Physical Therapist Performance Standards.pdf

December 2021

Performance Standards Neurology and Rehabilitation Service

Physical Therapy Section

Physical Therapist GS12

ELEMENT

TYPE

PERFORMANCE STANDARD

LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT

FEEDBACK

SOURCE

FOR

MONITORING

PROVIDES PHYSICAL THERAPY

SERVICES – Evaluations, Interpretation, Treatment Planning and Implementation.

Demonstrates ability to make autonomous clinical decisions in a Direct Access environment with consideration for local

Scope of Practice guidelines. This includes the ability to independently evaluate and treat patients who seek physical therapy services.

Screens patient referrals for appropriateness of Physical Therapy. Evaluates patients correctly and considers physical, psychosocial and functional limitations.

Provides entire range of PT interventions appropriate to patient diagnosis, prognosis and stated goals.

Treatment outcomes represent maximum function attainable for each patient. Assists in discharge planning process and may act as liaison to major bed service/attend multidisciplinary rounds.

Follows infection control standards including new and changing pandemic guidelines. Provides treatments that maximize patient safety and privacy.

Critical

• Provides physical therapy services with individual and clinic productivity in mind.

Productivity is impacted by fluctuations in census, clinic cancellation/no show rates, scheduling support, administrative workload, and clinic structure.

• Ensures full daily caseload/clinic utilization.

Outpatient clinic slot utilization rate will be

>80% with at least 10 evaluations/consults per week (Pain/Wellness/HBPC clinics excepted). Works with admin staff to decrease missed opportunities.

Inpatient/Subacute/CLC will schedule at least 6 patients per day.

• Contributes to clinic projects or requests additional assignments during times of low census and/or clinic no-shows/cancellations

FULLY SUCCESSFUL: Meets

Standard AND no more than two valid complaints AND no more than two supervisory counseling sessions during rating period.

EXCEPTIONAL: No valid complaints or supervisory counseling sessions AND performs at higher level such as but not limited to:

• Meets one or the other productivity measure, or both.

Outpatient, CLC and

Inpatient Clinics:

Productivity Measure

(RVU): achieves value between

1,295 (25th percentile) and

1,568 (75th percentile) per annum

OR

Encounters per Clinical

FTE: achieves value between

1,431 and 1,859 per annum

HBPC Clinic:

Encounters per Clinical FTE:

achieves value between 435 and 717 per annum

• Becomes subject matter

VSSC workload reports.

Documentation review.

Direct observation.

Valid staff or patient complaints.

Staff or patient compliments.

expert in area of care delivery,

• Develops new patient protocols/handouts or programs,

• Provides coverage in multiple clinical settings.

• Develops competency in or achieves special certifications in unique treatment modalities such as Trigger

Point Dry Needling.

COMMUNICATES EFFECTIVELY-

Written and Verbal.

Generates patient care documentation, emails and patient education materials that are clear, concise, and correct.

Verbally expresses self in clear, polite and respectful manner. Ensures understanding and uses communicate style appropriate to target audience.

Critical • Completes/signs clinical documentation within 24 hours of patient visit 97% of time for inpatient and outpatient notes.

HBPC/Wellness/Pain clinic notes are to be completed within 72 hours 95% of the time.

• Includes all required elements in clinical documentation as specified by departmental, TJC, VHA, and professional/APTA guidelines.

• Answers emails within two working days.

• Answers phone calls within 24 hours.

• Answers pages within 1 hour.

• Utilizes TEAMS when appropriate.

• Accepts feedback graciously without defensiveness.

Standard AND no more than two valid complaints AND no more than two supervisory counseling sessions during rating period.

EXCEPTIONAL: No valid complaints or supervisory counseling

• Exceeds expectations for timeliness of clinical documentation or emails/phone calls/pages.

• Demonstrates skill in conflict resolution.

• Skillfully initiates and manages communicating difficult information,

• Creates avenues of communication with other

Medical Center departments

• Negotiates improved work processes with multiple stakeholders.

Supervisory documentation review

TIU sign-off reports/Vista Search reports.

Supervisory observation.

Valid staff or patient complaints.

PROVIDES CUSTOMER SERVICE

Maintains relationships with supervisors, coworkers, patients, significant others, community agencies, businesses, and visitors that are consistently professional, courteous and cooperative in nature.

Correctly identifies customer’s situation and responds in courteous, tactful and helpful manner that is responsive to customer’s needs (both internal and external).

Critical • Approaches and offers assistance to all visitors to the rehabilitation department.

• Participates as effective team member by supporting co-workers.

• Adjusts to changes without public complaints or disruption of work.

• Graciously accepts work assignments including changes.

• Assists walk ins / same day patient self-referrals and carries Durable Medical

Equipment pager as assigned.

FULLY SUCCESSFUL: Meets

Standard AND no more than two valid complaints AND no more than two supervisory counseling sessions during period.

EXCEPTIONAL: No valid complaints or supervisory counseling

• Contributes to system improvements that result in improved customer service:

eg. improved clinic access metrics or decreased missed opportunity rates.

• Goes above and beyond in meeting customers’ needs:

stays past the end of TOD.

Direct observation.

Valid staff or patient complaints.

Staff or patient compliments.

VSSC / Data Depot reports

PARTICIPATES IN PROFESSIONAL

EDUCATION – Training, Supervision, Orientation and Research.

Provides orientation/training/inservices to peers and medical center personnel.

Supervises physical therapy students, interns and volunteers. Serves as mentor to junior staff. Explains role of physical therapy to staff outside the department.

Participates in continuing education as required by State Physical Therapy Board.

Investigates new technology and evidence in literature to enhance knowledge, skills and abilities.

Non-

• Completes required hours/of accredited

CEU’s to maintain licensure. (30 hours/2 year cycle for CA license holders)

• Mentors one (1) physical therapy student, intern, volunteer, new graduate PT, or learner from other disciplines.

• Presents one (1) inservice to rehabilitation peers or other medical center personnel per year. (if a VA funded course was attended employee must provide inservice to rehab staff on its content)

• Attends six (6) inservices or continuing education opportunities per year.

• Completes all mandatory TMS training as assigned in required time frame without reminders.

FULLY SUCCESSFUL: Meets

Standard AND no more than two supervisory counseling sessions during rating period.

EXCEPTIONAL: No supervisory counseling sessions AND performs at higher level such as but not limited to:

• Constructively manages student with performance deficiencies with little or no guidance

• Participates in more educational activities (both learning and teaching) than required for fully successful rating.

TMS reports.

Feedback from Site

Coordinator for

Clinical Education.

Inservice records.

COMPLETES ADMINISTRATIVE

DUTIES – Record keeping, Time management, Organizational skills, and

Quality Improvement.

Completes all required administrative duties within the required time frame, balancing demands of patient care and non-patient

Non-

Critical

• Assists with daily triage of PT consults.

• Demonstrates time management skills by rearranging priorities and assuming additional workload when required.

• Completes all record keeping including

FIM, MDS, workload data/encounters, patient coverage forms, chart reviews, and

FULLY SUCCESSFUL: Meets

Standard AND no more than two valid complaints AND no more than two supervisory counseling sessions during rating period.

EXCEPTIONAL: No valid complaints or supervisory counseling

Supervisory observation.

Valid staff or patient complaints.

care responsibilities.

prosthetic requests in time required.

• Participates in department QI activities.

• Assists in upkeep of physical environment of both office and clinic space with respect to cleanliness and safety. Ensures adequate supplies (including PPE) and equipment are on hand.

• Makes suggestions for improvement of departmental efficiency via system analysis and assists with operationalizing new process.

• Performs supervisory duties/serves as Acting PT

Supervisor

• Volunteers for one (1) administrative project/committee participation per year.

MAINTAINS CONFIDENTIALITY

AND SECURITY and ADHERES TO

COMPLIANCE GUIDELINES- Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Compliance.

Follows all applicable regulations and guidelines with respect to confidentiality.

Accepts full responsibility for protecting printed/electronic files containing sensitive information as well as government furnished IT equipment.

Complies with facility’s Compliance and

Business Integrity Program.

Non-

• Protects all printed and electronic records containing patient sensitive information.

• Logs off workstation when unattended.

• Safeguards passwords, PIV and facility ID cards, keys and issued OIT equipment.

• Secures and shreds printed documents containing sensitive information.

• Keeps only current work sheets to perform duties; does not keep dated or obsolete files on hand.

• Maintains IT security, protecting both hardware and software. Uses access codes only in the performance of official duties.

• Ensures that documentation practices and productivity records are consistent and accurate.

• Does not keep unauthorized patient lists or logs.

Standard AND no more than one valid complaint AND no more than one supervisory counseling session during rating period.

EXCEPTIONAL: No valid complaints or supervisory counseling

• Serves as role model to peers and helps others achieve adherence.

• Investigates billing practices and guidelines provided by

VHA and external sources to ensure compliance/best practice.

Documentation and

Encounter reviews.

Direct observation.

Valid staff complaints.

Staff Compliments

Definitions

1. Supervisory counseling occurs when performance falls below the fully successful level and requires supervisory feedback to facilitate improvement.

a. Supervisory counseling does not include:

1) Brainstorming

2) Offering alternatives

3) Responding to questions

4) Requests for assistance

2. Compliments or complaints may be submitted in either written or verbal format.