The incumbent Occupational Therapist is assigned responsibility for serving as the subject matter expert in Seating and Mobility with emphasis complex seating and assistive technology as provided by an Occupational Therapist.

Duties

The incumbent provides Advanced seating and mobility specialty services within the Rehabilitation Services Section, GREC Service, at the Mann-Grandstaff Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Spokane, WA. He/she acts as a consultant to other Occupational Therapists and other hospital staff in evaluating and treating patients based on advanced knowledge and experience in this area. Duties will include: Serves as a subject matter expert to physicians, residents and staff, as well as, other health care specialists in matters concerning Assitive Technology and Complex Seating and Mobility. Receives patient caseload through referrals and self-referral/direct scheduling. Evaluation uses standard and non standard methods to assess range of motion, strength, sensation, proprioception, coordination, perception, cognition, ADL and work activities, orthotic and prosthetic needs, and need for adaptive equipment. Based on evaluations, and planning with patient and significant others (when appropriate), and coordination with the multidisciplinary team, establishes treatment goals and eventual discharge plan. Develops and carries out occupational therapy plans with individuals to meet individual rehabilitation objectives. . Implements an Assistive Technology and Seating and Mobility and/or occupational therapy treatment plan to meet individual rehabilitation objectives utilizing functional activities which have as their goal the improvement of patient's activities of daily living, strength, range of motion, sensation, perceptive and/or cognitive process. Re-evaluates patient's performance and modifies treatment as indicated. Regularly presents patient information to health care providers regarding outcomes of treatment, current status and expectations. Evaluates patient's living situation through home visits, patient and family interview, or consultation with other health care professionals. Participates regularly in multidisciplinary care planning meetings as needed. Responsible for management of more complex cases, effectively and independently develops, implements, and modifies the OT treatment plan. Initiates ordering, delivery and training in the use of patient specific adaptive equipment in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner, utilizing the processes related to the procurement of prosthetic equipment. Carries a full patient caseload, accepting new referrals primarily in outpatients. Treatment directly affects a patient's social, emotional, and functional wellbeing. Assignments may include acute care medical and surgical cases, outpatients, and/or the community living center. Documents initial evaluations, progress, and discharge planning in a timely, concise manner, per section documentation and consult management requirements. Is aware of signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect and reports to the appropriate authority. Complies with requirements to maintain prosthetic equipment supplies, providing necessary documentation of equipment provided to patients and obtaining stock replacement of equipment issued. Considers age and developmental level, gender, education, cultural background, and socioeconomic, medical, and functional status when providing OT services. Is aware of signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect and reports to the appropriate authorities. Therapy services will be provided to an adult population of patients. Is aware of the indications, contraindications, and precautions in working with SCI, physical disability and mental health patients, based on area of assignment. Does not proceed with treatment session, if in question as to safety or appropriateness of modality to be used, until question is resolved. Mentors and assists other rehabilitation staff in the management of highly complex medically impaired patients/individuals with assistive technology/complex wheelchair and seating needs via consultation or co-treatment. A minimum of 50% of this occupational therapist's time is devoted to the practice of this specialty service. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 07:30AM-4:00PM Compressed/Flexible: Available, to be determined by service Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). 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. 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. 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. 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-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) 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: 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. References: VHA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G14, Qualifications for Occupational Therapists. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: Moderate and heavy lifting and carrying (up to 45 lbs and over), straight pulling, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, repeated bending, both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination, near and far vision correctable, depth perception, hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental Factors: constant noise, slippery or uneven walking surfaces, working around moving objects or vehicles, working with hands in water, working closely with others, working alone, protracted or irregular hours of work.

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 Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 4815 North Assembly Street Spokane, WA 99205 US
• Name: Michelle Yahne
• Phone: 503-220-8262 X53055
• Email: [email protected]