The Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist) Neuro-Vision/Low Vision Therapist is part of the Anesthesia and Physical Medicine of the Orlando VA Healthcare System. This position upholds a dual accreditation as an Occupational Therapist with specialty in the field of Vision Rehabilitation, and provides support to APMS as well as the Eye Clinic, Visual Service Impairment Team (VIST) Coordinator and the Polytrauma TBI service.

Duties

Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist) duties include, but are not limited to: an extensive educational program, and involvement in research activities. Additional activities include the evaluation of new products and equipment and making recommendations concerning upgrades/new purchases that would improve operations. The Occupational Therapist is assigned to one of the numerous clinics throughout the Orlando VA HealthCare System which may include: Orlando VA Outpatient Clinic at Lake Nona Orlando VA Acute Care (Inpatient) Hospital at Lake Nona Community Living Center (CLC) at Lake Nona Lake Baldwin VA Medical Center Viera Health Care Center Daytona Multi-Specialty Clinic Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) at Lakemont Orlando VAHCS Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) This position is located in PM&R service, VA Orlando Medical Center, Lake Nona, FL. This position upholds a dual accreditation as an Occupational Therapist with specialty in the field of Vision Rehabilitation. This position provides support to APMS as well as the Eye Clinic, Visual Service Impairment Team (VIST) Coordinator and the Polytrauma TBI service. The incumbent serves as a full time Occupational Therapist with specific duties in relation to Outpatient care, Low Vision Services and Neuro-Vision Services. The incumbent has the responsibility to provide rehabilitation services working in the areas of Outpatient and Inpatient clinics as designated. The incumbent will directly report to a Rehabilitation Supervisor within the Anesthesia and Physical Medicine service at their designated site of care. While it is rare, there may be occasions where an Occupational Therapist will be required to provide service at another site on a temporary basis based on patient demand. Th incumbent Occupational Therapist is a subject matter expert in Low Vision and Neuro-Vision Therapy, which include but is not limited to use of partial vision in conjunction with complex low-vision optometric aids and devices; scanning and other eye-movement skills; attention to zones of quality vision within mixed-quality visual fields; focusing vision for short, intermediate and long-distance tasks. The incumbent assures that a complete range of skills are available for a diverse patient population in an active Rehabilitation setting. The VA Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service collaborates with other service areas and incorporates a multi-disciplinary approach. The Service includes a variety of specialized programs, an extensive educational program, and involvement in research activities. Additional activities include the evaluation of new products and equipment and making recommendations concerning upgrades/new purchases that would improve operations. The incumbent performs his/her duties in an outpatient setting as well as inpatient setting, as designated, at the VA Orlando VAMC and as such is responsible for assuring that patients receive a continuum of care by integrating his/her specialty with related inpatient and outpatient services. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, The tour maybe modified by the Rehabilitation Supervisor or Section Chief, Rehabilitation based on clinical space and/or organizational needs. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 81998F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. 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: (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. 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. Certification: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.-(Submitted) State Licensure: Candidate 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.-(Submitted) English Proficiency: Candidate must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f). Grade Determinations GS-13: Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist) 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 An additional advanced degree in a related field. Demonstrated KSAs: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all 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. Assignment: Clinical OT specialists at this grade level serve as subject matter experts and as consultants to occupational therapists and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the areas of occupational therapy that are beyond the general practice of occupational therapy. This individual must demonstrate skills and techniques for a specific patient population that has highly complex occupational and/or psychosocial impairments. Clinical OT specialist may initiate, lead, and support research projects related to clinical needs. This may include grant writing, guiding others in the process, and direct clinical participation in research. References: VA Handbook 5005/127 Part II Appendix G14 Occupational Therapist Qualification Standard. 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: Heavy lifting (45 pounds or over); light carrying (under 15 pounds); straight pushing (.5 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (.5 hours); standing (.5 hours); crawling (.5 hours); kneeling (.5 hours); repeated bending (1 hour); climbing, legs only (.5 hours); climbing, use of legs and arms; operation of crane, truck, tractor or motor vehicle; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; specific visual requirement (corrective lenses okay); both eyes required; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid may be permitted); mental and emotional stability.

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 Orlando VA Medical Center 13800 Veterans Way Orlando, FL 32827 US
• Name: Manuel Colon
• Phone: 407-631-8496
• Email: [email protected]