This Health Technician Massage position is in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Service at the VA Boston Healthcare Systems, located at the Brockton, MA location. This position will have expectation to be at the Lowell CBOC one day a week . This position is a full-time at 40 per week.

Duties

Health Technician (Massage Therapy) provides a full range of complex treatment procedures and modalities, which may include, but are not limited to reflexology, injury rehabilitation, lymphatic drainage, neuromuscular therapy, myofascial release, and/or craniosacral work. The Health Technician (Massage Therapy) is responsible to provide massage therapy services for specialty areas, such as pain management, poly-trauma, surgery, traumatic brain injury, palliative care, neurology, orthopedics, geriatrics, cardiology, pulmonary, rheumatology, spinal cord injury, mental health, and oncology. The Health Technician (Massage Therapy) assists other staff through education and as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team. The Health Technician (Massage Therapy) is a subject matter expert responsible for mentoring other Health Technicians (Massage Therapy) who participate in educational and research activities. The Health Technician (Massage Therapy) provides education in massage techniques to patients, caregivers, and employees. The Health Technician (Massage Therapy) contributes to identifying, collecting, and analyzing aggregate patient care information, to ensure safety and quality of care. Duties include but are not limited to: Utilizes standard patient assessment procedures to formulate individualized massage therapy treatment. Demonstrates skill in providing advanced massage techniques using the appropriate tools, supplies, an equipment based on the needs of the patient. Incorporates various massage therapy and bodywork techniques taught within their professional education. Demonstrates knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology relevant to massage therapy within specialty population(s). Provides advanced massage therapy services of greater complexity applied to specialty populations in various clinical/environmental settings with limited supervision and coordinate follow up care as indicated. Ability to modify massage therapy techniques based on an understanding of specialty populations, and various clinical/environmental settings. Maintain a clean, calm environment by changing linen between patients, refilling oils, cleaning massage table/chair/arm rest, and maintaining other health precautions. Provides massage therapy instruction for self-care to patient and family as determined appropriate. Educates patients on healthy lifestyle including hydration, basic nutrition, stretching, exercise, mind-body techniques, sleep habits, stress management and other matters related to massage therapy care. Knowledge of complementary integrative health, and holistic health principles. Serve as a subject matter expert, responsible for mentoring other massage therapists and participating in educational activities. Has knowledge of teaching methods and learning principles, and will assist other staff through education as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team. All documentation is completed on all patients prescribed in accordance with Station policies (VA, PM&RS, PT) for content and timeliness. Consent shall be completed prior to treatment in accordance with local requirements. Privacy and appropriate draping shall be provided for the patient when requiring undressing. Functions as a member of the health care team and communicates with other health care providers as appropriate. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:30am-5:00pm, Full time. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F04960 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NOTIFICATIONS: This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is in the Excepted Service. Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's.

Requirements

Qualifications

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. Education: Candidates must complete a minimum 500-hour massage therapy education program. Licensure, Registration, or Certification. Candidates must be currently licensed, registered, or certified to practice as a massage therapist in a state, territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Acceptable credentials must have required successful completion of a minimum 500-hour massage therapy education program and pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination, National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Examination, or equivalent state-issued examination. OR, Candidates must possess and maintain a board certification from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). NOTE: As of the date of this standard, several states do not offer a credential in massage therapy. Additionally, some states offer a credential that does not meet the 500-hour education program and/or state-issued examination requirements described above in subparagraph (1). Candidates may satisfy the basic requirement of licensure/certification/registration by possessing and maintaining a board certification from the NCBTMB. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign massage therapy programs that require a minimum 500-hour education program are considered to meet the basic education requirements if they have a full unrestricted and current license, registration, or certification, as described above, or by maintaining a board certification from the NCBTMB. 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: Health Technician (Massage Therapy) GS-8 - Advanced Clinical Level a) Experience. In addition to meeting the basic requirements, candidates must possess one year of progressive experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Skill in providing advanced massage techniques using the appropriate tools, supplies, and equipment based on the needs of the patient Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology relevant to massage therapy within specialty population(s) Ability to modify massage therapy techniques based on an understanding of specialty populations, and various clinical/environmental settings Knowledge of teaching methods and learning principles Ability to conduct research and quality improvement activities, related to massage therapy Knowledge of complementary integrative health, and holistic health principles Preferred Experience: Advanced clinical decision-making capacity. Strong and effective communication skills, with demonstrated ability to manage challenging conversations. Ability to work and collaborate within an interdisciplinary team. References: VA Handbook 5005/108 PART II APPENDIX G56 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: Sitting, standing, and lifting up to 40 pounds.

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 VA Boston Healthcare System 940 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 US
• Name: Karina Santos
• Phone: 401-302-9143
• Email: [email protected]