Physical Therapist

Overview

Please note that this position is contingent upon the successful award of a contract currently under bid.

Goldbelt Glacier is accelerating healthcare delivery and providing superior force health readiness across the military, federal, and civilian landscapes. Goldbelt Glacier is committed to providing transformative and comprehensive health operational capabilities to support customers across scientific, clinical, technological, and program management areas.

Summary:

As a part of the Goldbelt Glacier Team, you will be supporting the Naval Logistics Command with medical services for active-duty military personnel, their dependents, eligible DoD civilian employees, and other eligible beneficiaries designated by the Government. As a HealthCare Worker (HCW), you will be assigned to either a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) or other Federal medical treatment facilities in Japan.

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates; however, individuals currently residing in Japan will receive priority consideration.

Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions:

• Performs the full spectrum of services as a staff PT.

• Deliver comprehensive physical therapy services within the personnel, supply, and equipment capabilities of the facility.

• Physician Extender (70%):  Performs primary evaluation, diagnosis, and plans/executes treatment programs for patients seeking care of neuromusculoskeletal disorders.

• Recommends appropriate casts, splints, and/or bracing for these conditions.

• Orders and reviews x-rays and develops initial impression of x-rays and consults with the orthopedic surgeon or radiologist as indicated.

• Distinguishes between normal and abnormal physical findings to recognize early potentially serious physical and/or physiological problems.

• Orders Magnetic Resonance Imaging studies (MRI), bone scans, other radiology as indicated, and routine laboratory studies.

• Refers patients to specialty clinics or to their primary care provider when indicated.

• Prescribes analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds that have been approved by the therapeutics agent board, the credentials committee, and the Commander.

• Authenticates temporary profiles not to exceed 30 days, permanent (P2) profiles for various

  neuromusculoskeketal conditions, and assigns quarters for up to 72 hours.

• Provision of Physical Therapy Service (20%):

  • Provides physical therapy care in the areas of physical disabilities and neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions in patients from toddlers to the elderly.

  • Performs comprehensive neurological and musculoskeletal evaluations of patients referred to the department by non-physicians or physicians other than orthopedic surgeons.

  • Exercises independent professional judgment in planning treatment programs based upon general information in consult and taking into consideration the patient physical and mental conditions and addressing the patient needs.

  • Observes and evaluates patients functioning and interprets range of motion as well as strength, power, and endurance of muscles to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

  • Implements treatment, individually or in groups, and periodically re-evaluates the patient level of functioning to determine if treatment goals are being achieved.

  • Determines changes in treatment method or termination of the treatment programs when appropriate.

  • Must be aware of the hazards and problems inherent in any treatment program so as to prevent occurrence of any injury to the patient.

  • Assists physician in organizing complex treatment plans for complicated cases and modifies standard procedures to meet special problems.

  • Develops long-term and short-term patient treatment goals.

  • Administers patient treatment and provides follow-up care.

  • Determines necessity of home programs, instructs patients and their families on home programs to compliment treatment, and establishes that the patient verbalizes understanding of such programs.

  • Consults with physicians and other health care providers on patient treatment plans and strategies.

  • Documents all outpatient care in AHLTA within 24 hours, and reports on patient progress through progress notes and/or oral reports in patient team meetings or rounds.

  • Works in contact with other hospital services to develop an integrated treatment program.

  • Contacts and collaborates with appropriate personnel relative to the individual patient treatment program and provides advice on equipment needs.

  • Participates in professional conferences, in-house training, and continuing education meetings.

  • Participates in the hospital patient education activities by developing and presenting appropriate lectures.

  • Contributes to the diagnostic and follow-up evaluations of patients discussed in interdisciplinary meetings.

  • Direct supervision of Physical Therapy Assistants, students, and Red Cross volunteers.

  • Provides technical guidance to Physical Therapist Assistants and physical therapy students providing patient care.

  • Serves as primary clinical instructor for physical therapy students.

  • Reviews and co-signs military physical therapy technician musculoskeletal assessments.

  • Independently develops and provides education programs, inpatient care safety procedures, and treatment techniques.

  • Assesses patient learning style and develops an appropriate patient education program for each patient.

  • Supports use of standardized handout outs and rehabilitative efforts.

• Administrative Work (10%):

  • Performs essential Officer In-Charge (OIC) level administrative functions and in the absence of the Chief may fill in as acting OIC of the Physical Therapy clinic.

  • Assists in scheduling, planning and conducting in-service training for professional and non-professional personnel.

  • Maintains records of all patients assessed and/or treated and prepares statistical documents as required.

  • Participates in section peer reviews.

  • Records minutes for weekly meeting.

  • Updates and develops clinic Operating Instructions (OIs) and treatment protocols as needed.

  • Assists in ordering of new equipment and determination of supply needs.

  • Provides input to Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) and OIC to assist in the performance evaluation and rating of military staff members.

  • Attends any pertinent meetings as requested by the Chief of Physical Therapy.

  • Participates in clinical continuing education functions, quality assurance, risk management activities, special projects, and community educational functions as directed by the Chief of Physical Therapy.

  • Coordinates and prioritizes own time in relation to overlapping demands of administrative and patient care responsibilities.

  • Constantly vigilant to scheduling conflicts and issues as to minimize rescheduling patients.

• Maintains own professional credentials including licensure, CPR certification, and annual continuing medical education (CME).  Updates records with credentialing personnel as needed to practice in the MTF.
• Skill in teaching holistic regional pain classes (back, shoulder, hip, knee etc.) to the standards of the Physical Therapy clinic.
• General administrative and policy direction is available from the Chief, Physical Therapy.  The contractor personnel is expected to work with a high degree of independence, exercising professional judgment in developing, planning, and conducting treatment programs to meet complex treatment objectives.  The PT must independently exercise originality in problem solving in areas not covered by written operating procedures and make adaptations and modifications of treatment plans without supervisory guidance or review.  Work is reviewed for general professional adequacy through the supervisor periodic observation of work performance and through peer review audits.  The contractor personnel evaluates and provides primary care to patients with neuromusculoskeletal disorders in the Physical Therapy section.  Patients with serious illnesses or trauma are referred to the orthopedic surgeon or other primary care provider in charge as deemed necessary.  Assignments in the clinic evolve from the flow of work.  The contractor personnel provides care without detailed instructions, independently determining times for reassessing, counseling, teaching, and treating patients, adjusting schedules according to the patient needs and resources available.  An orthopedic surgeon is designated as the supervising physician.  Work is evaluated on the basis of demonstrated clinical expertise, professional physical therapy ability, skill and judgment in caring for patients, and effective delivery of physical therapy services.
• The work requires a wide variety of duties outside the typical realm of Physical Therapy.  As a Physician Extender, the PT provides a complete range of rehabilitative services including assessing, planning, evaluating, and modifying the treatments of patients, often with the involvement of family members.  The work also involves counseling, teaching, coordinating other services, and participating with other disciplines in interpreting and evaluating the health care plan.  The PT also advises patients, physicians, and other ancillary staff on the necessity of special orthotic and/or assistive devices for patients as determined by their professional judgment and experience.
• The contractor personnel is required patience and the ability to elicit cooperation from patients who may be uncooperative or unmotivated.  Work requires sitting, standing, bending, and walking, with long periods of standing during a clinic day.  It requires strength, coordination, and stamina to manage physically disabled patients and operate therapy equipment.  It involves frequent bending and lifting of a wide variety of equipment.  Physical conditioning must be sufficient to demonstrate and perform various physical therapy procedures.  The PT must be able to assist in patient transfers from bed to chair and provide support during gait training.  Work also requires the ability to perform under stress.
• Work is performed in an outpatient physical therapy clinic where there are electrical, ultrasound, and thermo-dynamic equipment.  Work may also be performed in an office building, fitness center or gym, and pool at Yokota AB.  Work involves minimal risks or discomforts and requires normal safety precautions typical of a health clinic setting.  PT are required to wear gloves, gown, and mask and use approved sterile technique when working in areas of open wounds or contagious diseases.
• Performs peer reviews as directed by the Chief of Medical staff (SGH).
• Ensures compliance of all physical therapy plan of care is executed by technical staff.
• Provide exercise and physical therapy guidelines to the clinical staff as required.
• Provide healthcare related in service training to clinical staff on evidenced based practice and other topics as deemed appropriate by the department head.
• Provide clinical direction of physical therapy technicians and provide input into job performance evaluations.
• Supervise inventory control of all equipment in the physical therapy.  Maintain appropriate records and security of all equipment issued according to applicable regulations.
• Consult with other specialty practitioners to provide optimal physical therapy care.
• Participates in physical therapy staff in-service meetings when scheduled within normal duty hours.  The PT shall attend meetings and training as directed by the Physical Therapy Element Leader or his/her designee.  The PT shall attend any additional special meeting called by the 374 Medical Group Commander or designee as required to discuss the therapist’s credentials, quality control issues or emergency situations.
• PT must have to decide when and how the patient should return for treatments and follow-up evaluations, change the treatment plan as indicated, refer to other specialty clinics, and recommend termination of treatment.

Qualifications

Necessary Skills and Knowledge:

• Possess Advanced knowledge of Physical Therapy theory, professional medical rehabilitation, therapeutic principles and extensive clinical experience and training to develop individual treatment programs for each patient referred in the areas of physical disabilities, neuromuscular, and psychosocial dysfunction.
• Knowledge of highly specialized concepts, principles, and practices to assess, diagnose, and treat a broad spectrum of neuro-musculoskeletal disorders of diverse complexity and etiology without direct supervision of a physician.
• Knowledge of selected pharmaceuticals, their desired effects, side effects, and complications of their use.
• Must have knowledge of special procedures to be followed for patients with neuromusculoskeletal disorders, such as ordering and reviewing x-rays, MRI, bone scans, and other radiology studies, prescribing medications, requesting routine lab tests, and recommending work and activity restrictions to include physical profiles.
• The PT shall have a working knowledge of computer systems such as Composite Health Care System (CHCS) and Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA).
• The PT shall have knowledge of the full range of professional principles and practices of physical therapy.

Minimum Qualifications:

• The PT shall read, comprehend/understand, speak, and write English fluently.

• The PT shall have a Masters or Doctoral degree in Physical Therapy from a college of Physical Therapy accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (CAPTE).

• Must have a valid, current unrestricted state license in any one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Contractor personnel are responsible for maintaining/renewing licensure from a state and if required, a certification or registration when caring for patients within the MTF.  The PT shall not perform any service if license is inactive or revoked. Copies of required licensure shall be furnished to the Contracting Officer (KO) prior to performance on this contract and then turned in to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). Copies of renewals must be submitted ten (10) days before date of expiration.

• The PT shall have at least one year of Physical Therapy experience within the past two years practicing as a PT.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A thorough understanding of the military lifestyle and experience working with military family members.
• Working knowledge of relevant military, state, federal, and local laws and resources.
• Highly developed written, oral, and presentation communication skills.
• An active security clearance is preferred.

Pay and BenefitsAt Goldbelt, we value and reward our team's dedication and hard work. We provide a competitive base salary commensurate with your qualifications and experience. As an employee, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with company matching, tax-deferred savings options, supplementary benefits, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.