Physical Therapist (Home Based Primary Care)

Veterans Health Administration • Iron Mountain, MI

5h • Onsite

About The Position

Carries primary responsibility for providing in-home physical therapy assessments, and the planning, and administration and management of rehabilitation in the home for patients of the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center (OGJVAMC) and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) Home Based Primary Care Program (HBPC). The physical therapist provides in-home services to patients with a wide variety of multiple, complex chronic illnesses and/or profound disabilities.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
• OR, Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist.
• OR, Doctorate degree in physical therapy.
• Must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university.
• 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.
• One year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level and hold a valid unrestricted state license (for GS-12 grade).
• 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.
• 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 patient's 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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.
• 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.
• 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).

Responsibilities

• Independently develops, implements, and evaluates therapeutic rehabilitation programs within the framework of HBPC or in the inpatient/outpatient setting at OGJVAMC.
• 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 Veteran's 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 patient's progress, preferable in person.
• Performs evaluation and ongoing patient management for patients are OGJVAMC.
• Evaluates the patient's 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 patient's safety and independence.
• Participates in the HBPC Performance Improvement Program, including completing assessment and documentation required by performance measures applicable to the PT's 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.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

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