U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Physical Therapy Services

The VA provides Physical Therapy services to Veterans and Service Members.

Physical Therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages with medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives.

Key VA – PT statistics:

• In FY2016, Physical Therapists treated over 720,668 unique patients within VA, accounting for approximately 3.2 million total encounters.
• VHA is one of the single largest employers of Physical Therapists, employing more than 2,224 Physical Therapists, and an additional 503 Physical Therapy Assistants.

Click for copy of: VA Physical Therapy Fact Sheet

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (OT) Occupational Therapy Services

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides occupational therapy services to Veterans and Service Members.

Occupational Therapy (OT) involves the therapeutic use of everyday life activities (occupations) with individuals or groups for the purpose of participation in roles and situations in home, school, workplace, community, and other settings. OT provides services that promote health and wellness to those Veterans who have, or are at risk for developing, an injury, illness, disease or condition. OT evaluation and treatment supports Veterans’ engagement in everyday life activities that affect health, well-being, and quality of life by addressing physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sensory, and other areas that could affect performance (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2009)

Key VA – OT statistics:

• VHA is the single largest employer of occupational therapists, employing more than 1,300 occupational therapists and 137 certified occupational therapy assistants

Click for copy of: VA Occupational Therapy Fact Sheet