Supervisory Occupational Therapist

About the role

This position is in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the CAVHS, a Level 1, highly complex, two division facility with multi-CBOC programs offering occupational therapy at all levels of acute care to outpatient services. The CAVHS is a teaching hospital providing a full range of patient care services, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and offering education and research.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a supervisor across multiple disciplines including physician, APN, Chiropractor, RN, physical therapy, and occupational therapy, coordinating clinic activities and assigning work for evaluation and treatment of patients.
• Reviews and clarifies physical and occupational therapy orders for appropriateness, contacting referring providers for further clarification as necessary and educating them on services provided by PMRS.
• Determines department priorities, assigns work, and ensures established productivity is maintained across multiple disciplines including physical therapy, chiropractic, nursing, occupational therapy, rehabilitation therapy assistants, and medical support assistants.
• Maintains scheduling access by completing required classes and ensuring compliance with scheduling directives and mandates.
• Solves complex treatment problems related to occupational therapy, developing and modifying treatment plans, activities, and procedures to meet patient needs across various areas of practice.
• Evaluates patients with simple and complex diagnoses, establishing short-term and long-term occupational therapy patient treatment goals, and modifying treatment plans as needed.
• Maintains patient safety by monitoring emergency medical needs, intolerances to treatment, and changes in patient status, taking appropriate action as necessary.
• Manages statistical data, develops data management programs, and ensures accurate documentation for billing purposes.
• Maintains supplies at an effective level and ensures their appropriate use.
• Participates in department meetings, making recommendations for additions of equipment and occupational therapy treatment programs.
• Supervises and guides non-professional assistants/aides involved in occupational therapy treatment to maintain overall responsibility of treatment.
• Maintains personal productivity and schedules occupational therapy sessions effectively.
• Continuously updates knowledge across many areas of occupational therapy and shares information with other professionals through in-services, presentations, and one-on-one meetings.
• Provides in-service trainings for OTs, DOs, DCs, APNs, RNs, KT's, PTs, MDs, and other healthcare professionals or students in various areas pertinent to occupational therapy.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist, or a combination of education and experience meeting the requirements.
• Certification: Current NBCOT certification as an OT.
• Licensure: Full, current, and unrestricted state license to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

Qualifications

• Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.
• Demonstrated KSAs: Ability to balance multiple responsibilities, set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, analyze organizational problems, and develop and implement effective solutions; ability to analyze organizational and operational problems to develop and implement solutions that result in efficient operations and use data effectively to manage workload, quality performance, and productivity within the service; skill in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers to include conflict resolution; ability to utilize evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines in a professional area and to guide the staff in applying these tools.

Preferred Experience

• Five or more years' of VA experience providing complex evaluation and treatment of OT or PT, including providing direct care.
• Familiarity with supervisory methods such as productivity management, time and leave management, and assignment of specialized care like DME, Power Mobility, Drivers Rehab.
• Experience with development and establishment of therapy clinics, including specialized knowledge in inpatient rehabilitation and CLC therapy procurement, including analysis supporting justification of expansion of current or new PT, OT, KT care across the continuum of care.

Physical Requirements

The physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment

The work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations. Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated.