Occupational Therapist (Home Based Primary Care)

Summary

The Occupational Therapy (OT) position is to promote veterans' safety and independent function in their everyday activities in the home and community environments. The position includes strategies to manage self-care in the home - recommendations for access into and out of the home - and prescription - fitting - and training in the use of wheeled mobility where appropriate using OT principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence-based practice.

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 be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)
• 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 2
• 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
• 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.: 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
• 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-9 Education - Experience - or Licensure: None beyond the basic requirements
• (See basic requirements above) GS-11 Education - Experience - or Licensure
• Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 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
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience or education 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 Education - Experience - and Licensure: Appointment to the GS-12 grade level requires completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the applicant's resume 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: At least 2 years of clinical experience with home health care experience 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-9 to GS-12
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Clinical Duties: Evaluations take place primarily in the veterans' homes
• The OT conducts an evaluation that gathers information 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 - including body measurements - patient and significant other personal goals - and analyzes the demands of the occupation - inclusive of: a
• Areas of occupation: ADL - IADL - education - work - play - leisure and social participation
• b
• Performance skills: motor (posture - mobility - coordination - strength and effort - energy) - process (knowledge - organization - adaptation) and communication/interaction (information exchange - relations)
• c
• Performance patterns: habits - routines - roles
• d
• Context(s): Cultural (including cultural contexts related to age - gender identity - and military history) - physical environment - social - personal - spiritual - temporal - and virtual
• e
• Activity demands: the kind of tools - space - social - timing - body functions and body structures that are required by the activity
• f
• Client factors: body functions and structures
• These include mental - sensory - neuromuscular - cardiovascular - speech and skin functions - and the body structures that support those functions
• Intervention Duties: The OT develops an intervention plan in collaboration with the veteran and family - caregiver and social support as appropriate
• The plan considers the recommendations for the patient made by the primary care team or Home Based Primary Care Team (HBPC) plan of care and other specialty services
• It considers the veteran's context and activity demands
• The intervention plan includes objective and measurable goals with timeframes
• a
• Optimization or adaptation of performance skills and client factors such as strengthening - range of motion - fine motor tasks - and memory and attention exercises - especially as they enhance the ability to perform self-care - properly use durable medical equipment and optimize safety
• b
• Prescription of - fitting and training in use of basic ambulatory aides and simple to complex wheeled mobility and seating systems and/or remediations or modifications and other strategies to optimize the ability to perform areas of occupation - such as: ADL - IADL - education - work - leisure - and social interaction
• c
• Recommendations for home modifications and durable medical equipment (DME) - to create safe access into - out of and within the home
• Other duties as assigned Maximization of Outcomes Duties: The OT maximizes patient outcomes by: a
• Reassessing veterans' response to treatment and caregivers' response to education at regular intervals - including to ascertain their safe use of DME
• b
• Modifying the treatment plan and goals as needed to support veteran outcomes - including grading the interventions to best meet the veteran's and caregiver's learning abilities and other capabilities
• c
• Recommending appropriate discharge from OT - based on response to treatment - collaboration with others and the veteran's ongoing needs
• d
• Making referrals to other services as appropriate
• Other duties as assigned
• Health and Safety: The OT optimizes health and safety of self - patients - colleagues - and visitors by: a
• Practicing proper infection control procedures in all patient care and clinical activities
• b
• Using all clinical equipment and supplies in the prescribed and safe manner
• c
• Following all health and safety protocols of the HBPC and SFVAHCS Outpatient programs
• d
• Complying with all safe and legal driving rules according to VA and state driving laws
• Clinical Information Management The OT optimizes interdisciplinary care planning by: a
• Recording patient care activities in the evaluation - reassessment - daily and discharge notes following all VA - Rehab - and OT regulations
• b
• Participating in formal and informal methods of communication about patient status
• Administrative The OT supports the veterans - the OT Section - the OT Mobility program - the OT Mobility program - the Rehab Service - the HBPC program - the SFVAHCS facility and the Agency by: 1
• Maintaining all required records - including: encounter entry - consult completion - and others as requested
• 2
• Submitting Prosthetic Consults in a timely manner and according to proper protocol
• 3
• Monitoring clinic supply inventory to ensure adequate supply levels according to Rehabilitation Service protocol
• 4
• Maintaining safe and orderly office and vehicle environments
• 5
• Participating in developing Quality Improvement (QI) indicators - conducting QI audits a Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 05789F/ 05790F/ 05791F 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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