The James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center is recruiting for one Occupational Therapist within the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS). The PM&RS Occupational Therapist provides care at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center Altoona Campus, as well as at the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).
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: To meet this requirement, you must have obtained one of the 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 if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license. 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. English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determinations: Occupational Therapist, GS-12 Education, Experience, and Licensure: In addition to meeting the basic requirements you must have completed one (1) year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled; OTs at this grade level 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 (ADL); 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. Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities: In addition meeting the experience above, you must demonstrate that you meet all of the following KSAs: 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. Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders. 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. Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of durable medical equipment). 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/. 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-12 to GS-12. Physical Requirements: Work includes regular and recurring physical excretion, with long periods of standing, bending, kneeling, walking, reaching, gripping, sitting, twisting, pulling or pushing carts with inventories or activities involving retrieving items from shelves and cabinets. and patient transfers. Moderate to heavy lifting is often required. The position demands significant physical stress and strain such as lifting patients, crouching and crawling on mats, and occasionally defending him/herself against combative patient assigned to the incumbent. The work involves moderate risks or discomforts requiring normal safety precautions typical of a hospital setting. Employees will be required to follow universal infection control precautions that may include having to "gown and glove" when providing treatment to patients. Sitting at meetings, desks or computer terminals for documentation purposes is also required.
Major duties and responsibilities include, but may not be limited to: The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) Occupational Therapist provides examination, diagnosis, treatment, and management of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions. Provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the promotion of health, prevention of illness, treatment of disease, and care at the end of life. Demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving evidenced based practices, and the application of their knowledge to patient care and the education of others. Demonstrate behaviors that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development, ethical practice, and understanding and sensitivity to diversity, and a responsible attitude toward their patients and their profession. Demonstrate both an understanding of the contexts and systems in which health care is provided, and the ability to apply this knowledge to improve optimizing health care. Utilize standard medical evaluation procedures and occupational therapy evaluation to evaluate and develop an occupational Therapy treatment plan. Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team, including PM&RS to ensure the whole health approach to patient centered care. Complete evaluations, re-evaluations, plan of care, treatments, and discharges. Document and code information for billing related to patient care in the VA's electronic health care record on a timely basis following VHA policies and communicates with other health care providers as appropriate. Review referrals, screen for appropriateness of care, and direct Veterans to other services when necessary. Knowledge of complex issues surrounding the delivery of care as it relates to occupational Therapy services, such as evidenced base practice and cost effectiveness. Problem solves issues in the delivery of occupational Therapy care. Position is primarily based at the Altoona VA facility, with additional responsibilities at the Indiana County CBOC to support cross-coverage needs. Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday Telework: Not Authorized Functional Statement #: 000000 / Occupational Therapist Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized