Occupational Therapist

Summary

The Occupational Therapist serves as an independent clinical OT responsible for evaluation and treatment of patients that have a wide variety of medical diagnoses and functional deficits seen in VASLCHCS.

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Duties

• Occupational Therapist performs occupational therapy evaluation and treatments with Veterans with ages ranging from adult to geriatric, having a variety of disabilities.
• Cases may be relatively complex in nature with chronic and acute disease entities including but not limited to central nervous system disorders, joint diseases, mental health diagnoses/substance abuse disorders, circulatory and pulmonary diseases, diabetes mellitus, altered thought processes, amputations, and multisystem disease combinations.
• Performed in an outpatient health care center, hand clinic, mobility clinic, Drivers Rehab, throughout the medical center, ER, interdisciplinary clinics, and in the community/homes/ECF serving a complex patient population, acute and chronic.
• Therapist's work including but not limited to patient's homes, throughout the medical center, outpatient clinics, community, and teleworking when appropriate, such as during a pandemic or other natural or manmade disaster or indicated by clinical/departmental needs.
• The information is gathered 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.
• Therapist evaluates following, but not limited to: areas of occupation, performance skills, performance patterns, context(s), activity demands, client factors, and age related/military history.
• Provide direct OT patient care and maximize safety and function in the home/community/ECF, outpatient/hand clinic, and hospital setting through provision of a therapeutic program: evaluate, prescribe, and train in the use of durable medical equipment (DME); recommend changes in the home environment that provide home access and safety; participation in leisure and recreational activity, whole health, train the family and veterans in use of DME, body mechanics and other strategies; and make recommendations for referrals to other services as indicated.
• Develops an intervention plan in collaboration with the veteran and family, caregiver and social support, and other team members. The plan considers the veteran's context and activity demands. The intervention plan includes objective and measurable goals with timeframe. The intervention is an accepted occupational therapy approach based on theory and evidence.
• Employs effective motivational techniques to enlist patient and, if appropriate, family participation and adapts equipment and procedures to carry out a wide variety of treatment activities.
• Evaluates patient's condition upon appropriate referral to occupational therapy to determine treatment plan.
• Refers the patients to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service physician, or other medical providers when determined to be necessary.
• Performs and interprets results of tests and measurements for use in preparing for modification and/or evaluation of patient treatment, and adjusts the treatment based on changes in patient's condition.
• Evaluates patient's needs with respect to prescribed braces, orthotics fabrication and durable medical equipment, in consideration of what is medically appropriate for activities of daily living and upper extremity support.
• Selects appropriate equipment and appliances, determines which suits the patient best, and recommends necessary modifications to provide for proper fit and/or function.
• Perform thorough home safety evaluation and subsequent follow up visits as indicated by need and established in individual POC.
• Knowledge of the regulations governing home/community-based care including but not limited to: Department of Veterans Affairs, CMS, and Joint Commission, and the ability to apply them to the programs and populations being served.
• Maximizes patient outcomes by the following: reassessing veterans' response to treatment at regular interval, modifying treatment plan and goals, recommending appropriate discharge from OT based on response to treatment, making recommendations to the multidisciplinary team for transition to lesser level of care, and making referrals as appropriate.
• Records patient care activities in evaluation, reassessment, daily and discharge notes following all VA, rehabilitation specific, and OT regulation policy.
• Communicates patient status to team members via secure and accepted practice.
• Supervises occupational therapy students or assistants as assigned.
  
  

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8-4:30pm

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: GS-12 57778O

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
  
  

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

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  United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.

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.
  
  

Grade Determinations:

Occupational Therapist, GS-12

• Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.
• Assignment. OTs at this grade level GS-11 practice independently and are responsible for the assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized tools. The OT modifies standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. OTs select and provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with routine complexity to enhance safety, wellness, performance in activities of daily living (AOL); and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), education, work, play, leisure, and social participation. Occupational therapists require guidance with higher complexity conditions. OTs demonstrate 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 procedures. They are assigned to all program areas within VHA and provide professional, independent occupational therapy services.
• Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

(a) 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.

(b) Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders.

(c) 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.

(d) Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment).

(e) Ability to conduct OT related in-service and clinical training.



Preferred Experience: Minimum of 2 years OT work experience. Experience and comfortable working with neuro and vision impairments in outpatient setting desired.



Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.



Physical Requirements: Occupational Therapy is considered a vocation that requires "medium" strength according and as defined by the Department of Labor. Medium Work entails: exerting 20-50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Standing, walking, squatting, bending, and sitting, and changing from one position to the other frequently throughout the day. Walking in urban, suburban, and rural environments from the vehicle to patients' home when indicated. Sitting at a desk and using upper extremities to reach, grasp, and place papers, charts, and binders. Operating all aspects of DME, home access devices and manual and power mobility devices for the purpose of evaluating for and training patients and caregivers in their proper use. Maintain good manual dexterity to manipulate tools and equipment as follows: computer, laptop, cell phone, adaptive equipment, splint fabrication, and equipment assembly.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Education


IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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/.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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VA Salt Lake City Health Care System

500 Foothill Drive

Salt Lake City, UT 84148

US