This assignment carries primary responsibility for providing in-home occupational therapy assessments; and the planning, administration and management of rehabilitation in the home for patients of the Battle Creek VAMC and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) Home Based Primary Care Program (HBPC) and involves regular independent travel to patients' homes.

Duties

Duties: This position exists at the Battle Creek VAMC or one of the CBOC offices of HBPC, and involves regular independent travel to patients' homes within identified HBPC service area. Travel may exceed 200 miles round trip. The Occupational Therapist, HBPC position is aligned within the Home-Based Primary Care Section of Rural and Community Care, under the supervision of the HBPC Program Manager. Duties of this position may Include but are not limited to: Independently develop, implement and evaluate therapeutic rehabilitation programs within the framework of HBPC. Assess the goals, living skills, physical abilities, and related needs for each patient referred for in-home assessment. Complete safety assessments subsequent to falls to include recommendations relevant to the veteran's home environment, health/ disease status and available resources. Develop a treatment plan directed toward achieving maximum level of functioning within the home. Implement the treatment plan by 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. Work collaboratively with peers and PSA for scheduling newly referred vets for admission visits. Initiate the appropriate forms for the patient to apply for Home Improvement and Structural Alterations (HISA) funding with written justification. Participate in HBPC interdisciplinary team conferences in person, by telephone or through electronic mail exchanges. Develop and coordinate educational materials for the caregiver of the veteran as indicated by the OT assessment and JC home care standards. Selects and adapts the procedures and techniques to be used in accordance with the previous training or accepted practices. Actively participates with physicians and nurses in planning rehabilitative treatment procedures. Work within VA rehabilitative medicine and prosthetics program guidelines. Provide training to HBPC team members and students regarding processes involving prosthetics and DME companies. Assist in orienting, training, or supervising, as indicated, professional OT students, other disciplines and students of the HBPC team, and volunteers. Attend continuing education programs and read professional literature for the purpose of maintaining or improving knowledge, skills, and attitudes in work performance. Participate in peer competency and documentation reviews and evaluations of other HBPC OT's, including collaboratively determining appropriate educational needs to update competence. Develop knowledge and skills to support use of new technology such as Telehealth to address HBPC client's rehabilitation needs or as an adjunct to home therapy. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: May be available in an Ad-hoc status, depending upon the needs of the service Virtual: This is not a virtual position .Functional Statement #: 91821-0 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: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)). 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; 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 the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (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. 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. English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment as stated above, the following criteria must be met: Occupational Therapist, GS-11 Education, Experience, or Licensure: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet one of the following: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field Doctorate in occupational therapy. AND Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) Knowledge of occupational therapy practice. Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment. Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others. Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated. Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing. Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care. 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 at the GS-11 grade level as outlined above and directly related to the position being filled. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) 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. Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders. 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. Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment). Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training. References: VA Handbook 5005/127 Part II Appendix G14 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Require moving, lifting, or transfer patients to a degree that allow safe patient handling; push, pull or carry objects and equipment up to 35lbs, frequent bending/stooping, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, 4 hours standing, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordinator simultaneously, working around equipment with moving parts, working closely with others.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application.

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 Battle Creek VA Medical Center 5500 Armstrong Road Battle Creek, MI 49037 US
• Name: Frances Walker
• Phone: 734-934-0777
• Email: [email protected]