<p>This assignment carries responsibility for independently providing recreation therapy evaluation and treatment to veteran patients according to the West Palm Beach Veterans Affairs Medical Center mission and the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation guidelines. Employees at this grade level serve as staff level RTs at the full performance level in a career development position progressively expanding their ability to provide assessment and treatment interventions for a wider range of functions.</p> <ul> <li>Responsible for the Recreation Therapy program management for patients with severe disabilities on the designated medical center clinics, wards, units, programs as assigned by the Section Chief, Recreation Therapy. The recreation therapist plans, programs and carries out a full range of treatment modalities where therapeutic objectives are complex and the procedures require the application of highly specialized skills and knowledge. </li><li>Incumbent works with patients who have a variety of illness, diseases, and/or disabling conditions with varying degrees of impairment. Makes adaptations to activities or equipment to facilitate full performance participation where possible. Adheres to hospital policies and provides needed supervision to ensure patient safety. </li><li>Assembles pre-evaluation data, interprets medical record information, reviews therapy prescription, and conducts mental and physical evaluation of patient in order to develop and implement a treatment plan. Develops therapeutic programs for various types of disabilities which include psychiatric diagnoses, substance abuse disorders, PTSD, dementia, neuro-muscular disorders, orthopedic conditions, AIDS, amputation, paralysis, spinal cord injury, and patients with multiple diagnoses. </li><li>The incumbent strives to prevent mental and physical deterioration and/or decline, maintaining the highest degree of self-help and independence within limitations of a patient's disability. </li><li>Employs therapeutic objectives which are complex because of the severe and multiple disabilities regularly encountered. Unusual tact and skill are necessary to the success of the rehabilitation process. The therapist handles difficult cases involving patients who have multiple diagnoses and/or other severe medical complications which may require unconventional approaches to treatment . </li><li>Interprets and administers physician's recreation therapy prescription, schedules patient for treatment and integrates recreation interventions with other treatments in order to achieve the goals established for the patient. </li><li>Administers therapeutic recreation activities that strengthen and condition debilitated muscles resulting from an assortment of illness, diseases or injury types, prolonged bed rest, amputation, stroke fractures, wound care, and joint replacement. </li><li>Helps prepare veterans for independent leisure function by teaching adaptive sports skills, encourages and helps facilitate involvement in adaptive sports, and facilitates participation in VA National Events such as the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and the Golden Age Games. Facilitates Whole-Health modalities both in live classes and via TeleHealth. </li><li>The recreation therapist plans, programs and carries out a full range of treatment modalities where therapeutic objectives are complex and the procedures require the application of highly specialized skills and knowledge. </li><li>Assembles pre-evaluation data, interprets medical record information, reviews therapy prescription, and conducts mental and physical evaluation of patient in order to develop and implement a treatment plan. Develops therapeutic programs for various types of disabilities which include psychiatric diagnoses, substance abuse disorders, PTSD, dementia, neuro-muscular disorders, orthopedic conditions, AIDS, amputation, paralysis, spinal cord injury, head injury, respiratory disorders, chronic cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndromes, and patients with multiple diagnoses. </li><li>The incumbent strives to prevent mental and physical deterioration and/or decline, maintaining the highest degree of self-help and independence within limitations of a patient's disability. </li><li>Employs therapeutic objectives which are complex because of the severe and multiple disabilities regularly encountered. </li><li>Interprets and administers physician's recreation therapy prescription, schedules patient for treatment and integrates recreation interventions with other treatments in order to achieve the goals established for the patient. </li><li>Administers therapeutic recreation activities that strengthen and condition debilitated muscles resulting from an assortment of illness, diseases or injury types, prolonged bed rest, amputation, stroke fractures, wound care, and joint replacement. </li><li>Helps prepare veterans for independent leisure function by teaching adaptive sports skills, encourages and helps facilitate involvement in adaptive sports, and facilitates participation in VA National Events such as the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and the Golden Age Games. Facilitates Whole-Health modalities both in live classes and via TeleHealth. </li></ul> <p>Work Schedule: Sunday-Thursday or Tuesday-Saturday from 8:00Am to 4:30 PM</p> <p>Telework: Ad-hoc</p> <p>Virtual: This is not a virtual position.</p> <p>Functional Statement #:41571F</p> <p>Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized</p> <p>Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized</p> <p>PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized</p>