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Department of Veteran Affairs

Physiatrist Amarillo VA Healthcare System

Department of Veteran Affairs, Amarillo, TX, United States


DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

 AMARILLO  HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

(PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION SERVICE) SCOPE OF PRACTICE

PM&R SERVICE

 

SCOPE OF PRACTICE:

All providers who are granted privileges in VA Amarillo Health Care System are allowed to provide, deliver and/or interpret professional services (within the scope of their license) in all care settings. It is understood that the requested privileges (as marked below) represent only the requested privileges in the areas in which the applicant believes he/she meets the applicable standards of education, training, Board Certification and demonstrated proficiency.

 

CORE PRIVILEGES:

The PM&Rs Service staff physiatrist reports to the Chief, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS). A staff physiatrist routinely performs inpatient and outpatient musculoskeletal and neuromuscular examinations, determines diagnoses, and initiates treatments that emphasize restoration of function. The staff Physiatrist works with a team of health care providers to establish a comprehensive rehabilitation program. Different patient populations requiring comprehensive rehabilitation programs include those with electromyography, amputations, spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, musculoskeletal and neuromuscular impairments, and those with chronic severe disabling pain syndromes.

The Staff Physiatrist reports to the Chief of the PM&RS. In partnership with the Chief, PM&Rs services and PM&Rs Administrative officer, the Staff Physiatrist may participate in the following clinical areas as applicable and as assigned by the Chief of PM&Rs:

Attending patients with needs of general out-patient or in-patient rehabilitative medicine care including: treating musculoskeletal injuries, SCI, TBI, and Polytraumas. S/he provide Rehab Injections with or without Ultrasound guidance; lead or participate general rehab care, Amputee Care, Seating/Power Mobility Care, SCI/TBI care, managing in-patient & Out-patient consults including CLC Consults. S/he also provides clinical oversight for the PM&RS therapy sections as needed.

Staff Physiatrist prescribes, coordinates, monitors, and has the working knowledge of rehab activities of the PM&RS’s Service - including Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Kinesiotherapy, Speech & Language Pathology.

S/he be accessible and available to the personnel of the PM&Rs Service for:

  1. clinical consultation - as needed
  2. Be responsible for integrating the core values and mission into the rehabilitation process
  3. Assists the Chief PM&Rs in the performance of the PM&Rs programs in the areas of: a. Resource Utilization
  4. Accomplishment of local, VISN and national goals.
  5. Patient Safety

The staff Physiatrist may also participate in administrative and quality improvement activities. S/he assists in administration, policy development, and compliance with JC, CARF, VHA and other applicable local and national standards.

The incumbent may serve in committees and Medical Center management as assigned by the Chief of PM&RS and/or the Executive Leadership Team (ELT).

The staff Physiatrist is expected to collaborate with other providers of the PM&R Service and other services in providing an appropriate clinical education to medical students, residents, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and allied health trainees as needed or requested by the PM&R Service Chief.

The Staff Physiatrist required to maintain Continuing Medical Education (CME), State Medical License, board certification (if indicated), certification in CPR-BLS/RQI, and timely completion of VA mandated trainings assigned via the TMS (Training Management System).

Depending on the incumbent's interests, qualifications, and particular clinical skills in biomedical sciences, opportunities for an affiliation with the medical schools and colleges in the area may be available in the fut

The Staff Physiatrist is expected to collaborate with the Chief of PM&RS and other Service Chiefs, Section Chiefs, Physicians, Therapists and Administrative Officers in the care of patients with:

  1. disabilities, activity limitations, hearing/speech limitations;…etc. that may hinder access to care.
  2. provision of care that demonstrates value for people with activity limitation, hearing/speech limitations, and participation restrictions.
  3. barriers pertaining to architectural, environmental, attitudinal, financial, communication, employment, transportation;…etc. limitation of people with disabilities

The incumbent Staff Physiatrist under the guidance and direction of the Chief of PM&RS will

oversee and collaborates to ensure that all applicable clinical functions, as assigned by Chief of PM&Rs are completed timely and optimally.

The incumbent Staff Physiatrist:

  1. manages out-patient and in-patient patients including CLC patients.
  2. provides polytrauma rehabilitative care including TBI/SCI;
  3. leads or participates in clinics focused on an amputee care, seating/power mobility care, non-interventional pain management;
  4. administration of trigger point, intraarticular, intrasheath, and joint injections with or without an ultrasound guidance; and
  5. performs an/a EMG/NCV testing's.

 

The incumbent is expected to execute clinical and non-clinical assignment efficiently, timely and courteous service to all veterans seeking rehabilitative care, and make clinical notes readily available to the referring practitioners.

The staff Physiatrist collaborates to ensure coverage of other rehab clinical areas when requested by the Chief of PM&R Service.

The staff Physiatrist will prescribe therapeutic exercise programs, and therapies, such as, PT/OT/Speech/Chiro, massage, acupunctures, hydrotherapies;…etc.). The staff also prescribes, orthotic, prosthetic devices, durable medical equipment;…etc. when clinically indica