Blind Rehabilitation Specialist (VIST Coordinator)

Job Title

High-level duties and responsibilities include:

• Provides direct patient care and support services to an adult population of patients.
• Tailors patient care and support services to meet the needs of the individual patient.
• Responsibility for assessment of each patient's needs and the delivery of services which are responsive to the concerns of individual patients to the extent possible.
• Evaluates and assesses needs, capabilities and limitations, goal settings and prescribing a treatment plan for individuals experiencing blindness/visual impairment caused by injury or disease.
• Works as part of a team coordinating care for blind and visually impaired veterans.
• Serves as Team Coordinator for one or more assigned veterans during the veteran's program.
• Develops and coordinates the veteran's Interdisciplinary Plan of Care (IPOC) with input from the Veteran and all team members.
• Studies visual and non-visual barriers and related processes that result in activity limitations, participation restrictions, loss of vocational and avocational opportunities, and psychological distress.
• Use diagnostic and therapeutic techniques and instrumentation to identify and resolve or minimize these problems.
• Develops a treatment plan in conjunction with an interdisciplinary team to improve the quality of life for blind and visually impaired Veterans through the development of skills and capabilities needed for personal independence, emotional stability and the successful integration into community, family and environment.
• Use and maintain technology (discipline specific) necessary to assist in the veteran's rehabilitation needs and processes such as electronic travel aids, computer assisted technology, speech output and input devices, large print devices and Braille devices.
• Determines the need for these devices based on type, nature and severity of the problem, and assessments, and instructs the Veteran in the proper use of the device along with its abilities and limitations. Optical devices, prescribed by an eye care specialist, are incorporated into the Blind Rehabilitation Specialist's treatment plan.
• Works with family members and/or significant others to educate and counsel about the ramifications of visual impairment. Family members are taught to recognize changed behaviors and behavior patterns that impede blind and vision rehabilitation progress and how to cope with the psychological and social problems and their own individual stress.
• Maintains awareness of new technological developments in the field through research and education.
• Serves as a subject matter expert for other medical and allied health staff by providing education and training to healthcare providers and professionals on the nature of visual impairment and blind and vision rehabilitation.
• Serves as a mentor for clinical trainees within the specific disciplines.
• Expected to obtain and maintain certification in the appropriate discipline of blind/vision rehabilitation
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 10495F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized