Physical Therapy Assistant

Veterans Health Administration • Tucson, AZ

20d • Onsite

About The Position

The Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) provides treatment to prevent, remediate, and rehabilitate acute and chronic physical dysfunction. Working with a physical therapist (PT), the PTA participates in planning and implementing treatment programs and applies physical therapy procedures to patients. Duties are performed within SAVAHCS clinical, administrative, and patient-care areas associated with PM&RS.

The PTA implements established plans of care, performs routine and specialized treatments for patients with routine and complex diagnoses, monitors and documents patient progress, and adapts treatment techniques within the plan of care to address patients’ needs and learning styles. Treatments may include therapeutic exercise and activities, modalities, manual treatment, neuromuscular re-education, self-care and management training, balance, gait training, patient and caregiver education, and skin or wound care. The PTA recognizes significant changes or adverse reactions and acts promptly, while communicating with PTs and interdisciplinary team members about patient status, treatment planning, and discharge planning.

The position also includes patient and caregiver instruction, assistance with adaptive and durable medical equipment, maintaining treatment records and daily electronic medical record documentation, scheduling and attendance records as indicated, ordering supplies, and maintaining equipment, linens, and infection-control practices. The PTA attends departmental meetings and may provide in-services to interdisciplinary team members.

This is a full-time position scheduled Monday through Friday, 0730–1600. Telework is not available. The full performance level is GS-8; selection may be at GS-5 through GS-8. The role may require moderate to heavy lifting, including assisting patients with transfers or gait training.

Requirements

• Associate degree from an accredited physical therapy assistant education program, or an eligible foreign or military PTA program with successful completion of the National Physical Therapy Exam for PTAs.
• Current, full, active, and unrestricted PTA license in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia, subject to the stated exception for graduate PTAs appointed temporarily while pursuing licensure.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• For GS-6: at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-5, plus the listed knowledge and abilities in evidence-based practice, data collection and objective measures, modifying approaches within care plans, and promoting physical therapy services.
• For GS-7: at least one year of experience equivalent to GS-6, plus the listed abilities in chart review, objective assessment of complex cases, contemporary practice, and consulting with the PT on progress, treatment modifications, and discharge planning.
• For GS-8: at least one year of experience equivalent to GS-7, plus the listed abilities in independently implementing care plans and interventions, collecting and assessing data, instructing patients, adapting techniques, identifying critical patient changes, and coordinating with PTs and interdisciplinary team members.
• Ability to meet applicable background and security requirements and complete the required onboarding and employment documentation.
• Participation in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for health care personnel.
• May be required to serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Moderate to heavy lifting may be required, including assisting patients with transfers or gait training.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience in an inpatient and/or outpatient setting.

Responsibilities

• Implement the physical therapist’s plan of care and review patient condition and progress.
• Perform routine and specialized physical therapy treatments for patients with routine and complex diagnoses.
• Provide evidence-based interventions such as therapeutic exercise and activities, modalities, manual treatment, neuromuscular re-education, balance and gait training, self-care training, and patient or caregiver education.
• Modify treatment techniques within the established plan of care to reflect patients’ needs, learning styles, and changing conditions.
• Monitor patient status, identify significant changes or adverse reactions, and initiate appropriate action.
• Communicate with physical therapists and interdisciplinary team members about patient function, treatment planning, program modifications, coordination of care, and discharge planning.
• Instruct patients and caregivers in interventions and home exercise programs; provide training or in-services when requested.
• Administer physical therapy procedures and modalities as directed by a licensed physical therapist, including thermotherapy, cryotherapy, hydrotherapy, electrical stimulation, TENS, diathermy, ultrasound, iontophoresis, low-level laser therapy, traction, therapeutic exercise, and skin or wound care dressing.
• Assist with gait training, remedial muscle re-education, and the provision of adaptive and durable medical equipment.
• Document treatments and outcomes in the electronic medical record and maintain clinic treatment and attendance records; schedule patients when indicated and complete daily encounters.
• Order departmental supplies as needed for the assigned inpatient or outpatient gym.
• Maintain linen supplies and treatment equipment, change treatment-table sheets, and follow infection-control procedures.
• Attend scheduled departmental and physical therapy section meetings.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; the specific benefits available depend on position eligibility.
• Eligible selected applicants may request and receive approval for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior federal work or military service; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree