The Staff Occupational Therapist is responsible for the Driver Rehabilitation specialty clinic located within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service at Butler VA. Performs in-clinic and on-the-road assessments, driver training, and has successfully completed the VA Driver's Training Instructor's Training Course. Serves as a subject matter expert on best practices in driver rehabilitation, automobile adaptive equipment, and compatibility of mobility devices and modified vehicles.

Duties

Major Duties include but are not limited to: Responsible for the examination and treatment of all patients referred to the Driver Rehabilitation Program, including interfacility consults from other stations within VISN-4. This includes comprehensive and standardized pre-driving assessments in the clinic and on-the-road assessments for patients with a variety of complex diagnoses. The assessments are completed in accordance with VA guidelines. Chooses appropriate evaluation tools that are consistent with post-surgical needs, client diagnosis, history and subjective complaints; identifies impairments; identifies signs and symptoms that substantially impact evaluations, treatments and outcomes and integrates findings into plan of care, consulting with other disciplines and referring practitioners as appropriate. Interprets assessments and measures used to determine appropriateness for the Driver Rehabilitation evaluation, training and/or automobile adaptive equipment and vehicle modifications. Interprets findings and educates patients and families about disease process, purpose of treatment, and patient's rights and responsibilities to improve compliance with treatment. Independently conduct assessments by using clinically advanced equipment, which includes but is not limited to, vision evaluation, physical evaluation, cognitive and memory evaluation (St. Louis Mental Status Exam, Cognitive Linguistic Quick Test, trail-making A & B tests); basic perceptual testing; coordination testing; hearing; sitting tolerance; activity tolerance and susceptibility to fatigue; spasticity; bowel or bladder control; sensation and proprioception; functional activities of daily living; educational training; sign recognition; reaction time test. Independently conducts assessments with the DriveSafety™ CDS-250 Clinical Driving Simulator, various hand controls, left-foot accelerators, steering devices, and other automobile adaptive equipment. Independently designs training programs for driver training using various vehicle modifications, including hand controls, left-foot accelerators, steering devices, and other adaptive equipment. Uses independent clinical judgment to determine patient's safety to progress from simulator to on-the-road assessment. Independently plans, develops, and implements comprehensive and complex treatment programs for patients to maximize their independence in all aspects of community mobility. Makes recommendations to providers regarding the patient's capacity to drive safely with or without vehicle modifications or driving adjustments. Maintains the Driver Evaluation clinic in an orderly and safe manner. Reports identified issues with the training vehicle to the Transportation Office in a timely manner. Uses the DriveSafety Driving Simulator, optical device, and other equipment in the manner in which it was intended to maintain optimal functioning. Adapts and applies evaluations and treatment procedures with critical concern for patients who have a combination of significant cognitive, psychological, physical and/or social factors. Manages within assigned settings as an independent clinician, seeking peer support to address unusual clinical situations or periods of increased workload. Works effectively with other therapists, other clinical providers, VHA staff and community stakeholders in the applicable work settings to provide appropriate case management to referred Veterans. Completes electronic progress notes on patients assigned, at required intervals, including observations of patients' functional status, behaviors pertinent to rehabilitation, relevant short- and long-term goals, progress towards discharge, and disposition recommendations. Maintains accurate records in order to submit the annual Driver Training Report to VA Central Office on a timely basis. Collaborates with the rehabilitation Program Manager and care team to review clinic utilization by using various reports, to closely monitor clinic setup to effectively support the needs of the clinics and makes any necessary adjustments. Attends educational and developmental meetings in order to increase knowledge of local, VISN, and national Driver Rehabilitation standards and objectives. Safely and proficiently maintains a safe clinical environment through routine inspection of equipment and physical area and submit work orders for maintenance and/or repairs. Serves on various committees such as the Major Medical Equipment Committee or any others as assigned by the Medical Center, or by the Service Chief. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 pm. Compressed/Flexible:Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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: 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. 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 requirements of subparagraph [3b(2)] 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 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. NOTE: Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain the required state or territorial licensure and the NBCOT certification, both current and in good standing, must be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment. English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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 Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist), GS-13 (Above Full Performance Level) Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled and one of the following: 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 Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA OR Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area OR Additional advanced degree in a related field. Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following 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. References: VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G14 Occupational Therapist Qualification Standard The full performance level of this vacancy is 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 cans. Assisting patients in mobility such as ambulation and transfers, from minimal assistance to dependent transfers. Driver's License: A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position.

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 VA Butler Healthcare 353 North Duffy Road Butler, PA 16001 US
• Name: Ahsha Konate
• Phone: 412-822-1454
• Email: [email protected]