Occupational Therapist - Outpatient Hand & Upper Extremity Therapist

Summary

The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is seeking an Occupational Therapist to join our team at the Beaver County VA Clinic in Rochester - PA.

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
• 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
• Certification: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an Occupational Therapist (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
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f)
• NOTE: 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)
• 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
• 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-09 Occupational Therapist Education - Experience - or Licensure
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-11 Occupational Therapist Education - Experience - or Licensure
• Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level and directly related to the position being filled
• Or Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field
• Or Doctorate in occupational therapy
• And Demonstrated KSAs
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of occupational therapy practice
• Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans - including goals and methods of treatment
• Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others
• Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated
• Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients - family members - caregivers - interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care
• Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation - reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice
• GS-12 Occupational Therapist 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
• And Demonstrated 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: Licensed occupational therapist with outpatient hand and upper-extremity experience preferred
• Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) preferred
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• 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.

Duties

• This position is located within the Beaver Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and falls within Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) under Medicine Service Line at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) in Pittsburgh - PA
• The incumbent is expected to travel as needed for clinical duties between CBOCs and home care locations - as directed by the supervisor - and must maintain a valid driver's license
• Major duties include - but are not limited to - the following: Occupational Therapists (OT) provide specialized skills in assessment - planning and treatment in hand and upper extremity musculoskeletal/neurological rehabilitation in the administration of therapeutic interventions to prevent dysfunction - restore function - and/or reverse pathological progression to enhance quality of life
• Perform examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments - activity limitations - and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal - neuromuscular - cardiovascular - pulmonary - and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique Veteran psychosocial and environmental factors
• Interpret findings from the physical examination and evaluation - selecting the most appropriate test and measures - while integrating these findings into the Occupational Therapy plan of care for the full range of Veteran populations
• Independently provide clinical oversight of Occupational Therapy Assistants - hand fellows & students on clinical affiliations who are in Masters or Doctoral level OT Programs
• Participate in continuing education courses and seminars to remain current with advances in the field and to meet continuing education requirements of VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and Pennsylvania State Licensure or other State Licensure
• Contribute to curriculum and didactic/instruction and provides Clinical Instruction for assigned students partnering with the OT Hand fellowship program
• Assists fieldwork coordinators in developing and upgrading student training program content ensuring that student(s) receive high-quality experience
• Schedule patient visits to ensure quality Occupational Therapy treatments are delivered efficiently and effectively
• Document evaluations - goals - treatment plans - and rehabilitation potential - using standard format (per AOTA Guidelines) in the patient's medical record as required by PM&RS - Joint Commission - and the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System standards
• Ensure that subordinate Occupational Therapy staff and trainees maintain appropriate documentation
• Participate in Performance Improvement monitoring including the formulation of monitors - data collections - peer reviews - and preparation of reports in accordance with VA and Joint Commission guidelines
• Work Schedule: 8:00 a.m
• to 4:30 p.m. - Monday-Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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