The Occupational Therapist is assigned to the Home Based Primary Care for the Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System providing Occupational therapy services. This is a multi-disciplinary position and can be filled by either a Occupational Therapist or a Physical Therapist
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. 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: 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; or Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy. 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 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 at the GS-9 level, Not to Exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c) Failure to obtain required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment. Grade Determinations: Occupational Therapist, GS-9, Education, Experience, or Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements. Occupational Therapist, GS-11, Education, Experience, or Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level and directly related to the position being filled or Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a degree in occupational therapy or a directly related field; or Doctorate in occupational therapy. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: (a) Knowledge of occupational therapy practice. (b) Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment. (c) Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others. (d) Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated. (e) Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing. (f) Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care. (g) Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice. 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. 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Preferred Experience: 5 years' experience, home health experience The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-12. Physical Requirements: There will be periods of walking and ambulating patients, providing patient transfers, some lifting of 50 pounds and supporting patients. Fine motor skills: Precise hand movements for manipulating small objects and assisting clients with fine motor tasks. Mobility: Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, and reach frequently throughout the workday. Strength and endurance: To lift and support patients, especially during transfers or exercises. Visual acuity: Clear vision to assess client needs and observe movements. Auditory perception: Ability to understand verbal instructions and client communication. Cognitive abilities: Quick decision-making, problem-solving, and adaptability to different situations. Incumbent must be able to lift 50 pounds to chest height and maintain good body mechanics.
The Occupational Therapist will: Assess the living skills, physical abilities, and needs for each patient referred for in-home assessment. Develop a treatment plan directed toward achieving maximum level of functioning within the home, consulting with other disciplines as indicated, and developing the plan of care in collaboration with the patient and caregiver. Implement the treatment plan by providing direct patient care; procuring necessary equipment/adaptive devices; instructing and training the client and caregiver concerning exercises, activities of daily living, rehabilitation techniques, and equipment/adaptive devices; and recommending community referrals. Reassess patients' levels of functioning and home environment, revising the treatment plan as indicated and terminating treatment objectives when met and/or the patient has achieved maximum benefit from therapy. Evaluate the need for additional services and use professional judgment to initiate consultation with other professionals to provide such services. Evaluate the home for structural or positional changes in order to promote the patient's safety and independence. Changes may include installation of ramps, bars, widening of door frames, remodeling bathrooms and kitchens for wheelchair accessibility, changes in furniture heights, adjustment of traffic patterns, and modification of wheelchairs. Serve as content expert in ordering complex and specialized medical equipment. Directly treat patients for limited duration or frequency as time allows utilizing techniques as deemed appropriate to the patient and setting. Document initial assessments, treatment plans/goals, and response to treatment as determined in subsequent patient home visits, telephone calls, and case management work, according to licensure and Joint Commission standards. Submit supporting documentation for reports as requested e.g., Joint Commission, Management Briefings, etc. Inspect and test in-home equipment for good operating condition. Justify the need for new equipment and requests repairs through the appropriate channels. Follow infection control and safety procedures. Initiate the appropriate forms for the patient to apply for Home Improvement and Structural Alterations (HISA) funding with written justification. Complete VA Clinical Reminders applicable to the therapist's assessment. Participate in HBPC interdisciplinary team conferences. Serve as consultant to other health professionals in the evaluation of patients with multiple and complex problems in the home, for which highly specialized knowledge and skills are required. Develop and coordinate educational materials for the patient and/or caregiver of the veteran as indicated by the OT assessment and Joint Commission Home Care standards. Abide by VA and HIPAA patient confidentiality regulations in documentation, consultation, and release of information. Ensure that all Protected Health Information is secure at all times and kept in a lockable box during transport to patient homes. Participate in peer competency and documentation evaluations of other HBPC OT's, including collaboratively determining appropriate educational needs to update competence. Attend continuing education programs and read professional literature for the purpose of maintaining licensure or improving knowledge, skills, and attitudes in work performance and competence. Apply new material learned towards the revision of procedures to reflect current methodology. Attend or complete all VA-required educational programs within specified timeframes. Develop and maintain population specific competencies related to home bound patients. Assist in orienting, training, or supervising, as indicated, professional OT students, other disciplines, and students of the HBPC team, and volunteers. Provide HBPC with in-services as indicated regarding new developments in OT or other topics as appropriate. Must have the ability to communicate with internal and external customers both orally and in writing. Must have the ability to obtain and modify orthoses and adaptive equipment as needed for patients. Work Schedule: 08:00 - 4:30 PM Monday to Friday Compressed/Flexible: Available for highly qualified candidate at management discursion Telework: Telework Situational Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 58351-A, 58352-A, 58353-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized