Occupational Therapist (Home Based Primary Care)

Summary This employee provides skilled Occupational Therapy (OT) services to the Medical Center in the outpatient - inpatient - and acute rehabilitation with the primary focus on the home setting. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinicaland patient care areas involved with the service. The incumbent operates under the direction of the HBPC Program Director/designee. 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 PolicyEducation and/or Experience: Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapistNOTE: 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 therapyOR - Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related fieldNOTE: 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 therapyOR - Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapyIndividuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizationsThis 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 AccreditationDegree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy Association - P.OBox 31220 - Bethesda - MD 20824-1220Certification: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OTState 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 ColumbiaLoss of Credential: An employee in this occupation who fails to maintain [the required state or territorial licensure and the NBCOT certification - both current and in good standing - must be removed from the occupation - which may result in termination of employmentExceptions for the Graduate Occupational TherapistOT 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 obtainedFor grades levels at or above the developmental GS-11 grade level - the OT must be certified and licensedA graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OT who meets all state regulatory requirementsTemporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years - or converted to a new temporary appointmentFailure to Obtain Licensure/CertificationIn all cases - graduate OTs must actively pursue obtaining required credentials (i.e. - NBCOT certification and/or state licensure) from the date of their appointmentThe human resource office will notify the uncertified/unlicensed OT in writing of the requirement to obtain certification/licensure - the date by which the certification/license must be acquired - and the consequences for not becoming certified/licensed by the deadline dateThe written notice must be provided prior to the entrance on duty dateFailure to obtain required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employmentPhysical 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)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)IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE - YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING GRADE REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITIONGS-9 Grade Requirements: Education - Experience - or Licensure: None beyond the basic requirementsGS-11 Grade Requirements: Education - Experience - or Licensure: Must have one of the following: a) Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filledor (b) Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related fieldor (c) Doctorate in occupational therapyAND - GS-11 KSA's: In addition to the education or experience above - must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: aKnowledge of occupational therapy practicebAbility to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans - including goals and methods of treatmentcAbility to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with othersdSkill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicatedeAbility to communicate and or collaborate with patients - family members - caregivers - interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writingfKnowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of caregKnowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation - reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practiceGS-12 Grade Requirements: In addition to the above - must demonstrate all of the followingEducation - Experience - and Licensure: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level and directly related to the position being filledAND - GS-12 KSAs: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs: aKnowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT theory and evidence based practiceKnowledge is inclusive of physical - occupational - cognitive - and psychosocial functional deficitsbAbility to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholderscAbility 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 patientsdSkill in procuring - fabricating - adjusting - adapting - and modifying orthoses - splints - and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment)eAbility to conduct OT related in-service and clinical trainingReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-12Physical Requirements: There will be periods of walking and ambulating patients - and potential to lift 50 pounds. Duties Major Duties: The Occupational Therapist at this grade level practices independently and is responsible for the assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized toolsThe OT at this grade level serve as OT practitioners in a career developmental position progressively expanding their ability to provide assessment and treatment interventions for a wide range of human function systemsThe entry level therapist has a basic foundation of OT and generally practices independently and receive guidance from more experienced therapistsDevelops an understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application through the use of activity analysis - behavioral intervention - frame of references - and therapeutic proceduresServes as the HBPC Occupational Therapist and is responsible for providing comprehensive evaluation for all OT needs of HBPC and PMRS patientsThis may require an: assessment of mentation relative to successful therapy participation - neuromuscular status - respiratory status - and functional capabilitiesEvaluation requires an understanding of all basic underlying medical conditions and past orthopedic - cardiac - or neurological problemsFrequency - duration - and discharge planning will be addressedMaintains and submits documentation relative to patient visits in the electronic health recordDetermines attainable goals for each patient and designs the initial treatment planModifications are made as the patient progresses and goals are metProvides OT to acutely and chronically ill patients requiring ongoing assessment and frequent treatment modificationsRecommends equipment the patient will need for optimal functioning in their home environmentAttends conferences - workshops - and other continuing education programs to gain insight into therapeutic and motivational patient strategiesAttendees are expected to disseminate this learned information to appropriate staff via reportin-service or case study presentationProvides formal and informal Nursing and support staff education including - but not limited to - proper utilization of ambulation aids - proper wheelchair seating - activities of daily living status - and range of motionCommunicate patient progress and proposed OT interventions to facilitate that progress via electronic notes - phone - or staff meetingsIs an active participant in weekly interdisciplinary HBPC team meetingsThis involves providing up to-date assessments and progress toward functional goalsAssesses patient/family educational needs - abilities - and barriers to learningFrom this information - the Occupational Therapist establishes appropriate educational agendasThe therapist instructs the patient and/or caregiver in therapeutic exercises - living environment safety - strategies to enhance activities of daily living (ADL) status - work simplification - and the appropriate utilization of durable medical equipment or prosthetics and related topicsAssists during emergency situations including initiating and/or assisting with basic life support/ CPRDemonstrates Patient Centered Care (PCC) through the use of effective communication with patients - families - visitors - and members of the interdisciplinary team - including the patient in mutual goal setting - and providing patient advocacy when appropriateVisibly demonstrates the ICARE (Integrity - Commitment - Advocacy - Respect - Excellence) Core Values in interactions with Veterans - staff - and other stakeholdersAdditional duties as assignedWork Schedule: Monday- Friday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 10251F - 10043F - 10044F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized