Occupational Therapist

Summary The HBPC Clinical Specialist for Occupational Therapy provides occupational therapy services to the veteran population enrolled in the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Service through the Fayetteville VA Medical Center.

Services include the provision of high quality and safe rehabilitative treatment - coordination of care with other pertinent VA services and clinical education/consultation regarding occupational therapy to staff and students.

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 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: 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 - 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 - Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy
• NOTE: Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations
• Certification: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT
• License: 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
• 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-12 Occupational Therapist: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled
• Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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
• Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders
• 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
• Skill in procuring - fabricating - adjusting - adapting - and modifying orthoses - splints - and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment)
• Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training
• Preferred Experience: Outpatient Facility Experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is 12
• Physical Requirements: There will be periods of walking and ambulating patients - providing patient transfers - some lifting of 45 pounds and over supporting patients.

Duties

• Screening/Evaluation & Re-evaluation: The Occupational Therapist is responsible for: - Screening of potential clients as needed
• -Responding to HBPC OT consults in compliance with GEC and HBPC policies
• - Evaluating the patient's functional - physical - and/or psycho-social abilities while considering the patient's capacities - the activities - and the environments in which these activities occur
• - Evaluating the home environment with regard to safety and accessibility issues
• - Collaborating with the patient in the evaluation process
• - Following defined protocols when standardized assessments are used
• - Recommending additional consultations or resources when the needs of the client can best be served by the expertise of other professionals or services
• - Evaluating medical needs for orthotic - prosthetic or other adaptive equipment in accordance with medical center policies and educating the patient & family about safe & correct use
• - Responding to inappropriate referrals in writing or verbally with written documentation of such
• - Obtaining clarification for incomplete or unclear orders from the referring provider.Treatment: The OT is responsible for: - Reviewing pertinent patient data using the medical record and - as needed - remote data from VistaWeb
• Developing - implementing and communicating the occupational therapy intervention plan based on the evaluation - patient goals - current best evidence and clinical reasoning
• - Identifying general contraindications to treatment
• - Scheduling and coordinating treatment with other VA services
• Treatment will take place within the home setting while maintaining privacy and confidentiality as appropriate
• - Functioning autonomously in carrying out patient education - specialized treatments - and applying occupational therapy procedures for which competency has been established and in accordance with laws or regulations and AOTA documents
• - Modifying the treatment plan - therapeutic activities and interventions based on the changing needs - goals and performance of the patient
• - Modifying the treatment plan when either the established goals or timeframes for achievement of those goals has been attained
• Documentation: The OT is responsible for - Accurately documenting OT services in the medical record within the timeframes - formats and standards established by the GEC and HBPC Services and the Fayetteville VA Medical center
• - Entering consults within the GEC Service or to the Prosthetics service for rehabilitation equipment in accordance with HBPC and medical center policies
• Discharge Planning & Interdisciplinary Coordination: The OT is responsible for: - Identifying when patients have attained maximum benefit from occupational therapy services and terminating services as appropriate
• - Participating in interdisciplinary team meetings and effectively communicating the patient's response to care - occupational therapy recommendations and appropriate follow-up patient needs
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 0000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized