Job opening: Occupational Therapist
Salary: $86 293 - 112 181 per year
Published at: Jan 12 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
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
Functions or Scope of Assigned Duties:
The Occupational Therapist will function in accordance with:
- Federal law.
- The North Carolina Occupational Therapy Practice Act published by
the North Carolina Board for Occupational Therapy.
- The Standards of Practice for Occupational Therapists and the
Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics as published by the American
Occupational Therapy Association.
Specific duties include:
Screening / Evaluation & Re-evaluation: The Occupational Therapist is responsible for:
- Screening/triaging of OT consults as needed.
- Accepting and responding to OT consults in compliance with PM&RS and
assigned program policies.
- Evaluating the Veteran's functional, physical, and / or psycho-social
abilities while considering the patient's capacities, the activities, and the
environments in which these activities occur.
- Evaluating the home environment with regard to safety and accessibility
issues as indicated by the plan of care.
- Involving the Veteran and their caregivers in the evaluation process using
a patient-centered approach.
- Delegating specific aspects of the screening, evaluation or re-evaluation
process (using specific assessment tools, instruments or observation) to
an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) who has documented competencies
in performing those duties. The OT is responsible for interpreting the information
provided by the OTA and integrating that information into the evaluation
decision-making process.
- Following defined protocols when standardized assessments are used.
- Recommending/entering additional consultations (i.e., to Physical or
Recreational Therapy or prosthetic services) when the needs of the
Veteran can best be served by the expertise of other professionals or
services.
- Evaluating medical needs for orthotic, prosthetic or other adaptive
equipment in accordance with medical center policies and educating the
patient & family about safe & correct use.
- Responding to inappropriate referrals in writing or verbally with written
documentation of such.
- Obtaining clarification for incomplete or unclear orders from the referring
provider.
- The OT may perform home or other off-site environmental assessments
when appropriately justified and when training and competency in medical
center policies governing home/off-site visits has been completed.
Treatment: The OT is responsible for:
- Reviewing pertinent patient data using the medical record and, as needed,
remote data (e.g. VistaWeb, JLV and VHIE).
- Developing, implementing and communicating the occupational therapy
intervention plan based on the evaluation, patient goals, current best evidence and clinical reasoning.
- Identifying general contraindications to treatment.
- Scheduling and coordinating treatment with other VA services. Treatment
may take place within the home setting or Durham VA Medical Center and
may be in-person or virtual, while maintaining privacy and confidentiality
as appropriate.
- Providing occupational therapy treatment and caregiver training and
education within the appropriate setting as indicated by the plan of care.
- Communicating the treatment plan and coordinating care with the OTA as
appropriate.
Documentation: The OT is responsible for
- Accurately documenting OT services in the medical record within the
timeframes, formats and standards established by the PM&RS, the
assigned home based program and the Durham VA Healthcare System.
- Entering consults within the PM&RS Service (i.e., to Physical or
Recreational Therapy) or to the Prosthetics service for rehabilitation
equipment in accordance with competencies, PM&RS and Durham
VAHCS policies.
Discharge Planning & Interdisciplinary Coordination: The OT is responsible for:
- Identifying when patients have attained maximum benefit from
occupational therapy services and terminating services as appropriate.
- Participating in interdisciplinary team meetings and effectively
communicating the patient's response to care, occupational therapy
recommendations and appropriate follow-up patient needs.
- Coordinating with outside agencies, Durham VAHCS providers and
programs, and / or the Primary Care Provider as appropriate when
occupational therapy services are discontinued.
Work Schedule: TUESDAY-SATURDAY; 8:00AM-4: 30PM
Telework: Not eligible for Telework.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
EDRP Authorized: Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Qualifications
BASIC REQUIREMENTS.
The authority to set requirements is provided by 38 U.S.C. §
7402(b)(14).
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.]
[(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 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.
Loss of Credential. An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain [the required state
or territorial licensure and the NBCOT certification, both current and in good standing,] must
be removed from the occupation, which may result in termination of employment.
Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
English Proficiency. [Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to
be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).]
References: VA Handbook 5005/127 PART II APPENDIX G14 December 13, 2019
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant
may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12
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.]
Assignment. [OTs at this level practice independently and are responsible for
comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized
and non-standardized evaluation tools. OTs select and provide 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. OTs demonstrate a full professional understanding
of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application through
the use of activity analysis, behavioral intervention, frame of references, and therapeutic
procedures. They are assigned to all program areas within VHA and
provide professional, independent occupational therapy services. OTs at this level may
be given assignments in any area where advanced specialized knowledge is not required
on a recurring basis due to the patient population served and complexity of the facility
and/or treatment area. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program
management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work
is not substantial (less than 25% of the duty time).]
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:
https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Contacts
- Address Durham VA Medical Center
508 Fulton Street
Durham, NC 27705
US
- Name: Gary Byles
- Phone: 919-286-0411 X4949
- Email: [email protected]
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