This position is located within the Rehabilitation Department within Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) of VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System in Pittsburgh, PA. This Occupational Therapist Clinical Therapist provides complex lymphedema and/or wound assessments and functions as an Occupational Therapist in a perpetual float status with planned and spontaneous assignments across all rehab areas within the VAPHS catchment area, Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOCs).

Duties

Major Duties may include: Coordinating the ordering, delivery and ongoing edema/wound program with the goals of timeliness, efficiency, and accuracy. Independently developing rehabilitation objectives for patients, solves complex problems related to Occupational Therapy. Engaging the patient in activities to restore and enhance their performance and potential for independent living or maximum function within their lifestyles. Performing ancillary assignments, including research opportunities and program management duties on an occasional basis. Traveling as needed for clinical duties. Following all safety policies and procedures including infection control and equipment usage/storage. Accurately and timely recording patient treatment, progress notes, etc. into patient records via the electronic health record. Maintaining patient databases in compliance with privacy standards and mandates. Compiling and interpreting data. Provides Superiors with statistics. Coordinating and/or attending interdisciplinary care planning meetings. Ensuring proper supply inventory levels are maintained and that we remain good stewards of our allocated monies. Ensuring the ordering, delivery, and assembly of product(s) within established goals of timeliness, efficiency, and accuracy. Independently working to identify and overcome barriers to optimal service delivery that interfere with beneficiaries receiving care within expected timeframes, quality, and customer service. Maintaining safe and orderly clinic environment and assuring the cleanliness, maintenance, repairs, inventory control, and successful operation of all assigned equipment and operational supplies. Carrying out other job-related activities and special assignments as requested by supervisor. Work Schedule: 8:00am to 4:30pm, weekends and holidays on rotational basis. Telework: AD Hoc as per Supervisor Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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. English Language Proficiency: Individuals appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C. chapters 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA must be proficient in written and spoken English. See Chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part. Basic Education and Experience: Individuals must meet at least one of the 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. Foreign Graduates. Graduates] of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the 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. *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. Grade Determinations: Grade Determinations: Education, Experience, and Licensure: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must have completed of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level directly related to the position being filled such as: Selecting and providing direct Occupational Therapy interventions and procedures with varying degrees of complexity to enhance safety, wellness, and performance in ADL, instrumental IADL, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation; Demonstrating a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application through the use of activity analysis, behavioral intervention, frame of references, and therapeutic procedures; AND one (1) 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 D. An additional advanced degree in a related field. Grade Determinations, Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate that you meet all the 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 Occupational Therapist 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. 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). Preferred Experience in the following areas: Specialized skills in assessment, planning, and treatment to provide complex therapeutic interventions to patients with lymphatic and integumentary systems related to lymphedema and associated healing and vascular wounds. References: VA Handbook 5005/127 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 the 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]