Summary

This Occupational Therapist is an outpatient provider within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PMRS). Responsibilities include general OT assessment and treatment for Veterans with various diagnoses; plan and carry out rehabilitation related to OT needs; provide direction to COTAs as appropriate; and provide education and training to Veterans and caregivers. This position will have a focus on home safety - ADLs - durable medical equipment - and hand/UE rehabilitation.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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
• English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education [and/or Experience.]The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: (a) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist
• NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1 - 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy
• or (b) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field
• NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1 - 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy
• or (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy
• Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations
• This is inclusive of an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the educational institution)
• ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
• Grade Determinations: GS-9 In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Education - Experience - or Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignments
• [Individuals assigned at the GS-9 grade level serve as OT practitioners in a career development position progressively expanding their ability to provide assessment and treatment interventions for a wide range of human function systems
• The entry level therapist has a basic foundation of OT and generally practices independently
• OTs at this level typically have guidance from more experienced therapists
• OTs that are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed OT.] GS-11 Education - Experience - or Licensure
• (a) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled;] OR (b) Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field
• OR (c) Doctorate in occupational therapy.]Demonstrated [Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)]
• In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate] must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of occupational therapy practice
• (b) Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans - including goals and methods of treatment
• (c) Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others
• (d) Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated
• GS-12 In addition to fully meeting the completion of one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level and directly related to this position - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs
• Do you meet this requirement (a) Knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence based practice
• Knowledge is inclusive of physical - occupational - cognitive - and psychosocial functional deficits
• (b) Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders
• (c) Ability to use critical analysis - clinical reasoning - and creativity to independently solve complex problems related to adapting and modifying assessments - treatment plans - activities and procedures to meet the needs of patients
• (d) Skill in procuring - fabricating - adjusting - adapting - and modifying orthoses - splints - and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment)
• (e) Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training
• References: Hybrid Title 38 Occupation official qualification standards of the position as stated in VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G14 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-12
• Physical Requirements: Occupational Therapy is considered a vocation that requires "medium" strength according to the Department of Labor
• Medium work entails exerting 20-50 pounds of force occasionally - and/or 10-25 pounds of force frequently - and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects
• Occupational Therapy is a vocation that requires regular and recurring physical exertion with long periods of standing - bending - walking and periods of assisting patients with transfers
• This hospital has a policy of NO PATIENT LIFT - meaning that mechanical lifts are available to assist with safe patient transfers without lifting patients directly
• Occupational Therapy requires good manual dexterity to manipulate tools and equipment with activities such as: 1
• Operating all aspects of a computer 0-keyboarding - mouse - and control buttons
• 2
• Demonstrating the use of all aspects of adaptive equipment of patient teaching
• 3
• Assembling equipment with the use of hand tools such as a screwdriver or pliers
• 4
• Fabricating splints or adaptive equipment requiring the use of scissors - cutting tools - and ability to mold plastic - foam or plaster
• Preferred Experience: Background in hand/UE management and general occupational therapy practice - to include home/ADL safety assessments.

Duties

• After receiving an appropriate referral - independently evaluates patients referred for Occupational Therapy - using standard and non-standard methods to assess range of motion - strength - sensation - proprioception - coordination - perception - cognition - ADL and work activities - orthotic and prosthetic needs - and need for adaptive equipment
• In addition - assesses independent living skills to include use of community resources - home management - time management - and safety in the home and community
• self awareness - interpersonal and social skills
• stress management
• role development - self-sufficiency and wellness
• Evaluations consider lifestyle - culture - educational level - social support system - military - work - and leisure history - and limitations and abilities related to age
• Uses knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence-based practice
• Knowledge is inclusive of physical - occupational - cognitive - and psychosocial functional deficits
• Uses critical analysis - clinical reasoning - and creativity to independently solve complex problems related to adapting and modifying assessments - treatment plans - activities and procedures to meet the needs of patients
• Develops and carries out occupational therapy plans with individuals to meet individual rehabilitation objectives
• Implements an occupational therapy treatment plan to meet individual rehabilitation objectives utilizing functional activities which have as their goal the improvement of patient's activities of daily living - strength - range of motion - sensation - perceptive and/or cognitive process - and may also include - therapeutic exercise - muscle reeducation - neuromuscular facilitation - perceptual motor integration - fabrication and application of devices for daily living - teaching adaptive or compensatory techniques for community re-entry and work activities and providing patient and/or caregiver education regarding disability
• Patients treated have complex physical - emotional - and social problems
• Re-evaluates patient's performance and modifies treatment as indicated
• Regularly presents patient information to health care providers regarding outcomes of treatment - status and expectations
• Communication is timely and follows department policies
• Evaluates patient's living situation through home visits - patient and family interview - or consultation with other health care professionals
• Assists patient in solving problems associated with that environment
• Initiates ordering - delivery and training in the use of patient specific adaptive equipment in a timely - efficient and accurate manner - utilizing the processes related to the procurement of prosthetic equipment
• Responsible for direct supervision of the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant assigned to the rehabilitation unit - as assigned
• Has skills in procuring - fabricating - adjusting - adapting - and modifying orthoses - splints and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment)
• Carries a full patient caseload - accepting new consults as referred by the primary care provider/medical or health care provider
• The Occupational Therapist is directly responsible to the Supervisor of Outpatient Physical and Occupational Therapy in the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services (PM&RS)
• For each patient assigned - accurately maintains patient schedule and attendance
• Independently manages daily work load and schedule
• Schedules patients promptly to comply with clinical access guidance
• Accurately documents for the medical record: an initial evaluation including outcome measures - assessment - and short- and long-term goals
• progress reports which include description of treatment provided and outcome in terms of function
• discharge summary - as necessary - which includes summary of treatment - outcome in terms of goals set - equipment provided - and education given to patient and family
• Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 554-55986-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required