This position is located in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, Boise VA Medical Center, Boise, ID. 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. English Language Proficiency: Licensed practical or vocational nurses appointed to direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). Education and experience: The individual must meet at least one of the requirements below: (1) Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy AND five (5) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (2) Master's degree in Physical Therapy AND two (2) years of progressively independent experience as a physical therapist. (3) Doctorate degree in physical therapy. 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. Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. GS-11 Physical Therapist (Entry) Education, Experience, and Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment: PTs at this level are responsible for providing assessment and treatment intervention. PTs plan and modify treatment based on a patient's response to intervention and/or change in medical condition. PTs at this level may be given general assignments in any physical therapy program area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required or may serve as the sole PT such as in an outpatient clinic. Licensed PTs may provide oversight and delegate patient care responsibilities to a Physical Therapist Assistant, and/or delegate non-patient care duties to non-licensed staff. PTs that are not licensed must practice under the close supervision of a licensed PT GS-12 Physical Therapist (Full Performance Level) Education, Experience and Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level, hold a valid unrestricted state license and demonstrate all the KSAs below: Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: 1. Ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment. This includes ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services. 2. Skill in performing examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique psychosocial and environmental factors. 3. Ability to interpret findings from examination and evaluation, select appropriate test and measures, and integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations. 4. Ability to establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate rehabilitation intervention, including referral to another provider for further consultation as clinically indicated. 5. Ability to determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals, optimize outcomes and maximize functional independence. 6. Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs. Assignment: At the full performance level, PTs are responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals. Guided by differential and movement diagnoses, PTs perform examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique personal and environmental factors. PTs interpret findings from examination, diagnostic studies/medical tests and, during evaluation, select appropriate clinical tests and measures, and then integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations. PTs establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed. They determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences for meaningful level of function in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes. Physical therapists select appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals they treat.6. Ability to independently provide clinical oversight of Physical Therapy Assistants as well as students on clinical affiliations who are in Doctoral PT Programs or PTA Programs. (c) Assignment. At the full performance level, PTs are responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals. Guided by differential and movement diagnoses, PTs perform examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique personal and environmental factors. PTs interpret findings from examination, diagnostic studies/medical tests and, during evaluation, select appropriate clinical tests and measures, and then integrate findings into the physical therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations. PTs establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed. They determine physical therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences for meaningful level of function in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes. Physical therapists select appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of individuals they treat. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Standing, walking, squatting, bending, sitting, and changing from one position to another frequently throughout the day. Requires good manual dexterity to manipulate patients and equipment. According to the US Department of Labor, the strength requirement of an physical therapist is medium. Medium is defined as exerting (to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects) 20 to 50 pounds of force frequently (2/3 of the time), and /or up to 10 pounds of force constantly. Must have the ability to bend, lift, and assist with transfers. Must have adequate physical strength to assist with resistive activities. The full performance level of this position is GS-12 ["VA Careers - Physical Therapy: https://youtube.com/embed/Gi2hoFqIoqY Performs as an independent practitioner, embraces evidenced-based practice standards in diagnosis, examination, management, intervention, treatment and outcome measurement. Collaborates across the continuum of care. Ensures that services are coordinated, including recommending studies of value and being consumer-centered by referring, co-managing, engaging consultants, and independently supervising care. Uses differential diagnosis as a consistent way to screen for systemic diseases and medical conditions that can mimic neuromuscular and musculoskeletal problems. The model covers past medical history, risk factor assessment, clinical presentation, associated signs and symptoms, and review of bodily systems for each patient. Manages patients with multiple personal factors and/or comorbidities that impact the plan of care. Completes an examination of multiple body systems using standardized tests and measures, addressing multiple elements from any of the following: body structures and functions, activity limitations, and/or participation restrictions. Manages patients with unstable and unpredictable clinical presentations. Exercises clinical decision-making of high complexity using standardized patient assessment instruments and/or measurable assessments of functional outcome. Performs PT evaluations and treatments according to established PM&RS/HBPC protocols and/or evidence-based practice guidelines. Makes autonomous clinical decisions in an autonomous and/or Direct Access environment. Includes the ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services. Serves as a subject matter expert for other medical center staff in the evaluation and rehabilitative treatment of individuals with, or at risk to develop, limitations related to cardiovascular, pulmonary, neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and/or integumentary systems. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0800 - 1630\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]