This position is located in Rehabilitation Department in the Medicine Service Line at the H. John Heinz III Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aspinwall, Pennsylvania & all of its CBOCs. The Occupational Therapist Pain Specialist is the subject matter expert in the content specialty area of pain/chronic conditions limiting functional capacity of individuals. Position will include coordination with interdisciplinary pain programs within the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

Duties

The incumbent functions as a clinical specialist in the Rehabilitation Department at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System in Pittsburgh, PA in all facilities including outpatient, acute care, skilled nursing, Community Based Outpatient Clinics, in-home/in-community care, and virtual care. Duties include but are not limited to: Functioning as a clinical specialist in the Rehabilitation Department at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System in Pittsburgh, PA in all facilities including outpatient, acute care, skilled nursing, Community Based Outpatient Clinics, in-home/in-community care, and virtual care. Serving as the subject matter expert in the content specialty area of pain/chronic conditions limiting functional capacity of individuals and serves as a consultant to Occupational Therapist and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the specialty area. Performing functional capacity evaluations and provide chronic pain rehabilitation. Incumbent will possess specialized skills in assessment, planning, and treatment to provide complex therapeutic interventions to patients with chronic pain. Coordinating the integrated pain program at the medical center. Additionally, the occupational therapist is expected to utilize specialized skills and understanding of chronic pain and injuries to conduct functional capacity evaluations. Completing procurement of prosthetic equipment. Utilizing advanced knowledge and expertise to modify treatment plans and to identify therapeutic activity interventions based on the changing needs, goals, and performance of patients. Maintaining contact with other health care providers involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis. Developing rehabilitation objectives for patients, independently solving complex problems related to Occupational Therapy and engaging the patient in activities to restore and enhance their performance and potential for independent living or maximum function within their lifestyles. Traveling, as needed, for departmental needs to various VAPHS sites. Adhering to the facilities' rules, policies, and procedures and to the American Occupational Therapy Association standards of practice and standards of ethics to ensure quality patient care. Work Schedule: 8:30am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, Occasional Weekends and Holidays on Rotation Basis Telework: Available, Ad Hoc as determined by supervisor Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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: 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; (b) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; or (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy. Please select the response below that exemplifies your level of education. NOTE: 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.Foreign Graduates: Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the same requirements if they have a current, full, active, and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph [3e] of this appendix. Certification: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an Occupational Therapist. 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. English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determination Education, Experience, and Licensure: To be considered for this position, you must have completed one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level that is directly related to the position being filled and one of the following: (a) A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area. This time must be within the past five years; OR (b) Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA; OR (c) Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area; OR (d) An additional advanced degree in a related field. Grade Determination Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level and demonstrate all of the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice; Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other OT practitioners; Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions, and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization; Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice; Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization; Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization. Preferred Experience: Skills in the assessment, planning and treatment of individuals with Chronic Pain References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/127, PART II, Appendix G14 dated December 13, 2019.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-13. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Standing, walking, squatting, bending, and sitting, and changing from one position to the other frequently throughout the day. Sitting at a desk and using upper extremities to reach, grasp and place papers, charts, computers, phones, and reference materials. Many of the patients are bariatric. Incumbent must employ safe lifting techniques including the use of mechanical devices and avoid awkward postures while working with the veterans. Reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling: 1 - 10 pounds constantly, 10 - 25 frequently, and 20 - 35 pounds occasionally. Specific examples include: Picking up, carrying, and placing folders, charts, books, and binders. Setting up equipment for patients such as weights or durable medical equipment. Lifting and carrying adaptive equipment ranging in weight from negligible to 50 pounds. Pushing and rolling equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, and supply carts. Assisting patients in mobility such as ambulation and transfers, from minimal assistance to dependent transfers. Defending oneself from a confused, combative, or otherwise aggressive patient. Performing passive range of motion exercises that require the movement of patients' extremities in all planes of motion. Repositioning and transferring patients with manual and mechanical assistance. Operating all aspects of a computer & telecommunication- keyboard, mouse, control buttons, faxes, and telephones. Demonstrating the use of all aspects of adaptive equipment for patient teaching. Assembling equipment with the use of hand tools such as screwdrivers and pliers.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Pittsburgh VA Medical Center 1010 Delafield Road Pittsburgh, PA 15215 US
• Name: Carletta Sligh
• Phone: (412) 822-2185
• Email: [email protected]