Occupational Therapist - Home Based Primary Care

Summary

The Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Occupational Therapist functions with a high degree of autonomy to independently evaluate, plan, integrate, and implement occupational therapy in the HBPC program for Central Arkansas Veteran Healthcare System (CAVHS). Position is physically located in North Little Rock, Arkansas, with travel to Cabot, Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, and Jacksonville, Arkansas geographic areas for home visits.

Duties

The Home Based Primary Care Occupational Therapist independently evaluates and treats Veterans referred to HBPC for Occupational Therapy services. Duties include but are not limited to: Performs comprehensive initial evaluations. Identifies functional and safety problems in the home. Establishes appropriate treatment goals. Develops, implements, and modifies appropriate treatment programs designed to meet established goals. Evaluates patient response to treatment and modify the treatment plan to provide optimum therapeutic effect. Teaches caregivers proper techniques for assisting Veterans with functional mobility in the home (transfers, ambulation, etc.) Conducts follow-up assessments of patients admitted to HBPC as appropriate. Collaborates with the team physician for consultation with other rehabilitation services. Performs home safety assessments for structural modifications needed to make the home environment safe and accessible. Determines the need for home medical equipment, order the equipment, justify special requests, teach the Veteran and caregivers to safely use the equipment in the home, and then monitor for safe use. Reports home medical equipment problems to the Prosthetics Department. Establishes and maintains contact with other key staff involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on a regular basis at the medical center and at the VISN level. Responsible for data collection and timely reporting for the HBPC program as requested by the HBPC Program Director. Participates in HBPC quality assurance and performance improvement activities. Coordinates the efficient operation and function of the HBPC Occupational Therapy program. Ensures proper supplies are available for patient treatments. Participates in all HBPC service staff meetings and serves in a leadership role when required. Responsible for Occupational Therapy representation in HBPC interdisciplinary team meetings. Ensures that all required documentation is completed in a timely manner, meeting departmental, External Peer Review Process (EPRP) and Joint Commission requirements. Maintains timely data input utilizing care plans, initial assessments and/or specialty protocols as part of an ongoing process in coordination with other key interdisciplinary staff to provide effective patient care. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Telework: Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 598-01758-F, 598-01762-F; 598-01763-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. English Language 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: (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. 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. 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 not-to-exceed two years under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(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. 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-9 : Education, Experience, or Licensure - None beyond the basic requirements. Occupational Therapist, GS-11: Education or Experience - 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. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate 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: Experience - Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at the GS-11 grade level and directly related to the position being filled. Resume must include hours per week for work experience credit. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate 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, oc