The OT position is located in the Organizational Development & Education (OD&E) Department at the VA Western Colorado Health Care System in Grand Junction, CO, as part of the Whole Health team. This position provides care to Veterans seeking self-directed, lasting changes aligned with their values. They provide interventions that promote health & wellness & enhance well-being, improve health-related outcomes, reduce likelihood of inpatient admission, & improve quality of life.

Duties

Receives & interprets patient referrals/consults from a credentialed provider as outlined in the Occupational Therapy Scope of Practice, & schedules patient for evaluation & treatment in a timely fashion. Demonstrates the ability to apply advanced OT knowledge, theories, & techniques to a full range of patient populations. Collaborates with Veterans & Veterans' primary care & specialty care treatment providers to develop goals designed to improve health outcomes. Works with individuals & groups throughout the facility in a client-centered process to facilitate & empower the client to develop & achieve self-determined goals related to health & wellness. Supports clients in mobilizing internal strengths & external resources & develops self-management strategies for making sustainable, health lifestyle behavior changes & more effectively managing chronic disease. Leads the development & implementation of Whole Health Wellbeing efforts. Assists clients to use their insight, personal strength, & resources, goal setting, actions steps & accountability toward health lifestyle change. Contacts eligible participants for enrollment & explain the Whole Health process. Provides health coaching for Veterans to reduce or eliminate high-risk behaviors while increasing healthy behaviors. Conducts interventions for Veterans using one-on-one, or group modalities in outpatient & inpatient settings. Conducts Whole Health facilitated groups; participate in MOVE, smoking cessation, diabetes management, hypertension clinics, mental health, & other inpatient & outpatient groups as appropriate. Provides follow-up care through telephone clinics or secure messaging between face-to-face appointments. Identify habits & behaviors that are harmful to quality of life & related to chronic illness. Reviews current health behaviors & develops customized treatment plans with Veterans. Guides Veterans to learn about available support tools in the VA & the community that assist in attainment of goals. Coordinates care with Veterans' treatment providers, both primary & specialty care, to ensure identified goals are consistent with best practices for treatment & management of chronic illness. Utilizes motivational interviewing & health coaching techniques & processes, learned through health coach training, to assist members in developing a realistic plan to accomplish their goals. Fosters an environment of individual responsibility to maximize each Veteran's ability to adhere to a lifestyle management plan. Maintains education & knowledge regarding lifestyle (habits & behaviors) & clinical outcomes, including behaviors that improve Veterans' health & well-being & those related to poor clinical outcomes. Provides eligible Veterans & family member with information regarding lifestyle management including weight management, nutrition, exercise/fitness, smoking cessation, stress management, diabetes, pain management, & other appropriate conditions that in in line with the personalized health plan developed between the health care team & the patient, & in coordination with programs providing specific services when applicable, e.g., MOVE! For weight management or smiling cessation classes if Veteran is enrolled in these programs. Uses VISTA, CPRS, Microsoft offices software, Intranet, & Internet &other applicable software to track & support patient progress. Communicates proactively & effectively with Veterans, peers, & supervisors. Completes all patients care documentation in accordance with policy. Evaluates patient's needs for assistive devices, & makes minor adjustments to obtain maximal functional benefits. Uses outcome measures to document patient's progress towards established goals, modify interventions & plan of care, & for discharges planning. Communicates readily with the multidisciplinary treatment team, advising the team of patient's needs & progress, exchanging discharge planning information; this communication occurs through team meetings, ware rounds, written reports, & information communication, such as personal & telephone conversations. Assists the clinical education coordinator in arranging & providing educational experiences for OT students that affiliate at the facility. Demonstrates the ability to instruct in-services & clinical training programs. Assists in providing patient coverage for absent staff member to ensure continuity & quality of care. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: May be authorized at the supervisor's discretion Telework: Ad-hoc as authorized by supervisor. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 58585-O / 58586-O / 58587-O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized 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. 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. 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. Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph [3e] of the appendix. 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. 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. Exceptions for the Graduate Occupational Therapist. OT graduates from an approved occupational therapy program [who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements,] but who do not possess NBCOT certification and/or state [licensure], may be [appointed, pending certification and/or licensure,] as a graduate OT [on a full-time temporary appointment] not-to exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2). Graduate OTs may only be appointed at the GS-9 grade level and may not be promoted/converted to the GS-11 level until licensure and/or certification is obtained. For grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level, the OT must be certified and licensed. A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed] OT who meets all state regulatory requirements. 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: Occupational Therapist, GS-9 Education, Experience, or Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Occupational Therapist, 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: (a) Knowledge of occupational therapy practice. (b) Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment. (c) Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others. (d) Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated. (e) Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing. (f) Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care. (g) Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice. Occupational Therapist, GS-12 Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to the [GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.] Demonstrated 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. Preferred Experience: VA Whole Health Coach Certification. 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 in the range of GS-9 to GS-12. Physical Requirements: Ability to use the computer system to include provision of Veteran Video Connect services. Regular and recurring tasks can be sedentary involving sitting at a desk, although the position requires the ability to move from one geographic location of the facility to another. Some physical efforts such as standing, walking, bending or prolonged sitting may be required. Work is performed in an office setting with occasional visits to areas within the service as well as throughout the Medical Center. Work area is adequately lighted, heated, and air conditioned. The normal risks and discomforts typical of an office and clerical work area are included. There are no unusual risks or safety hazards associated with this position. Direct care tasks may require bending and lifting, and the ability to assist patients with a variety of therapeutic activities. Incumbent must be able to lift 50 pounds to the chest height and maintain good body mechanics.

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 Western Colorado Health Care System 2121 North Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81501 US
• Name: Gina Hammer
• Phone: 970-263-2800
• Email: [email protected]