Occupational Therapist - Edrp

Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
This job is open to

• Federal employees - Competitive service
  Current or former competitive service federal employees.
• Federal employees - Excepted service
  Current excepted service federal employees.
• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency
This is an internal job announcement. This is announcement is open to current permanent facility employees, current permanent VA employees, Health Professions Trainee (HPTs), and current permanent Federal Employee. All other candidates should apply to announcement: CAZM-12211847-24-KEH
This job is also open in another announcement to:

• The public

This job is also open in another announcement to:

• The public

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Duties
Major Duties:

• Upon referral from a physician, evaluates patients in complex cases to determine functional status, identifies problems and needs for individualized therapy treatment.
• Independently plans and develops comprehensive programs to meet patients' needs in the specialty program.
• 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 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 condition through inspection and submission of work orders, as necessary.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill in a range of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards based on OT 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 multiple traumas. Independently plans and develops comprehensive occupational therapy programs to meet patients' needs.
• Evaluates and treats patients who have experienced limb loss, traumatic brain injuries, neuro-musculoskeletal dysfunction and spinal cord injuries. Demonstrates skills in performing and interpreting specialized evaluative procedures and tests.
• Responsible for comprehensive evaluations of patients for DME and orthotics including procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying adaptive equipment for activities of daily living (inclusive of DME, mobility aids, bracing and other adaptive equipment). Once the evaluation is complete, the incumbent is responsible for coordinating equipment needs with the physician and prosthetics department. Additionally, the incumbent will train the patient on the appropriate DME required for safety and functional mobility.
• Utilizes 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.
• Maintains Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Maintains the Functional Independence Measure Scale (FIM) certification, as directed by supervisor and assigned treatment area.
• As assigned, completes the FIM and/or other measurement scales as requested at admission and discharge. Also will complete interim FIM if indicated by circumstances/length of stay. Demonstrates the ability to evaluate treatment outcomes of occupational therapy interventions.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 pm
Telework: Ad hoc as determined by needs of agency
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
EDRP Authorized: Contact VISN17EDRP2@VA.GOV, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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
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:
     
     • 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.
     • 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.
     • 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.
• 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.
  
  1. 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-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2).
  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.
  3. A graduate OT may provide care only under the direct supervision of a licensed OT who meets all state regulatory requirements.
  4. 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. The written notice must be provided prior to the entrance on duty date. Failure to obtain required credentials by the prescribed date will result in termination of employment.

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, GS-09:Education, Experience, or Licensure. None beyond the basic requirements.
Assignments. Individuals assigned at the GS-9 grade level serve as OT practitioners in a career development position progressively expanding their ability to provide assessment and treatment interventions for a wide range of human function systems. The entry level therapist has a basic foundation of OT and generally practices independently. OTs at this level typically have guidance from more experienced therapists. OTs that are not licensed must practice under the supervision of a licensed OT.
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. TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

• Knowledge of occupational therapy practice.
• Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment.
• Ability to implement intervention plans directly or in collaboration with others.
• Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modify treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated.
• Ability to communicate and or collaborate with patients, family members, caregivers, interdisciplinary professionals and/or other individuals verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations to minimize risk in the provision of patient care and the environment of care.
• Knowledge of applicable regulations governing documentation, reimbursement and workload entry in accordance with established professional practice.

Assignment. 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. They are assigned to all program areas within VHA and provide professional, independent occupational therapy services.
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.
Qualifications section continues in Education section below:
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 r...