This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

Your duties as a licensed Occupational Therapist encompass a broad range of responsibilities. Primarily, you are tasked with conducting comprehensive assessments of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools, with a particular focus on the Spinal Cord Injury/Disease Careline (SCI/D) at the Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital. Within this scope, you select and administer direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures, addressing varying levels of complexity, while aiming to enhance or restore the functionality of patients facing conditions like spinal cord injuries, amputations, and neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions. Collaboration with healthcare providers is essential, involving specialized evaluations, treatment modalities, and patient education, especially regarding spinal cord injuries. Additionally, you play a vital role in evaluating patients' homes for safety and accessibility, providing recommendations for durable medical equipment (DME), and ensuring patients are trained in its safe use. Coordinating equipment needs with physicians and the prosthetics department is another critical aspect of your role. Ancillary duties include participating in offsite outings, contributing to discharge planning, independently solving complex problems, maintaining certifications, assisting in the development of care standards, and maintaining equipment and supplies. Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm, Monday-Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: SCI OT (GS-12) Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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. 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. 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). Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements when possessing a full, current, and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. 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). Occupational Therapist, 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 or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following 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. Preferred Experience: Certified Hand Therapist Extensive experience and knowledge of Spinal Cord Injury patients, experience with orthopedic hand clinic, working with a) tendon and nerve transfers and, b) nerve and contracture release Extensive preoperative rehabilitation and daily post operative care Extensive experience and knowledge of Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal Cord Disorders and/or Spinal Cord Injury patients - for acute and subacute rehabilitation Experience with outpatient post procedure rehabilitation protocols Hand Orthosis, evaluation for braces both acute and chronic injuries Shoulder preservation rehabilitation and sports injuries Outpatient adaptations for paraolympic or recreational athletes References: VA Handbook 5005/127, PART II, APPENDIX G14, December 13, 2019 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over, Light carrying, under 15 pounds, Straight pulling (1/2 hours), Pushing (1/2 hours), Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking (1/2 hours), Standing (1/2 hours), Crawling (1/2 hours), Kneeling (1/2 hours), Repeated bending (1 hour), Climbing, legs only (1/2 hours), Climbing, use of legs and arms, Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, Specific visual requirement (specify) Corrective lenses okay, Both eyes required, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Hearing (aid may be permitted), mental & emotional stability

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in 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 Audie L Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital 7400 Merton Minter Boulevard San Antonio, TX 78229 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]