The primary functions of this position: Direct patient care: The Occupational Therapist (OT) is responsible for independently providing assessment and treatment interventions to outpatients received through healthcare provider referrals and patient self-referrals. Program development, guidance and monitoring of care: The occupational therapist will take a leadership role in the development, guidance and monitoring of a clinical Brain Injury management program.

Duties

The OT demonstrates advanced knowledge and expert clinical practice skills in providing evaluation and treatment across the continuum of care. The OT utilizes advanced knowledge and expertise to modify treatment plans and to identify therapeutic activity interventions based on changing needs, goals and performance of patients. The OT applies their advanced cognitive remediation management expertise to their practice. The OT establishes and maintains contact with other health care providers via written, telephone and personal communication on a regular basis. He/she exercises expert professional judgement to establish appropriate discharge planning recommendations to endure safe discharge from inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation management programs. Functions include and not limited to the following: A. BRIAN INJURY Serves as a consultant for all health care providers regarding brain injury management, especially within the rehabilitation service line. Educates/orients staff regarding Occupational/Physical Therapy in general and specifically as it relates to brain injury management. Guides the work of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation team members who are participating as clinicians. Ensures that all new cases are assigned to an occupational therapist and/or physical/speech therapist if collaborative treatments are indicated. In conjunction with the Chief of Rehabilitation and physicians who are brain injury specialists, maintains and updates standard orders. Frequently reviews and updates relevant assessment and treatment protocols and programs; manages the ordering and issuing of patient/program equipment including working closely with the facility-wide telehealth program and the PM&R tele-rehabilitation clinical specialist. Provides a minimum of one (1) in-service education program per year to the Physical/Occupational Therapy departments. Plans, implements, and reports on performance improvement activities relating to Brain injury management. Maintains, updates brain injury Physical/Occupational therapy monitoring data. Provides consultation and teaching for brain injury management research projects. B. CLINICAL According to department policies, the incumbent is authorized to perform complex examination and treatment of patients representing a continuum of care to a wide scope of ages, and, as well as offering diagnoses, and rendering varied modalities inherent in their profession. Patient Evaluation- Demonstrates the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to provide and guide treatment appropriate to patients across a range of complexities. Patient Treatment- After initial evaluation of patient, formulates progressive treatment plans and goals, and is responsible for implementation, modification, and documentation of the treatments. Interdisciplinary Relationships- Communicates with, consults, and works cooperatively with other medical, surgical and rehabilitation disciplines, to provide comprehensive patient care. Patient-Family/Caregiver Counseling/Education- Consults with patients and their families/care providers through patient/family/caregiver education, training and advising them in the nature of the patient's disease. Documentation includes completion of consultation, initial notes, testing results, progress notes, discharge notes and treatment plans, patient education in accordance with policies for content and timeliness. C. EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES D. CUSTOMER SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES E. COLLATERIAL DUTIES Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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. (1) The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: (a) 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, (b) 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, (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy. (2) 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 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 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-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 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. Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist), 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) A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area. This time must be within the past five years; (b) Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA; (c) 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 KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice. (b) [Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other OT practitioners. (c) Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization. (d) Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice. (e) Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization. (f) Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization. References: December 13, 2019 VA Handbook 5005/127 PART II APPENDIX G14 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 13. Physical Requirements: This position frequently requires moderate to heavy lifting. Normally such lifting will involve, but not be limited to assisting with transfers or ADL training of the client in the Occupational Therapy clinic. Part of this position will involve sedentary work involving computers and communications.

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 Corporal Michael J Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 3900 Woodland Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19104 US
• Name: Natasha Sudler
• Phone: 302-290-6874
• Email: [email protected]