Job Title:
Physical Therapist

Provides Direct Support To:
Goodfellow AFB, TX

Duty Hours:
Monday-Friday 0730-1630 with a 1-hour non-working lunch. Contractor lunches will not be taken at the start or end of the duty day and will be coordinated within the respective work center/clinic.

Qualifications
Degree/Education:
• Doctoral degree in Physical Therapy with graduation from an accredited college/university through the Commission on accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) and Physical American Therapy Association (ATPA). Must pass the national physical therapy exam through Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Licensure is managed by individual state regulatory boards and is required to practice as a PT in the United States

Certifications:
• Specialty certifications such as Athletic Trainer, Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Orthopedic Clinical Specialist or Sports Clinical Specialist are desired.
• (BLS) Basic Life Support. Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification.

Experience:
• No experience necessary.

Board Certification:
• Board certification in orthopedics (OCS) or sports (SCS) is desired but not required.
Licensure/Registration:
• Must possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted license or registration from a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties include but are not limited to the following:
• Utilizes a wide range of concepts, principles, and methodologies of the therapeutic field to provide examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and outcome assessment for Department of Defense (DoD) beneficiaries.
• As a physician extender and fully privileged physical therapist, employee independently manages the most complex neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders and fulfills responsibilities and expectations of medical staff appointment.
• Provides direct access (i.e., no referral needed) evaluation for acute musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions in an outpatient setting.
• Plans, implements, and evaluates the full range of specialized and complex treatments for patients who are acutely ill or have a combination of severe mental or physical disabilities with secondary complications. Orders and interprets appropriate radiographs and laboratory tests, assigns temporary duty profiles, admits or discharges to and from quarters, refers to other specialists, prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, and over-the-counter analgesic medications.
• Performs needle insertion for electrodiagnostic testing or treatment, and evaluates and treats infants in the neonatal intensive care unit where privileged. Performs advanced differential diagnosis to recognize early, potentially serious physical and/or physiological problems. Applies advanced treatment techniques including, but not limited to, manual and manipulative therapy. Employs creative motivational techniques as necessary to encourage the patient during treatment.
• Develops, implements, monitors, modifies, and prescribes evidence-based treatment/rehabilitation programs.
• Maintains caseload and case mix productivity standards as defined by local policy and ensures access to care is within Air Force Medical Service (AFMS) standards.
• Refers and/or coordinates care with other members of the staff and network providers.
• Prescribes, facilitates, procures, fits, instructs, and establishes use of adaptive equipment, advanced orthoses and braces, and other therapeutic devices as needed.
• Deviates from conventional treatment methods, procedures or techniques to resolve unusual problems; evaluates patient’s progress and modifies treatment plans as needed.
• Determines functional limitations in work, sport, school, and activities of daily living; generates written restrictions in accordance with (IAW) local standards.
• Develops and provides musculoskeletal injury prevention services. Develops appropriate evaluation, treatment, and recommendations regarding fitness for duty in current Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC) for transitioning out of the military or transitioning to another specialty. Ensures patient privacy is respected and complies with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements.
• Performs work assignments in compliance with instructions, policies, or accepted practices of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC), The Joint Commission (TJC), and local facility.
• Provides guidance, training, and preceptorship to physical therapy students, physical therapist assistants, physical medicine technicians, as well as Primary Care Managers, specialty providers, flight medicine, and other medical staff.
• Formulates training objectives, provides clinical education, reviews and ensures accuracy of documentation, and identifies development and training needs for staff therapists, assistants, technicians, and other medical staff. Develops performance plans and provides rating input on physical therapist assistants and physical medicine technicians.
• Serve as consultant in physical therapy for other healthcare professionals in the military healthcare system.
• Ensures proper and timely documentation of patient care IAW DoD and professional standards.
• Conduct required clinical and non-clinical administrative responsibilities, and maintains patient care records IAW APTA, TJC, AAAHC and local policy standards.
• Manage priorities and deadlines to ensure temporal, quantity, and quality demands of the workload are met. Monitors access to care and adjusts clinic therapy schedules and templates. Employs electronic systems, software programs, and databases for patient care documentation and administrative responsibilities.
• Provides current/relevant briefings and/or hands-on lab sessions to professional and technical staff on rehabilitation techniques and practices.
• Develops protocols and treatment guidelines for the Physical Medicine Evaluation and Management Program. Adapts existing treatment methods, procedures, or techniques to resolve difficult or complex problems.
• Remains aware of changing treatment methods and research trends to recommend new methods, criteria, and policies.

• Participates in the MTF’s patient education activities by developing and presenting appropriate lectures. Leads rehabilitation team meetings and participates in prostaff meetings, in-services, and other Medical Group staff meetings.
• May serve as clinical peer review director for Physical Medicine providers IAW local credentialing and professional provider staff policies.