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams. It may include home assessments and environmental modifications for patient and caregiver safety. The coordinator identifies learning needs, provides mentorship and education, conducts in-services, contributes to education projects, and develops patient education materials.

Work schedule is 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with occasional weekends and holidays as needed for patient care. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Work takes place in clinics, exercise areas, offices, conference rooms, and occasionally patients’ homes.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)-accredited college or university.
• Full, current, and unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a U.S. state, territory, or commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Meet one of the education and experience pathways: a bachelor's degree in physical therapy and five years of progressively independent physical therapist experience; a master's degree in physical therapy and two years of progressively independent physical therapist experience; or a doctorate in physical therapy.
• For GS-13, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 level, in addition to the basic requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to apply advanced physical therapy knowledge in a specialty area and provide clinical guidance, training, or education to stakeholders.
• Ability to consult on intra-agency and interagency planning and coordinate services to support program continuity, efficiency, and effectiveness.
• Knowledge and skill in management, administration, or education methodologies, including monitoring and tracking data, using resources effectively, evaluating program quality, and generating reports.
• Ability to develop and coordinate treatment or education programs in a concentrated specialty area.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships within and across departments or affiliated programs.
• Ability to guide the work of a multidisciplinary team.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Pass a pre-employment physical examination and satisfy applicable background, security, onboarding, identification, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Complete the required application materials and serve the required one- or two-year trial period if appointed.
• Meet the described physical capabilities, including lifting and carrying up to 44 pounds, repetitive physical activity, patient transfers, and adequate hearing and vision.

Nice To Haves

• Two or more years of rehabilitation experience in an acute or sub-acute setting.
• Experience reviewing charts, evaluating patients, and developing treatment plans for acute or chronic injuries and impairments, including amputation, musculoskeletal, neurological, orthopedic, cardiopulmonary, pain management, or cancer-related conditions.
• Experience directly supervising physical therapist assistants or physical therapy students.
• Experience mentoring peers and educating other healthcare services about rehabilitation.
• Leadership development or project development experience.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate, plan, and direct the physical therapy program to coordinate care within the local facility and with regional and national stakeholders.
• Manage day-to-day program activities and collaborate with leadership, supervisors, and staff to support patient-centered care.
• Provide clinical guidance, training, and education using advanced physical therapy knowledge, including in amputee care, geriatrics, and seating and mobility.
• Examine and evaluate patients with actual or potential impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions; review medical records and diagnostic findings; select and interpret clinical tests and measures.
• Establish physical therapy diagnoses, determine appropriate interventions or referrals, and develop prognoses and treatment goals based on examination findings and patient preferences.
• Monitor outcomes and provide data related to community-care rehabilitation outsourcing, student trainee programming, and patient and staff safety.
• Collect and analyze patient-care information to support program evaluation and performance improvement projects.
• Triage and coordinate outsourced referrals and recommend appropriate levels of rehabilitation care.
• Oversee service safety standards, patient handling, and clinical practice policies.
• Coordinate occupational and physical therapy student placements with Education Service.
• Collaborate with clinical specialists, coordinators, leads, facility staff, and rehabilitation managers on administrative processes, resources, compliance, and program operations.
• Provide administrative direction and make decisions for assigned direct patient-care services.
• Identify adverse reactions, modify treatment plans according to patient response and goals, and document treatment progress and modifications.
• Serve as a consultant for intra-agency and interagency planning and coordinate services to support program continuity and effectiveness.
• Collaborate with nursing and interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams and participate in meetings, rounds, and family conferences as needed.
• Assess Veterans in their homes and make environmental modifications when needed to support patient and caregiver safety.
• Identify learning activities, mentor others, contribute to advances in physical therapy knowledge and techniques, and conduct interdisciplinary in-services.
• Provide two in-services per year to staff on rehabilitation and physical therapy services, techniques, and protocols.
• Participate in facility and service education projects, develop patient education materials, and serve as a resource to VANTHCS.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; eligibility and specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior