Physical Therapy Assistant

Veterans Health Administration•Fayetteville, NC

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Fayetteville, NC Coastal VA Health Care System is hiring a Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service. The PTA treats complex patients using advanced clinical skills and serves as a subject matter expert in a rehabilitation specialty area, such as geriatrics, amputee care, brain injury, cardiac rehabilitation, orthopedics, neurological rehabilitation, safe patient handling, or other functional debilitative conditions. The PTA applies evidence-based treatment approaches within the physical therapist’s plan of care and works with a high degree of independence while collaborating with the physical therapist and multidisciplinary treatment team. The position serves in a hospital setting and provides services to inpatients and outpatients, including patients with complex medical conditions and those who may be critically ill or have psychiatric overlay. The PTA monitors patients’ condition and responses to treatment, adapts procedures within the established plan of care, and reports changes to the appropriate physical therapist. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; alternate schedules will be considered. Telework is ad hoc, and the position is not virtual.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
Associate degree from an accredited physical therapy assistant education program, or qualifying foreign or military PTA education and successful completion of the NPTE for PTAs.
Current, full, active, and unrestricted PTA license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia. Limited temporary graduate-PTA appointment exceptions apply to eligible non-licensed applicants.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
For the GS-9 grade, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade, plus one of the following: at least 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area and 60 contact hours of selected continuing education within the past five years; APTA-recognized Advanced Practice Proficiency in the specialty; or an additional academic degree related to the health care mission.
Ability to mentor staff in advanced clinical guidelines and best practices.
Ability to serve as a subject matter expert for healthcare providers in specialty practice areas regarding physical therapy care.
Ability to present advanced knowledge of therapeutic interventions and clinical practice guidelines to the healthcare team.
Ability to interpret and apply clinical practice guidelines.
Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation; seasonal influenza vaccination is required for VA health care personnel.
Must complete required onboarding and provide acceptable identification for employment.
Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
Physical capacity for regular standing, bending, kneeling, reaching, gripping, and walking; moderate to heavy lifting to assist patients and operate equipment; and the stamina and normal arm, leg, visual, and auditory function required for the work.

Nice To Haves

APTA Advanced Proficiency Pathway (APP) specialty certification in Orthopedics.
Eight to ten years of experience as a practicing PTA at the GS-0636-08 grade level.
Current or former leadership experience.

Responsibilities

Serve as an active member of the multidisciplinary treatment team for assigned patients.
Monitor patients’ medical condition through chart review, interviews with patients and families, and observation of physical signs and symptoms.
Implement comprehensive treatment plans and routinely document progress toward goals.
Measure and record joint range of motion, muscle strength, and body-part length or girth.
Monitor vital signs and observe and document patients’ responses to treatment; report responses and changes in condition orally and in writing to the appropriate physical therapist.
Administer the physical therapist’s plan of care and work with a high degree of independence within that plan.
Provide treatment such as gait training, peripheral joint mobilization, therapeutic exercise, massage, electrical modalities, traction, TENS, and patient or family education.
Instruct and assist patients in learning or improving functional activities, including pre-ambulation, transfers, and daily living skills.
Collaborate with the physical therapist to adapt treatment procedures to individual patient needs and make necessary changes in response to adverse reactions under the physical therapist’s guidance.
Modify treatment approaches within the scope of the established treatment plan to reflect patient needs.
Monitor patients with complex or critical medical conditions, including changes in vital signs.
Maintain the proper order and sanitation of the treatment area and ensure mechanical equipment is used safely and kept in proper working order.
Inventory PT clinic supplies and submit supply orders to the purchasing agent as needed.
Maintain clinical competence through giving and receiving continuing education at the service and medical center level.
Assist patients with scheduling treatment according to their plans of care and coordinate schedules with other treatment-team members.
Occasionally assist with fitting orthotic or prosthetic items when a fitter is unavailable.
Perform other duties as assigned.