Physical Therapist

Veterans Health Administration•Albuquerque, NM

8d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is in the SCI Therapy Department of the SCI/D Care Line at the New Mexico VA Health Care System. The Physical Therapist provides services to outpatient and inpatient Spinal Cord Injury clinics and practices independently, assessing functional and occupational roles using standardized tools. The role serves adults and geriatric adults with complex spinal cord injuries or diseases, concurrent medical conditions, and comorbidities. The therapist examines, evaluates, and treats patients using current evidence and best practices; prescribes, fits, and trains patients to use specialty equipment; and provides therapy-pool interventions with attention to water safety. SCI Home Care services may include home visits, video-to-home evaluations and treatments, and Clinical Video Telehealth interventions and team meetings. The therapist evaluates home environments, develops treatment goals and plans, and recommends modifications to improve safety and independence. The position includes participation in interdisciplinary clinical teams, patient and family education, staff in-service training, and supervision and clinical instruction of PT interns. The therapist maintains required credentials and training, supports compliance with applicable program standards, and helps maintain safe equipment and clinic conditions in accordance with infection-control and safety policies. The full-performance level is GS-12; selection may be at GS-11 or GS-12. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is unavailable, and the position is not virtual.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
Proficiency in written and spoken English.
Graduate of a CAPTE-accredited physical therapy college or university, or qualifying foreign physical therapy education with a full, unrestricted, current U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or District of Columbia license.
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 experience; or a doctorate in physical therapy.
Hold a full, current, unrestricted license to practice physical therapy in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated temporary graduate-PT appointment provision.
For GS-12: one year of experience equivalent to GS-11, a valid unrestricted state license, and the stated knowledge, skills, and abilities in autonomous direct-access practice; examination and evaluation across physical therapy systems and populations; interpretation of findings and care planning; diagnosis and appropriate intervention or referral; prognosis and goal-setting; and clinical oversight of PT assistants and students.
Complete required background/security investigation and onboarding requirements.
Submit acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements; from May 7, 2025, a non-REAL-ID-compliant driver's license or state-issued identification card cannot be used as acceptable identification.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated employment conditions.
Regularly perform standing, walking, bending, reaching, and sitting; light to heavy lifting may be required. The work may require physical health, unhindered use of arms and legs, and good visual and auditory acuity.

Responsibilities

Examine, evaluate, develop, and implement treatment programs for adult and geriatric patients with complex spinal cord injuries or diseases and concurrent medical conditions.
Prescribe, fit, and train patients in specialty equipment, including assistive technology, gait and wheeled mobility devices, lifts and lift systems, activities-of-daily-living devices, and SCI-specific orthotic and prosthetic devices.
Perform evaluations and treatment interventions in a therapy pool while maintaining water safety.
Provide SCI Home Care physical therapy through home visits, video-to-home evaluations and treatments, and Clinical Video Telehealth interventions and team meetings.
Evaluate home environments, identify potential problems and baseline function, develop and implement treatment plans and goals, and recommend home modifications to improve patient safety and independence.
Monitor patient tolerance and progress during therapeutic procedures and with adaptive equipment; recognize changes in physical or mental status and undesired treatment effects.
Plan and modify goal-directed treatment programs based on examination and evaluation findings and patient impairments, functional limitations, or disabilities.
Participate in interdisciplinary clinical teams and clinics, providing direct care and relevant input to support Veteran outcomes.
Participate in continuing professional development and complete required VA, SCI/D Care Line, and other mandatory training.
Instruct patients about treatment objectives and educate family members about rehabilitation status, limitations, and prognosis.
Provide SCI physical therapy in-service education to SCI staff and other hospital personnel, and arrange and serve in staff training programs.
Participate in supervision and clinical instruction of PT interns.
Maintain current certifications, licenses, competencies, and training requirements; report significant program errors, customer dissatisfaction, or perceived wrongdoing to a supervisor.
Assess compliance with applicable Joint Commission, CARF, PVA, and other program review criteria.
Monitor patient equipment for proper function and calibration, and maintain clinic areas and equipment according to safety, infection-control, and regulatory policies.
Demonstrate infection-control practices, including handwashing, reusable medical equipment reprocessing, and standard precautions or isolation procedures.