Physical Therapy Assistant

About the role

This position is aligned under the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) which provides complex medical, rehabilitative and psychosocial rehabilitation to outpatients, inpatients, Domiciliary patients, SCI patients and ECRC (long term / short stay) patients on the Community Living Center (CLC). PM&RS has a fully integrated affiliation with the Eastern Virginia Medical School with an active residency program. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Individuals must meet at least one of the requirements below:(1) Associate degree from an accredited community college, junior college, college or university in a physical therapy assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; OR Graduate of foreign physical therapy assistant degree programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs. OR (3) Graduate of military physical therapy assistant programs that meet the educational requirement and have successfully passed the NPTE for PTAs. Licensure. Current, full, active and unrestricted license as a PTA in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e. Puerto Rico) of the United States, or District of Columbia. Exceptions for Non-Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant.(a) Non-licensed applicants who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements, but who do not possess state licensure, may be appointed, pending licensure, as a graduate PTA on a full-time temporary appointment under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7401(a)(1)(B) and not to exceed two years in accordance with the timeframe in 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2)(B).(b) Non-licensed individuals shall only provide care under the direct supervision of a licensed PTA or PT who meets all state regulatory requirements.(c) Non-licensed individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until licensure is obtained.(d) Temporary appointments of non-licensed PTAs may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. English Language Proficiency. PTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements outlined above, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-5 (Entry level): None beyond the basic requirements. GS-6: Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(a) Knowledge of evidence based physical therapy practice.(b) Ability to perform physical therapy data collection and use of objective measures in order to carry out patient plan of care.(c) Ability to modify treatment approaches, within the scope of the established treatment plans, to reflect patients' changing needs.(d) Skill in promoting physical therapy services by providing training and interventions within the assigned areas. Assignment. PTAs at this grade level serve in developmental positions under general direction from PTs. They receive ongoing guidance from more experienced staff members and require general clinical [direction] by the treating physical therapist. PTAs develop a broad base of practical knowledge to assist the PT in reaching pre-determined patient goals. GS-7: Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:(a) Ability to perform in depth chart review to implement treatment plans.(b) Ability to independently use objective measures to assess progress, in accordance with the plan of care for complex patient cases.(c) Knowledge of contemporary physical therapy practice.(d) Ability to consult with the PT to assess progress, modify treatment and set discharge plan. Assignment. This is a developmental level for PTAs. PTAs receive ongoing guidance from more experienced staff members and receive general direction by the treating PT. PTAs draw upon a broad base of practical and experiential knowledge in order to assist the PT in reaching pre-determined patient goals. PTAs work independently but still under the general direction of PTs. They observe patients' ability to perform specified tasks in order to provide ongoing assessment of information on patients' physical and functional status. PTAs work with the physical therapy staff to assess progress, modify treatment and set discharge plan. They provide clinical direc

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