This position provides Occupational Therapy to patients referred to specialty outpatient clinics throughout Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC/Eastern Colorado Healthcare System. The specialties being considered are Driver Rehabilitation.

Duties

Clinical Functions: Serves as a consultant for all health care providers regarding DRIVER REHAB Occupational Therapy and rehabilitation. Educates, orients, mentors therapy staff, Residents, Fellows, HPT, nurses, and other clinical staff regarding OT in general and specifically, as it relates to DRIVER REHAB mgmt. Reviews and updates DRIVER protocols, policy, and program at the VAECHCS. Provides evaluations and treatments that are in alignment with up-to-date clinical practice guidelines and treatment for DRIVER REHAB care that are evidence based. Provides a minimum of one (1) in-service education program per year to the OT department. Participates in communication with community care providers to optimize the care of veterans. Plans, implements, and reports on performance improvement activities related to DRIVER REHAB Occupational Therapy services. Serves as subject matter expert (SME) for Driver modalities and equipment, as it relates to DRIVER REHAB mgmt. Driver Rehab: This may include SME of driving simulator and automobile adaptive equipment (AAE), including hi-tech driving equipment and collaboration with VA prosthetics department, community VA approved Vendors, PVA for AAE and other hi-tech driving equipment. Collaborates with local, and regional universities, in Driver OT rehabilitation. Incumbent demonstrates a high degree of independence and professional judgment in planning and executing treatment programs to meet complex treatment objectives for veteran population with DRIVER REHAB and general Occupational Therapy issues. Exercises originality in solving problems, makes innovative adaptations of the clinical procedures herein to meet the complex and highly varying needs of the individuals in need of mobility needs and advises all other health care team members and students in this regard. Performs complex Occupational Therapy evaluation and treatment for patients of all gender identities aged 18-85+ years old. Stage of life is considered and used to modify evaluation and treatment based on the needs of the individual. Assessment of the patient's learning needs is performed, and patient education is tailored to meet those needs involving the patient, family, and caregivers in the process as appropriate. Utilizes standardized, and non-standardized assessments, and compiles overall Occupational Profile, concerning patient's social, physical, psychological and vocation status to determine a patient-centric treatment plan, based on current OT theory, research and practice. Involves the patient, family/caregiver and medical team in treatment planning and goal setting through ongoing communication. Consultant to the Prosthetics department, in DRIVER OT rehabilitation and auto adaptive equipment, if/when medically indicated. Plans and carries out the full range of specialized interventions and treatment modalities where therapeutic objectives are complex, and procedures involved require the application of specialized skills and knowledge in DRIVER OT. Adapts and applies treatment procedures with critical concern for patients who are acutely ill, or who have a combination of severe mental/emotional or physical disabilities. Treatment will be provided in the facility and in the community as appropriate for the patient's needs. These skills and interventions will be based on current Occupational Therapy theory, research, and practice. Is willing and able to float to other areas of clinical practice as needed to maintain staffing throughout the entire PM&R department. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Functional Statement: 554-51045-0

Requirements

Qualifications

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 Experience: The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist. 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) M 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. 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. English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Preferred Experience: Completion of VA Driver Rehab Specialist Training Grade Determination GS-13: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. 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 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. 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 Transmittal Sheet December 13, 2019 This position is above the Full-Performance Level. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; use of fingers, both hands required; reaching above shoulders; walking (8 hours); standing (8hours); sitting/typing at computer workstation (4 hours); both legs required; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; ability to distinguish shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted).

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 Eastern Colorado HCS Denver 13611 E. Colfax Ave Aurora, CO 80045 US
• Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
• Phone: 719-227-4600
• Email: [email protected]