[Hiring] Occupational Therapist @Pittsburgh VA Medical Center

Role Description

The Legacy VISN 04 Occupational Therapist (OT) Clinical Specialist (CS) serves as the subject matter expert in the specialty area of occupational therapy for Physical Medicine and Rehab Departments (PM&R), medical center staff, and VISN 04 clinical staff, virtually, and for clinical rehabilitation veteran needs related to clinical resource hub (CRH) initiatives and the implementation of VHA and the Joint Commission standards.

Responsibilities

• Knowledge of occupational therapy practice.
• Ability to administer/interpret evaluation findings to develop and coordinate intervention plans, including goals and methods of treatment.
• Skill in monitoring an individual's response to interventions and modifying treatment plans and reevaluating as indicated.
• Ability to communicate and 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.
• 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 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.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with all internal and external stakeholders.
• 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.
• Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice.
• Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization.
• Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice.
• Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization.
• Ability to implement, revise/update evidence-based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization.
• Ability to guide the work of a multidisciplinary team.
• Serves as subject matter expert in Occupational Therapy for VISN 04 staff.
• Ability to develop and coordinate clinical education programs with evidence of advanced experience in clinical education.
• Ability to serve as a consultant for health care providers regarding the delivery of care within a specialized area of Occupational Therapy.
• Provide in-service and clinical training programs to the CRH and VISN 04 rehabilitation colleagues quarterly.
• Designs, conducts, and evaluates education experiences within specialty content area for VISN 04 staff members, taking an active role in education of employees outside of specialty clinic.
• Establishes and maintains contact with other key staff involved in patient care via written and verbal personal communication on a regular basis at the VISN and medical centers.

Qualifications

• 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:
  • Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist;
  • Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field;
  • Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
• Certification: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
• 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.

Requirements

• Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.
• A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area within the past five years.
• Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA.
• Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area.
• An additional advanced degree in a related field.

Benefits

• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.