The Oklahoma City VA Health Care System, Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Service, is currently recruiting for one (1) Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist) in Oklahoma City, OK. The incumbent will serve as clinical specialist treating patients with neuromuscular dysfunction along with generalized occupational therapy deficits in the Inpatient setting.

Duties

The experienced and licensed Occupational Therapist (OT) is a professional who is responsible for developing, coordinating, maintaining, and using a high level of specialized knowledge and skills in the planning, organizing, and directing of programs of care for individual patients whose ability to function is impaired or threatened by disease or injury. The OT provides evaluation and treatment of acute and chronic physical and mental dysfunction. The incumbent may assist with developing practices and procedures of occupational therapy services that are necessary to plan and direct the wide range of activities relating to the overall operation of the occupational therapy program. This individual will serve as clinical specialist treating patients with neuromuscular dysfunction along with generalized occupational therapy deficits in the inpatient setting. This individual will additionally serve as an occupational therapy representative on the SCI, MS, and ALS Outpatient Specialty Clinic teams. This clinical specialist serves as the primary occupational therapist for the Inpatient Rehabilitation team. This Occupational Therapist utilizes their certification as a Certified Neuro Specialist (CNS) will work with great autonomy and provide professional oversight and consultation as subject matter expert to staff therapists and other disciplines. Major Duties and Responsibilities: Independently provide assessment and treatment interventions to inpatients and outpatients, by assessing the ability to function of patients impaired or threatened by disease or injury. Focuses on patients whose actual or potential impairment is related to the neuromuscular, skeletal, pulmonary, mental health, and cardiovascular systems on methods to evaluate the functions of the systems and on the selection and application of appropriate therapeutic procedures to maintain, improve, or restore these functions. The Occupational Therapist will consider the effects attributable to unique personal and environmental factors of the patient to achieve optimum outcomes from the therapeutic efforts expended. Interpret findings from examination, diagnostic studies/medical tests. During the evaluation select appropriate clinical tests and measures. Integrate findings into the occupational therapy plan of care for the full range of patient populations and diagnoses. Determine a diagnosis within the scope of occupational therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation as needed. The therapist determines occupational therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences for meaningful level of function to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes. Recommend appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of the individuals they treat. Recommend appropriate equipment needed to substitute for loss of function or to substitute for limited function of the individuals they treat. Practice autonomously, making recommendations and referrals to other medical specialties/services as clinically indicated during ongoing assessment of patients under their care. Develop and provide individualized clinical training experiences for occupational therapy students in facilities with established clinical experience rotations. Performing ancillary assignments as deemed appropriate based on the needs of the section, service, and facility on an occasional basis. Directs, performs, and oversees all types of professional occupational therapy functions. Utilizes knowledge of evidence-based occupational therapy techniques in clinical decision making. Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with patients, caregivers, professionals, and other treatment team members including equipment vendors and prosthetics. Provides patient and family education. Maintains proper medical documentation and statistical records per the medical bylaws. Represents the Occupational Therapy Department at clinical team rounds, family conferences, and discharge planning meetings. Provides support for routine department maintenance of supplies and equipment, ensuring safety an infection control procedures and protocols are always followed. Clinically oversees and instructs assigned Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants and other subsidiary personnel. Actively participates in professional and section development. Provides in-service education. Assists the Occupational Therapy Department in performance improvement activities and meeting performance measures. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00a - 4:30p, some weekends. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 58793-A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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)). English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f) 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. 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. 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. GRADE DETERMINATIONS. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Occupational Therapist, GS-13 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; Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA; Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area; or(d) An additional advanced degree in a related field. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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;( Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization. Preferred Experience: Five years Inpatient hospital experience, AOTA Certified Neuro Specialist (CNS). References: VA Handbook 5005/127 Part II, Appendix G14 This vacancy is for a GS-13 position, which is above the full performance level. Physical Requirements: The OKC VA Medical Center has a no-lift policy. Utilization of lifts is required for lifting greater than 35 pounds. Frequent lifting up to 35 pounds with frequent bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, and overhead reaching, getting up and down from the floor may be required during the performance of 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 Oklahoma City VA Health Care System 921 Northeast 13th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73104 US
• Name: Travis Green
• Phone: 303-202-8679
• Email: [email protected]