The Occupational Therapist (OT) is a member of the Bath VAMC Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Team. The incumbent is responsible for evaluating, assessing and providing occupational therapy treatment interventions. The OT provides services to patients with a wide variety of chronic, terminal, and complex illnesses and/or disabilities. The OT is a subject matter expert in evaluating and treating patients in this specialty area and serves as a mentor to other professionals and OT students.

Duties

Major Duties: Performs evaluation appropriate to the patient's functional, physical and/or psycho-social status to establish a baseline level of functioning. Assess the goals, living skills, physical abilities, influence of caregiver on patient's performance and related needs for each patient on admission and as referred. Administers functional outcomes measures such as manual muscle test, goniometry, girth measurements, activities of daily living (ADLs), and independent activities of daily living (IADLs) assessments. Evaluates and adapts activities and home environment to improve patients' function, safety, and quality of life through structural or positional changes to promote the patient's safety and independence. Associated changes may include installation of ramps, bars, widening door frames, remodeling bathrooms and kitchens for wheelchair accessibility, changes in furniture heights, adjustment of traffic patterns, and modification of wheelchairs. Assess the need for major medical equipment and works closely with prosthetic service to arrange acquisition and installation where needed for patients meeting eligibility requirements. Independently develops, implements, and modifies the treatment plan directed toward achieving maximum level of patient functional independence. Consults with other PM&RS disciplines as indicated and develops the plan in collaboration with the patient and caregiver. Determines patient's ongoing needs for services based on treatment goals met with follow up visits and condition change. Provides patient/caregiver health education (PHE) regarding use and care of equipment and other devices as well as a home exercise program, for example. Treatment is provided in accordance with age specific standards. Provides PHE related to energy conservation, work simplification, and home safety. Designs and provides orthotic and prosthetic needs when no suitable commercial equipment can be found. Plans, revises and implements treatment programs based upon initial and interim evaluations as indicated; and identifies when patient's maximum level of function has been attained. Completes assessments, evaluations, recommendations, PHE, and discharge summaries in the electronic medical record as required. Practices infection control. Responsible for carrying out other specialty related activities and assignments as requested by supervisor. Supervises Occupational Therapy students as assigned. Consults with other healthcare practitioners and outside vendors about occupational therapy related issues. Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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: (1) 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. (2) Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. 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. 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). Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of this occupation. Employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) They may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) If an OT who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. (3) OTs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) OTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Grade Determinations: 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: (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: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G14 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).

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 Bath VA Medical Center 76 Veterans Avenue Bath, NY 14810 US
• Name: Rebekka Fandrey
• Phone: 0000000000
• Email: [email protected]