The Staff Occupational Therapist serves as an independent clinical OT responsible for evaluation and treatment of patients that have a wide variety of medical diagnoses and functional deficits seen in VASLCHCS. The Staff Occupational Therapist performs occupational therapy evaluation and treatments with Veterans with ages ranging from adult to geriatric, having a variety of disabilities.

Duties

Evaluation information is gathered from the medical record, interview of the veteran and other appropriate people such as family and caregiver or other providers, observation, and standardized and non-standardized testing. Provide direct OT patient care and maximize safety and function in the home/community/ECF, outpatient/hand clinic, and hospital setting through provision of a therapeutic program: evaluate, prescribe, and train in the use of durable medical equipment (DME); recommend changes in the home environment that provide home access and safety; participation in leisure and recreational activity, whole health, train the family and veterans in use of DME, body mechanics and other strategies; and make recommendations for referrals to other services as indicated. Develops an intervention plan in collaboration with the veteran and family, caregiver and social support, and other team members. Employs effective motivational techniques to enlist patient and, if appropriate, family participation and adapts equipment and procedures to carry out a wide variety of treatment activities. Evaluates patient's condition upon appropriate referral to occupational therapy to determine treatment plan. Performs and interprets results of tests and measurements for use in preparing for modification and/or evaluation of patient treatment, and adjusts the treatment based on changes in patient's condition. Evaluates patient's needs with respect to prescribed braces, orthotics fabrication and durable medical equipment, in consideration of what is medically appropriate for activities of daily living and upper extremity support. Perform thorough home safety evaluation and subsequent follow up visits as indicated by need and established in individual POC. Knowledge of the regulations governing home/community-based care including but not limited to: Department of Veterans Affairs, CMS, and Joint Commission, and the ability to apply them to the programs and populations being served. Maximizes patient outcomes by the following: reassessing veterans' response to treatment at regular interval, modifying treatment plan and goals, recommending appropriate discharge from OT based on response to treatment, making recommendations to the multidisciplinary team for transition to lesser level of care, and making referrals as appropriate. Records patient care activities in evaluation, reassessment, daily and discharge notes following all VA, rehabilitation specific, and OT regulation policy. Supervises occupational therapy students or assistants as assigned. Completes all VA, discipline specific for state licensure, and VASLCHCS mandatory training timely. Maintains a level of professional knowledge appropriate for age, sex and ethnic group of patients seen by the OT service. Identifies continuing education needs based on performance of occupational therapy staff regarding patient care. Provides and attends continuing education in the form of in-services and clinical training programs to occupational therapy staff and students. Incorporates current theory and methodology in rehab procedures in all settings. Identifies and/or develops appropriate veteran and significant other/caregiver education materials. Maintains and/or compiles all required records timely and thoroughly, including but not limited to: encounter entry, consult/note completion, and others as requested. Remains current in VA directives and mandates that effect rehabilitation services across all settings, can describe them to others and suggest procedures that contribute to successful implementation. Submits prosthetic consults in a timely manner and according to proper protocol. Follows prosthetic policy regarding proper issuance and management of AE/DME. Receives patient referrals from appropriate consult sources and prioritizes patients for evaluation and treatment in a timely fashion. Schedules patients for treatment, considering priority and frequency of care and coordinating schedules with other OT, Rehab, nursing, and medical staff members. Documents performance and timely treatment and achievement of treatment goals, assuring a high level of productivity and cost-effective treatments are provided. Assures all documentation and encounters are completed timely on all patient visits according to established service policies. Assists in developing policies and procedures relative to his/her clinical assignment. The employee demonstrates knowledge of the environment of care, Infection Control and Occupational Safety and Health requirements that apply to your work area. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Telework: Not Authorized. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 57778-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 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. 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. Grade Determinations: 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 (KSA's). In addition to the experience 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: Recent outpatient experience working with both neuro and mental health diagnoses, Adult/Geriatric population. Experience with splinting or willingness to learn. References: VA Handbook 5005/127, Part II, Appendix G14 The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. Physical Requirements: Occupational Therapy is considered a vocation that requires "medium" strength according and as defined by the Department of Labor. Medium Work entails: exerting 20-50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Standing, walking, squatting, bending, and sitting, and changing from one position to the other frequently throughout the day. Walking in urban, suburban, and rural environments from the vehicle to patients' home when indicated. Sitting at a desk and using upper extremities to reach, grasp, and place papers, charts, and binders. Operating all aspects of DME, home access devices and manual and power mobility devices for the purpose of evaluating for and training patients and caregivers in their proper use. Maintain good manual dexterity to manipulate tools and equipment as follows: computer, laptop, cell phone, adaptive equipment, splint fabrication, and equipment assembly.

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 SALT LAKE CITY HCS 500 Foothill Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84148 US
• Name: Smaranda Georgescu
• Phone: 8015821565 X7320
• Email: [email protected]