PLEASE READ THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE BEGINNING THE APPLICATION PROCESS TO ENSURE YOU SUBMIT ALL THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS. This Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA) will be used to fill a Physical Therapist - Neurology Clinical Specialist, GS-0633-13 position in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service at the VA Oklahoma City Healthcare System. This an Open Continuous Announcement and will remain open until filled. First review is 3/29/22; then bi-weekly thereafter. 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: Citizenship. Candidates must be a citizen of the United States. After a determination is made that it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens, necessary personnel may be appointed on a temporary basis under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 without regard to the citizenship requirements of 38 U.S.C. 7402 or any other law prohibiting the employment of or payment of compensation to a person who is not a citizen of the United States. Candidates must meet all other requirements for the grade and position concerned. Education and experience. The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: 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. NOTE: Prior to 1995 the terminal degree for PT's was either a bachelors or master's degree. In 1995 CAPTE accredited all baccalaureate, master's, and Doctor of Physical Therapy terminal degree programs. Effective 2002, CAPTE changed its scope of accrediting activities of PT education programs to include only those programs that culminate in post-baccalaureate degrees (eliminating the baccalaureate degree). Effective 2015, professional physical therapy education programs have only offered the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students. NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) accredited college or university. The CAPTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit entry-level physical therapy programs. Verification of accredited programs may be obtained from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at www.apta.org. Licensure. Individuals 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. 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. Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. English Language Proficiency. Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. 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). Preferred Experience: Board Certification Grade Determinations GS- 13 Physical Therapist (Clinical Specialist) Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, one year of progressively complex experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and one of the following: 1. Evidence of a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area. This time must be between the past two and five years; OR 2. Board Certification in the specialty area recognized by the ABPTS; OR 3. Completion of a fellowship program; OR 4. An additional advanced degree in a related field. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Advanced knowledge and expert skill in a range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in a specialized treatment area of physical therapy. Ability to serve as a consultant and subject matter expert for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within a specialized content area of physical therapy. Ability to teach and mentor medical center staff in a specialized content area of physical therapy. Ability to guide the work of a multi-disciplinary team in a specialized content area of physical therapy. Advanced knowledge and expert skill to perform and interpret specialized procedures and tests in evaluating the treatment outcomes in the assigned specialty content area. Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and variety. Clinical Specialists spend at least 25% or greater of their time working with specialized population(s) within their department. The individual is assigned responsibility for serving as the subject matter expert in the content specialty area and as a consultant to physical therapy and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the specialty area. Clinical Specialists have advanced knowledge and demonstrate expert clinical practice skills in providing assessment and treatment interventions across the continuum of care. Clinical specialists have advanced training in specialized technology related to their area of practice. He/she establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis. References: VA Handbook 5005/99 February 7, 2018 PART II APPENDIX G12 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements. Pre-placement and periodic physical examinations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job considering their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["Clinical Specialist provides evaluation and treatment that promotes the prevention, remediation, and education of acute and chronic neurological condition management. Is responsible for administering PT to adult and geriatric patients, >75% of his/her time working in the specialty area of neurology rehabilitation. A specialist provides physical therapy services within the Neurology/ Rehabilitation Service at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center and affiliated Community Based Outpatient Clinics. Services will include evaluations, education and treatment, individually or in groups, of veterans with acute, chronic, and post-operative medical, neurological and orthopedic conditions. Duties include, but are not limited to: Demonstrate expert clinical practice skills in providing assessment and treatment interventions across the continuum of care. Carries out the full range of treatment where therapeutic objectives are complex, and treatment involved requires the application of highly specialized skills and knowledge, particularly as related to neurological patients. Establishes treatment procedures are not always applicable and, at times, must be substantially adapted and applied with critical concern for patients who are acutely or chronically ill, or who have a combination of severe mental or physical disabilities with secondary complications. Ordering diagnostic imaging, laboratory studies, specific pharmacy, and therapeutic medications approved by the medical facility in accordance with applicable requirements from The Joint Commission as needed to enhance clinical decision making. Modify treatment plans and to identify therapeutic activity interventions based on the changing needs, goals, and performance of patients. Coordinate and employ multiple treatment approaches simultaneously to accomplish complex treatment objectives. Assess plan, implement, and evaluate treatment programs for geriatric adult and adult patients with chronic conditions. Provides feedback and instruction to all associated health care team members and students. Completes evaluation and treatment in a timely fashion; chart review will allow the incumbent an opportunity to assess appropriateness of the referral and possible contraindications for treatment. Consults are scheduled considering priority and frequency of care, and coordination of schedules with other members of the treatment team. Evaluates medical history and results and interpretation of the appropriate tests and measurements performed. Assesses for appropriate orthotic devices used in joint protection and management. Order devices; fits and trains on use. Modifies treatment plan according to evaluative findings on an ongoing basis to meet short- and long-term goals. Involves the patient, family, significant others, and pertinent health care staff in the treatment process by ongoing communication through demonstration, instruction, team conferences, and chart documentation as appropriate to each patient's treatment goals. Serve as a subject matter expert for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within physical therapy. Functions as a mentor in the area of complicated medical conditions (such as spinal cord injury, cerebral vascular accidents and other chronic neurological conditions) and provides specific instruction and training to students and other members of the interdisciplinary team. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm\nCompressed/Flexible: Not Available\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Title/Functional Statement #:Physical Therapist-Neurological Clinical Specialist/PD000000\nDisclosure Report: Not required"]