Kinesiotherapist - Safe Patient Handling Program Manager

Summary

The Kinesiotherapist, Program Coordinator executes leadership characterized by managing the Safe Patient Handling Program based on the requirements of VHA Directive 1611, covering all medical facilities and clinics within the Sheridan healthcare system. This is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for the program, which crosses the lines of all services and disciplines that influence the organizational healthcare mission.

Duties

• Participates in planning, design, & construction phases of all projects so that all projects in spaces Veterans use include VA medical facility SPHM Program Coordinator input incorporating VHA Design guides. Completes, leads, & updates ergonomic assessments to implement appropriate SPHM technology to prevent hazards identified across all areas that provide patient care. In collaboration with stakeholders, report unsafe and unhealthful workplace conditions and initiate safe patient handling technology corrective action where appropriate. Performs comprehensive rounding throughout the VA medical facility using the SPHM template within the Performance Logic Application to monitor facility performance measures. Investigates employee & patient safety & health incidents related to patient handling, providing recommendations & tracking these injuries by unit, area, hospital-wide, & across the continuum, in collaboration with the worker's compensation program personnel, facility safety, OSHA record keeper, & facility patient safety manager. Ensures that patients are screened before mobilization & that methods chosen for mobility are safe, effective, & appropriate for individual needs across the continuum of care. Selects & coordinates the acquisition of SPHM-related equipment and supplies with appropriate stakeholders within the healthcare system across the continuum. Establishes & maintains highly effective relationships at all levels of the organization, working in collaboration with VA medical facility stakeholders on resource availability for programmatic support. Provides expertise to all individuals & workgroups that handle & mobilize patients or provide or approve patient equipment. This collaboration with the SPHM Program Coordinator ensures that everyone feels confident & competent in their role in program sustainment. Monitors VA medical facility compliance with Directive 1611 & initiates appropriate corrective action if non-compliance is identified. As determined by the facility director, report to the VA medical facility committee at least twice yearly. Communicates with transparency, clarity, & integrity while providing opportunities & resources for the VA facility to schedule, providing employees with SPHM education & training, & maintaining competence for all personnel directly involved with handling & mobility of Veterans. Ensures a process is in place for new VA medical facility employees to participate in SPHM orientation. Ensures VHA employees receive ongoing education or competency/proficiency evaluation to maintain competence in their roles and responsibilities. Leads & mentors SPHM unit/service peer leaders on all shifts in all areas that provide patient care to train staff and recognize hazards at the unit or service level. Train SPHM peer leaders at least once per year, providing training resources & references & periodic opportunities for interaction. Monitor that SPHM peer leaders are provided with time to check equipment & train employees. Translates evidence into practice throughout the organization. Collaborate with all services throughout the continuum as appropriate to lead, coordinate, & monitor a comprehensive SPHM program that meets the performance criteria. Sustains relationships at the levels to advance SPHM strategic action plans. Advances one's knowledge through the continual application of evidence­ based research. Meet at least quarterly with SPHM Program Coordinators in VISN. Establishes procedures delineating local responsibilities related to local VA medical facility SPHM program alignment, implementation, & sustainment. Makes decisions that affect staff & other resources with a wide latitude of control. Uses independent judgment to evaluate, plan, & direct the SPHM program to ensure proper coordination of care with the local facility inclusive of regional/national stakeholders such as The Joint Commission &, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), & the VHA Office of Academic Affiliations as appropriate. Reports annually on performance metrics requested by the national SPHM program through a national SPHM survey. Meet monthly with National SPHM Program Coordinators. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 61476-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Qualifications

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. Education. A bachelor's degree or higher from a program accredited by the Commissionon Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program, with a concentration/emphasis in kinesiotherapy. OR A bachelor's degree or higher with a concentration/emphasis inkinesiotherapy or exercise science related field and registered as akinesiotherapist in good standing with the COPSKT. OR A master's degree or higher with a degree in exercise science, kinesiology,human performance or a related field, which has been approved by COPSKTand a certificate verifying completion of a Center of Excellence (COE)Kinesiotherapy clinical training program. The completion of the certificateensures that COPSKT has approved the degree program as part of theapplication process for the COE internship. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of a foreign program must meet the requirements in subparagraph 4b if they have a full unrestricted and current registration to practice kinesiotherapy in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States or in the District of Columbia. They must have at a minimum, proof of a degree from an accredited college or university (or foreign equivalent, as verified through an independent credentialing evaluation company). Registration. All applicants must be registered in kinesiotherapy in good standing with the COPSKT. Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade and assignment of candidates. Kinesiotherapist (Program Coordinator), GS-12 Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11). Assignment at the GS-11 grade level. Duties may include, but are not limited to, any of the following: pre- habilitation, acute, sub-acute, transitional, home-based, post rehabilitative, and wellness programs. Administer musculoskeletal, neurological, ergonomic, biomechanical, psychological, and task specific functional tests and measures in order to reach maximum outcomes. Coordinate and collaborate within a multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive care, employ multiple treatment approaches and to accomplish complex treatment objectives. The kinesiotherapist may perform duties such as, accurately test, analyze, evaluate, and record measurements of vitals, muscular strength, endurance, range of motion, coordination, static/dynamic balance, cardiovascular endurance, gait analysis, posture, gross sensory impairment, functional mobility, activities of daily living, and prosthetic and orthotic gait, care and training. Provide education to patients, caregivers and other health care professionals regarding policies and procedures for guidance to maneuver through the health care system. Kinesiotherapists monitor and report on work status, program quality, performance improvement data, and make recommendations for process improvement. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and to provide advice to staff on planning and implementation of comprehensive treatment programs. (b) Knowledge of VA policies and procedures to represent the medical center. (c) Knowledge and skills to analyze, evaluate, and monitor issues concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of programs that will impact activities or functions such as: supplies, equipment, budget, and recruitment. (d) Skill in providing clinical and administrative oversight of a multidisciplinary team. (e) Ability to collaborate with strategic planning committees at local, VISN, or national level for new ventures addressing patient care delivery systems, facilities management, systems reorganization, etc. (f) Ability to provide guidance and advise program administrators, members of the community, and medical center leadership. Preferred Experience: Two years of program management experience. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The physical requirements to perform the essential functions of this job, considering physical, mental, and emotional capacities, without endangering their safety and health or co-workers' safety and health, are in the VA Directive 5019 and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

How to apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/08/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13050016. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.