Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service is seeking a full-time Occupational Therapy Assistant for the VA Medical Center in Birmingham Alabama.

Duties

This position serves as the subject matter expert in Aquatic Therapy (AT) and acts as a consultant to occupational therapy (OT) staff and other medical center staff in treating veterans with disabilities and pain, assisting in the selection of appropriate AT for the veterans' needs, and training in the correct intervention and treatments for veterans in the AT program. The duties may include but are not limited to the following: Examines (history, system review, tests, and measures) individuals with impairment, functional limitation, disability, and other health-related conditions to determine a diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention. Tests and measures may include the following:- Aerobic capacity/endurance- Anthropometric characteristics- Arousal, attention, and cognition- Assistive and adaptive devices- Circulation (arterial, venous, lymphatic)- Cranial and peripheral nerve integrity- Diabetic foot screening- Environmental, home, and work (job/school/play) safety and barriers- Ergonomics and body mechanics- Gait, locomotion, and balance- Integumentary integrity- Joint integrity and mobility- Motor function (motor control and motor learning)- Muscle performance (including strength, power, and endurance)- Neuromotor development and sensory integration- Orthotic, protective, and supportive devices- Pain- Posture- Prosthetic requirements- Range of Motion (including muscle length)- Reflex integrity- Self-care and home management (including activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs))- Sensory integrity- Telehealth assessments- Wheelchair assessment - power and manual- Work (job/school/play), community, leisure integration or reintegration (including IADLs) Performs procedures to alleviate impairment and functional limitation by designing, implementing, and modifying therapeutic interventions that include:- Airway clearance techniques- Cervical and lumbar traction- Electrotherapeutic modalities- Functional training in self-care and home management (including ADLs and IADLs)- Functional training in work (job/school/play) and community and leisure integration or reintegration activities (including IADLs, work hardening, and work conditioning)- Gait and balance training- Integumentary repair and protection techniques- Manual therapy techniques (including mobilization/manipulation)- Neuromuscular re-education- Participation in pain management activities- Patient/client-related instruction- Physical agents and mechanical modalities to include hot/cold packs, ultrasound, and paraffin- Prescription, application, and as appropriate, fabrication of devices and equipment (assistive, adaptive, orthotic, protective, supportive, and prosthetic)- Tele-health interventions- Therapeutic exercise- Wheelchair prescription - manual and power Maintains appropriate timeline demands for services and communicates through spreadsheet for tracking equipment orders. Performs patient scheduling and workload entries in accordance with service and medical center policies in a timely manner. Maintains clinic cleanliness and equipment functioning, enforcing safety procedures. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: FS522027 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more 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. OTA candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education. individuals must meet at least one of the requirements: (1) Associate's [or higher] degree in occupational therapy from a college or university accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). II-G22-1 May 27, 2021 VA Handbook 5005/145 PART II APPENDIX G22, or (2) Completion of a military training program in an OTA program accredited by the ACOTE. Certification. OTAs must have written documentation that they have passed the entry-level certification examination for OTAs administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Licensure. OTAs must hold a full, current, and unrestricted state license to practice occupational therapy in a State, Territory, a Commonwealth of the United States (i.e. Puerto Rico) or in the District of Columbia. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-9 Education and Experience. One year of creditable experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position being filled. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate one of the following: (a) A minimum of 2000 hours of clinical practice directly in the specialty area and completion of 60 contact hours of continuing education directly related to the specialty area. This time must be within the past five years; or (b) Certification in specialty area; or (c) An additional academic degree related to the healthcare mission. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the experience and education requirements above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs. (a) Skill in the utilization of delegated assessment tools to assist in developing individualized treatment plan related to specialty area. (b) Skill in developing protocols and procedures for specialized intervention techniques and programs. (c) Ability to independently implement treatment plan using specialty skills and complex techniques. (d) Ability to provide complex evidence-based interventions related to clinical specialty. (e) Ability to provide consultation and mentoring to other healthcare practitioners and stakeholders in area of specialty. Preferred Experience: Must have certification in aquatic therapy and rehabilitation References: VA Handbook 5005/145 PART II APPENDIX G22The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9.Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over); Straight pulling (

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 Birmingham VA Medical Center 700 South 19th Street Birmingham, AL 35233 US
• Name: Kara Wanner
• Email: [email protected]