There are a multitude of reasons to consider a career as a travel rehab therapy professional. Most enjoy exploring the US and everything our Country has to offer while earning great money! There is another component to travel therapy that Reflectx Services offers that many other travel companies do not …and that is patriotism.
I see you scratching your head and asking, “I have no idea what that means.” Well, let me tell you.
Reflectx Services has the extra added ability to find our travelers positions within the Federal Government's Veterans' Affairs (VA) hospital system throughout the country. We currently have clinicians working in California, Massachusetts, West Virginia and Arizona.
There are a few things that are important to understand if you are interested in having your Reflectx recruiter pursue a VA position for you. The primary thing to keep in mind is that you are essentially dealing with a government contract and as such… there is a certain amount of “red tape” that you should expect and plan for.
Every staffing agency requires paperwork to ensure that you are fully credentialed for the position you are seeking. This includes, among many other things, proof of professional licensure, background and reference checking and an assortment of medical requirements such as TB test results and an updated physician statement.
The government requires a little bit more. The great news is that if you hold a license in ANY state across the country, it is valid for any VA position, regardless of the state it is in. For example, if you passed the Illinois State Boards for Physical Therapy and currently hold an active license, you can drive across the country to California and work in the California VA without applying for a new license. The extra added benefit of working for a VA is that once you have completed the necessary paperwork to work in a VA setting – you can work anywhere in the United States without having to pursue a license for each individual state. This can open up a whole new list of possibilities and choices.
If you have worked as a traveler or pursued a travel position, the procedure is simple and routine. You provide a resume and the necessary paperwork and we work to get you a telephone interview, offer and ultimately a job complete with housing, travel reimbursement. This process, in most cases, can take up to a month. Within the VA system – the process is similar with one exception - the Government's system called VETPRO.
In many cases, we can submit you for a VA position, provide you with an offer and start to plan for your start date. Where the VA differs dramatically is something called the VetPro process. In order to treat our Veterans and work within a government facility, a low level security clearance is required, which is also known as VetPro. As a potential traveler, there is no need to be intimidated by this process but you do need to understand that it does not occur overnight. Transcripts, fingerprints, Cyber Security releases and a handful of other things are requested in order for you to work within a VA hospital.
The ultimate reward as a clinician is to be able to treat this population. In addition to your clinical skills, the most important trait you can bring to the table is patience and flexibility.
At Reflectx Staffing, we usually pursue a 13 week contract in a commercial setting such as a skilled nursing facility or a hospital for our travelers while we work on obtaining all of the things you need to treat our Wounded Warriors in a VA Hospital.
The fact that you have chosen a profession in the healthcare field means that you have taken on the commitment to improve the quality of life for your neighbors. In order to consider a VA opportunity you must have that level of commitment plus the dedication to give back to those that have sacrificed it all for our freedoms.
A travel position within the VA system affords the same opportunities as a traditional travel assignment. We offer a taxable hourly wage, stipends where applicable, health benefits, CEU, travel reimbursement, etc. The additional perk that a VA allows is PAID Federal holidays ... something that most staffing agencies cannot offer.
Do not be misled by our optimism, VA positions are difficult to come by due to budgetary restraints and the current economic condition. However, patient care is needed everywhere and if a need exists we will find it and pursue it for you. Reflectx regularly finds positions available nationwide in our VA's - because these positions are in high demand, a quick and firm commitment is usually required.
As National Recruitment Director for Reflectx Staffing, I am not on the “front lines” of patient care as you are, but had the humble experience of witnessing Memorial celebrations in Washington D.C. this past May. If any of you witnessed the same, you will understand our duty as a country to stand up and take care of those that took care of us. You can be sure our Vets will appreciate your hard work and recognition.
If you are interested in learning more about the VA and what Reflectx has to offer, call us now, toll-free at 1-800-806-6026 or email PAT@reflectxstaffing.com.
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