Occupational Therapist (Intermittent)

Summary

This position is located in the Rehabilitation Department within the Rehabilitation and Extended Care (REC) Service Line. The primary responsibility is direct patient care, providing inpatient Occupational Therapy (OT) services to Veterans at the Iowa City VA Health Care System (ICVAHCS). The therapist independently evaluates patients, develops treatment plans, and implements appropriate interventions for the inpatient population.

Duties

Major duties include but are not limited to: A. Clinical: 1. Seeks out, interprets, and incorporates current research and practice standards to inform evidence-based practice into care provided. 2. Demonstrates the ability to assess and develop occupational profiles for the OT treatment of patients across multiple ages, diagnoses, and environments. 3. Independently selects and administers standardized and non-standardized assessments including a wide range of psychosocial, cognitive, and physical assessments appropriate for patient population in order to administer a comprehensive evaluation. 4. Independently makes changes in treatment plans, methods and modalities based on patient response to treatment, communication with treatment team members, feedback from family members and the patient's goals. 5. Demonstrates comprehensive documentation skills including but not limited to patient's physical, occupational, cognitive, and psychosocial functional deficits to develop appropriate OT treatment plans and address the barriers to function, safety, and access. 6. Demonstrates strong communication skills in all interactions, specifically with patients, caregivers, team members and other professionals. 7. The incumbent may be required to travel for clinical duties if providing cross-coverage to other OT areas. B. Education: 1. Professional competency is maintained through documented continuing education and training activities. Local and national VA educational expectations including but not limited to the Annual Mandatory Reviews (AMR's) are completed in a timely manner. Valid State License to practice OT is maintained as a condition of employment. A minimum of 2 competencies is completed annually. Competencies are completed on all new equipment prior to using it with patients. 2. Stays current on professional trends; accomplished by participating in in-service training, meetings, attending lectures, reading current literature, attending professional meetings in community and within the VA system, and individual continuing educational pursuits. 3. Occupational Therapy is advanced through participation in orientations, lectures and in-service presentations for Medical Center employees, volunteers, visitors, affiliated schools and community and supervision of OT students. C. Administrative: 1. Actively participates in program development to improve efficiency and quality of care provided to patients. 2. Aware of and adheres to the facility's rules, policies and procedures, the National Board for Certification in Occupational therapy, and the American Occupational Therapy Association Standards of Practice and Standards of Ethics to ensure quality patient care. 3. Is aware of safety concerns, regulations, policies, and procedures, and employs appropriate safety practices. 4. Accurate and timely documentation that follows department and professional standards of patient services including evaluation, progress, discharge, patient contacts, and patient educations. 5. Timely and accurate selection and application of the correct reimbursement codes and workload entry as supported by documentation. 6. Participates in the performance appraisal process by establishing goals, reviewing progress with supervisor, and preparing self-review. Work Schedule: Intermittent, Intermittent employment is defined as non-fulltime employment in which employees serve under an appointment without a regularly scheduled tour of duty. A position with an intermittent work schedule is sporadic and unpredictable so that a tour of duty cannot be regularly scheduled in advance. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Qualifications

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: The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED). 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 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 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 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: (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. Grandfathering Provision: 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). English Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Grade Determination 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. Experience equivalent to the GS-11 is demonstrated by the following: Knowledge of occupational therapy practice. Ability to administer/interpret