Occupational Therapist

Summary

Therapist will practice Occupational Therapy in the assigned setting at the assigned location throughout South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) Service Programs as directed by the assigned Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) supervisor. A staff occupational therapist is responsible for the independent provision of comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools.

Duties

• Major Duties: Clinical: Candidates must be licensed for assignment at this grade level and are considered to be at the full performance level. They are assigned to all program areas which are covered by the Geriatrics and Extended Care Service and provide professional, independent occupational therapy services in the assigned area(s). OTs at this level may be given general assignments in any occupational therapy program area where advanced, specialized knowledge is not required on a recurring basis due to the patient population served and complexity of the facility and/or treatment area or may serve as the sole OT at a less complex facility. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of duty time). Upon referral from a physician (or self-referral in a direct access system), evaluates patients in complex cases to determine functional status, identifies problems and needs for individualized therapy treatment. Demonstrates the ability to serve as a consultant for health care providers regarding the deliver of occupational therapy services to patients who have experienced musculoskeletal injuries, neurological injuries, and trauma. Demonstrates knowledge and skill in a range of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on occupational therapy theory and evidence-based practice. Demonstrates an effective working knowledge of occupational therapy interventions and treatment modalities used in the clinical setting for veterans who have suffered musculoskeletal injuries, neurological injuries, and multiple traumas. Independently plans and develops comprehensive occupational therapy programs to meet patients' needs. Demonstrates knowledge and skill in evaluating and treating patients who has experienced limb loss, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, neurological injury, and neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction. Demonstrates skills in performing and interpreting specialized evaluation procedures and tests. Incumbent is responsible for comprehensive evaluations of patients for durable medical equipment and orthotics including procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of DME, bracing, and other adaptive equipment). Once the evaluation is complete, the incumbent is responsible for coordinating equipment need with the physician and prosthetics department. Additionally, the incumbent will train the patient on the required DME for safety and functional mobility. Utilizes critical analysis, clinical reasoning, and creativity to independently solve complete problems related to adapting and modifying assessments, treatment plans, activities, and procedures to meet the needs of the patients. Reviews occupational therapy documentation of initial findings, treatment goals estimated length of treatment, equipment recommendations, interim progress, and discharge summary in patients' medical records. Communicates effectively with occupational therapy and medical center staff. Works effectively with health care providers in coordinating the patients' total care. Participates in conferences and assigned medical meetings. Understands rationale for all clinic procedures and has good operating knowledge of all equipment in the Occupational Therapy Clinic. Maintains Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Administration: Assigns and evaluates work of subordinate staff as assigned. Maintains attendance records and submits monthly reports and statistics. Maintains procedures consistent with STVHCS policies. Assists in the development of standards of care to ensure compliance with professional accrediting organizations. Maintains all data for quality assurance monitoring and evaluates data at specific intervals. Maintains adequate level of supplies. Maintains equipment in safe and operable…

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: 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 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 Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy. 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. Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements of subparagraph [3b(2)] if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license referred to in subparagraph [3e] of this appendix. 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. Loss 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 employment. 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-toexceed 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. A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OT who meets all state regulatory requirements. Temporary graduate OT appointments may not be extended beyond two years, or converted to a new temporary appointment. Failure to Obtain Licensure/Certification. In all cases, graduate OTs must actively pursue obtaining required credentials (i.e., NBCOT certification and/or state licensure) from the date of their appointment. The 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 date…

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.