This Occupational Therapist is an outpatient provider for Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service. Responsibilities include general outpatient assessment & treatment for veterans with physical dysfunction - neurological - mental health - cognitive - & orthopedic or musculoskeletal diagnoses. This position carries responsibility & requires a high level of independence & problem-solving ability - & integral knowledge for appropriate referrals & service within the outpatient clinic.
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
Education and/or Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: 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 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 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
Degree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy Association - P.O
Box 31220 - Bethesda - MD 20824-1220
Certification: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT
State Licensure: Candidates must possess a full - current - and unrestricted state license [ ] - to practice occupational therapy in a state - territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e. - Puerto Rico) - or in the District of Columbia
Grade Determinations: GS-9: Education - Experience - or Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements
GS-11 Education - Experience - or Licensure: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled
OR Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field
OR 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: Knowledge of occupational therapy practice
Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans - including goals and methods of treatment
Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others
Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated
Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients - family members - caregivers - interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing
Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care
Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation - reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice
GS-12 Education - Experience - and Licensure: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled
Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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
Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders
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
Skill in procuring - fabricating - adjusting - adapting - and modifying orthoses - splints - and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment)
Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training Preferred Experience: We are looking for an Occupational Therapist to provide outpatient services up to 5 days per week
Services will cover a broad range of diagnoses - focusing primarily on home safety - functional independence - caregiver training - and durable medical equipment - however may also provide additional services that align with the selected candidates skillset
Experience in home safety - ADLs and prescription of durable medical equipment - cognitive rehabilitation - and/or hand therapy
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
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.
Duties
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include - but are not limited to: Clinical: 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
Based on evaluations and planning with patient and significant others (when appropriate) - and coordination with the multidisciplinary team - establishes treatment goals - plan of care - and eventual discharge plan
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 outpatient visits or 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
Has skills in procuring - fabricating - adjusting - adapting - and modifying orthoses - splints and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living
Carries a full patient caseload - accepting new consults as referred by the primary care provider/medical or health care provider
Assignments may include outpatient referrals and may include referrals from inpatient acute care medical and surgical cases - and inpatient rehabilitation
Documents initial evaluations - progress - and discharge planning in a timely - concise manner - per section documentation and consult management requirements
Is aware of signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect and reports to the appropriate authority and documents following facility procedures
Administrative For each patient assigned - accurately maintains patient schedule and attendance
Independently manages daily workload 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
Maintains current NBCOT certifications and state licensing requirements
and completes all mandatory training as required by the facility
Work Schedule: Intermittent Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.