The Occupational Therapist serves as an independent clinical OT responsible for evaluation and treatment of patients that have a wide variety of medical diagnoses and functional deficits seen in VASLCHCS.

Duties

Occupational Therapist performs occupational therapy evaluation and treatments with Veterans with ages ranging from adult to geriatric, having a variety of disabilities. Cases may be relatively complex in nature with chronic and acute disease entities including but not limited to central nervous system disorders, joint diseases, mental health diagnoses/substance abuse disorders, circulatory and pulmonary diseases, diabetes mellitus, altered thought processes, amputations, and multisystem disease combinations. Performed in an outpatient health care center, hand clinic, mobility clinic, Drivers Rehab, throughout the medical center, ER, interdisciplinary clinics, and in the community/homes/ECF serving a complex patient population, acute and chronic. Therapist's work including but not limited to patient's homes, throughout the medical center, outpatient clinics, community, and teleworking when appropriate, such as during a pandemic or other natural or manmade disaster or indicated by clinical/departmental needs. The information is gathered from the medical record, interview of the veteran and other appropriate people such as family and caregiver or other providers, observation, and standardized and non-standardized testing. Therapist evaluates following, but not limited to: areas of occupation, performance skills, performance patterns, context(s), activity demands, client factors, and age related/military history. Provide direct OT patient care and maximize safety and function in the home/community/ECF, outpatient/hand clinic, and hospital setting through provision of a therapeutic program: evaluate, prescribe, and train in the use of durable medical equipment (DME); recommend changes in the home environment that provide home access and safety; participation in leisure and recreational activity, whole health, train the family and veterans in use of DME, body mechanics and other strategies; and make recommendations for referrals to other services as indicated. Develops an intervention plan in collaboration with the veteran and family, caregiver and social support, and other team members. The plan considers the veteran's context and activity demands. The intervention plan includes objective and measurable goals with timeframe. The intervention is an accepted occupational therapy approach based on theory and evidence. Employs effective motivational techniques to enlist patient and, if appropriate, family participation and adapts equipment and procedures to carry out a wide variety of treatment activities. Evaluates patient's condition upon appropriate referral to occupational therapy to determine treatment plan. Refers the patients to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service physician, or other medical providers when determined to be necessary. Performs and interprets results of tests and measurements for use in preparing for modification and/or evaluation of patient treatment, and adjusts the treatment based on changes in patient's condition. Evaluates patient's needs with respect to prescribed braces, orthotics fabrication and durable medical equipment, in consideration of what is medically appropriate for activities of daily living and upper extremity support. Selects appropriate equipment and appliances, determines which suits the patient best, and recommends necessary modifications to provide for proper fit and/or function. Perform thorough home safety evaluation and subsequent follow up visits as indicated by need and established in individual POC. Knowledge of the regulations governing home/community-based care including but not limited to: Department of Veterans Affairs, CMS, and Joint Commission, and the ability to apply them to the programs and populations being served. Maximizes patient outcomes by the following: reassessing veterans' response to treatment at regular interval, modifying treatment plan and goals, recommending appropriate discharge from OT based on response to treatment, making recommendations to the multidisciplinary team for transition to lesser level of care, and making referrals as appropriate. Records patient care activities in evaluation, reassessment, daily and discharge notes following all VA, rehabilitation specific, and OT regulation policy. Communicates patient status to team members via secure and accepted practice. Supervises occupational therapy students or assistants as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:GS-09 57776O, GS-11 57777O, and GS-12 57778O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. English 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. 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. Exceptions for the Graduate Occupational Therapist. (1) OT graduates from an approved occupational therapy program who otherwise meet the minimum qualification requirements, but who do not possess NBCOT certification and/or state licensure, may be appointed, pending certification and/or licensure, as a graduate OT on a full-time temporary appointment] not-to ­exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2). (2) Graduate OTs may only be appointed at the GS-9 grade level and may not be promoted/converted to the GS-11 level until licensure and/or certification is obtained. For grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level, the OT must be certified and licensed. (3) A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OT who meets all state regulatory requirements. [(4) Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years, or converted to a new temporary appointment. 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). All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date 12/13/2019 of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of this occupation. Employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Occupational Therapist, GS-9 Education, Experience, or Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Occupational Therapist, GS-11 Education, Experience, or Licensure. (a) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. OR (b) Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field. OR (c) Doctorate in occupational therapy. Demonstrated [Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of occupational therapy practice. (b) Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment. (c) Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others. (d) Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated. (e) Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing. (f) Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care. (g) Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice. Occupational Therapist, GS-12 Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the [experience above, the candidate] must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence based practice. Knowledge is inclusive of physical, occupational, cognitive, and psychosocial functional deficits. (b) Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders. (c) Ability to use critical analysis, clinical reasoning, and creativity to independently solve complex problems related to adapting and modifying assessments, treatment plans, activities and procedures to meet the needs of patients. (d) Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment). (e) Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training.] Preferred Experience: Minimum of 2 years OT work experience. Experience and comfortable working with neuro and vision impairments in outpatient setting desired. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-12. Physical Requirements: See below under Additional Information

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 VA Salt Lake City Health Care System 500 Foothill Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84148 US
• Name: VISN 19 HR Contact Center
• Phone: 719-227-4600
• Email: [email protected]