Physical Therapy Assistant

Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri is home of the U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School, Army Engineer School, and U.S. Army Military Police School.  Fort Leonard Wood trains and educates nearly 90 thousand troops a year.  Surprisingly, the Fort also trains Marines, Airmen, Sailors, Coast Guardsmen and international students from allied nations. With more than 22,000 military members and their families, Ft Leonard Wood provides us with a diverse and well skilled population.  

Fort Leonard Wood, situated in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, is a sportsman’s paradise with some of the most beautiful scenery, hosting many large lakes, rivers, streams, and forests ideal for fishing and hunting. Fort Leonard Wood covers more than 61,000 acres located in Pulaski County with a population of nearly 52,607.  Bordering the installation to the north are the towns of Waynesville and St. Robert, with an estimated combined population of 9,170.  The installation is situated between St Louis and Springfield, Missouri 1 ½ to 2 hours respectively. Also 30 minutes equidistant between Rolla and Lebanon along I-44.  It is also a great place to raise a family along with a low cost of living. 

Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions. For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/

Duties

Operates equipment and designs exercise programs in accordance with standard Physical Therapy practices. Administers physical therapy to walk-in ambulatory, general medical and surgical patients which involves the use of heat, cold, water, electricity, massage, therapeutic exercise to treat physical disabilities, injury and disease. Measures leg length discrepancy, active/passive joint, trunk range of motion, and girth circumference to determine muscle atrophy, swelling or effusion. Performs general evaluation tests related to strength and reflex assessment. Instructs patients in maximal heart rate determination, pulse monitoring, assesses blood pressure, and reviews precautions and contraindications prior to Initiating an aerobic exercise program. Provides direct therapeutic care to a diverse patient population, including both ambulatory, non-ambulatory and critically ill patients.

• Plan, coordinate, and administer diverse rehabilitation and reconditioning programs for injured Soldiers, with a wide range of sports, orthopedic, and neurological conditions under the direction of a Physical Therapist.
• Implement, monitor progress, and modify treatment plans in response to the patient’s presentation.
• Utilize various treatment modalities including electrotherapy, blood flow restriction, thermotherapy, cryotherapy, gait training, and therapeutic exercise.
• Assist in planning and coordinating in-service training for professional and non-professional personnel.
• Provide instruction to patients, family members, and/or other health workers to perform treatment procedures.
• Document information related to a service member’s care in accordance with the American Physical Therapy Association, the Department of Health Administration, and the Joint Commission.

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Specialized experience: One year of specialized experience which includes implementing physical therapy treatment plans, and instructing on physical therapy programs or providing status reports. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-06).

OR

Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Kinesiotherapy, Kinesiology, Sports Medicine, or Exercise Science.

OR

Combination of Experience and Education: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.