The OT's primary function is direct patient care. Practices independently, responsible for comprehensive assessment of Veterans' functional and occupational abilities using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. Selects and provides direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with varying degrees of complexity to enhance safety, wellness and performance in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), Instrumental ADLs, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation. 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. (1) 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. 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: Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist), GS-13 (1) Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the [GS-12 grade] level and directly related to the position being filled [and one of the following]: [(a) A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area. This time must be within the past five years; (b) Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA; (c) Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area; or (d) An additional advanced degree in a related field.] [(2) Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:] (a) Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice[ ]. (b) [Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other OT practitioners. (c) Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization. (d) Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice. (e) Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization. (f) Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization.] (3) Assignment. Clinical OT specialists at this grade level serve as subject matter experts and as consultants to occupational therapists and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the areas of occupational therapy that are beyond the general practice of occupational therapy. This individual must demonstrate skills and techniques for a specific patient population that has highly complex occupational and/or psychosocial impairments. Clinical OT specialist may initiate, lead, and support research projects related to clinical needs. This may include grant writing, guiding others in the process, and direct clinical participation in research. Preferred Experience: Acute care facility, geriatrics population. Reference: VA Handbook 5005/127 PART II APPENDIX G14, December 13, 2019. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This position frequently requires moderate to heavy lifting. Normally such lifting will involve, but not be limited to assisting with transfers or gait training of the client in the physical therapy clinic. Part of this position will involve sedentary work involving computers and communications. ["Geriatrics- serves as the subject matter expert on occupational therapy for the geriatric patient population and as a consultant to Occupational Therapy and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating geriatric patients in this complex lB Medical Center. The OT serves as an integral part of the geriatric team as the occupational therapy consultant. Educates staff and students regarding age specific needs of geriatric patients. The OT demonstrates skills and techniques specific to the geriatric patient population with complex occupational and/or psychosocial impairments. The OT may initiate, lead and support research and/or quality improvement projects related to clinical needs. GERIATRIC AREA Serves as a consultant for all health care providers regarding the geriatric population in the Occupational Therapy geriatric specialty practice beyond the general practice of occupational therapy. Educates/orients geriatric residents and fellows regarding occupational therapy in general and specifically as it relates to geriatrics. Mentors occupational therapy staff and students. Participates as a valuable member of the multidisciplinary geriatric team. Guides the work of this team regarding goal planning and discharge planning needs for the geriatric service. Insures that all new admissions are assigned to a occupational therapy team member. Provides a minimum of one (1) in-service education program per year to the occupational therapy department. Coordinates occupational therapy student participation in GRECC (Geriatrics Research Education Center) conferences. Plans, implements and reports on performance improvement activities relating to occupational therapy services to the geriatric population in the Community Living Center. CLINCIAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRACTICE Patient Evaluation- Demonstrates the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to provide treatment appropriate to patients despite complexity served on his/her assigned unit. Demonstrates knowledge of the changes associated with the aging/disease processes as well as possesses the ability to assess the patient's status to interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-related, physical, psychosocial and cultural needs. Patient Treatment- After initial evaluation of patient, formulates progressive treatment plans and goals, and is responsible for implementation, modification, and documentation of the treatments. Apply advanced treatment methodologies and treatment theories in the provision of care to a vast array of functional impairment and patients, as well as provide clinical practice guidance for other staff occupational therapists. Monitor and evaluate clinically appropriate treatment programs. Interdisciplinary Relationships- Communicates with, consults and works cooperatively with this Medical Center's disciplines, to provide comprehensive patient care. This requires advanced knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across a varied area of practice with the ability to apply this advanced knowledge to provide guidance to staff occupational therapists within the department. Patient-Family Counseling/Education- Consults with patients and their families through patient/family education, training and advising them in the nature of their disability or disease in home programs and post hospital adjustment. Makes recommendations for home structural adaption when indicated. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 93377-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized"]
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.
