<p>Serves as an Outpatient Occupational Therapist at the Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center, evaluating and treating veterans' with a wide variety of functional levels and disabilities. The clinician will also serve as a drivers rehab therapist that will evaluate and treat patients with driving impairments and recommend adaptive equipment if indicated. Therapist also conducts home safety evaluations provide recommendations/equipment to improve safety in the veteran's home environment.</p> <p>A therapist functioning at the GS 12 level is expected to make changes to the treatment intervention based on patient response to treatment in a manner that utilizes creative thinking and problem solving that goes beyond the typical diagnosis-based treatment pathways in order to reach maximal outcomes.</p> <p>In addition, the therapist is responsible for his/her own professional development, keeping current with treatment techniques as well as licensure. The individual may be assigned to all program areas which are covered by Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Bruce W. Carter Healthcare facility and provide professional, independent occupational therapy services in the assigned area. The therapist is responsible for maintaining comprehensive knowledge and skills for each therapy area. The individual will be expected to work Saturdays/Holidays on a rotational basis.</p> <p>Clinical Functions: The clinician must fully demonstrate:</p> <ul> <li>The candidate must fully demonstrate knowledge of contemporary and evidence based OT practice. </li><li>Ability to interpret clinician prescriptions and referrals. </li><li>Skill in communicating, both orally and in writing, with patients, families, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals to facilitate the multidisciplinary treatment process. </li><li>Skill in utilizing appropriate screening and evaluation techniques required to appropriately provide direct patient care. </li><li>knowledge of clinical signs and symptoms to make appropriate referrals for further medical attention/assessment as indicated. </li><li>Knowledge of VA required Drivers Rehabilitation Training. </li><li>Knowledge and ability to perform Home Safety Evaluations. </li></ul> <p>Administrative Functions: The Clinician will:</p> <ul> <li>Documents clearly and concisely the physical findings noted during the evaluations as well as changes in medical status via progress notes. A therapist at this level will be able to document appropriately to support the level of care provided. This include understanding and practicing documentation and coding practices for appropriate billing. Clinician must abide to documentation requirements based on Facility specific standards. </li><li>Accurately maintains documentation in keeping with PMR service-level and Medical Center-wide policies. </li><li>Individual may perform ancillary assignments, including program management duties on an occasional basis, where the complexity and the amount of work is not substantial (less than 35% of duty time) i.e. supervision of IT, CWT or volunteers to PMR clinics. Supervises and delegates care of patients to the Physical Therapist Assistant as appropriate. </li><li>The clinician may be assigned a student affiliate and will be responsible for offering feedback during supervision and completing all necessary evaluations during the internship period. </li><li>The therapist is responsible for maintaining comprehensive knowledge with The Joint Commission and CARF standards and will remain in a state or readiness in the event of unannounced surveys and visits. </li><li>Responsible for the safe operation of the immediate clinic area, including submission of appropriate work orders, equipment needs supplies and space utilization. </li><li>Devises a course content and lesson plan for each individual referral depending on the nature of the disability - for instructing the patient in the safe and appropriate operation of motor vehicle. Such course, structuring and planning may change since instruction may be provided in an automobile. </li><li>Instructing the patient in the appropriate State Rules of the Road, basics of automobile (or van) care and maintenance, influence of environmental and outside forces on the driving task, and defensive and evasive driving strategies. Incumbent is responsible for the coordination of this instruction if it is provided by another Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service Therapy specialty. </li><li>Utilizes the Driving Simulator for purposes of initial evaluation, adaptability to the actual motor vehicle, sensory awareness, and perception. </li><li>Engineering specific driving routes for the on-the-road phase of instruction so as to conform to a lesson plan in an effort to insure the safest and most effective means of teaching a determined driving task. This course may incorporate given areas of the health care facility or areas within the proximity of the care facility. </li><li>Selects appropriate vehicle and add-on adaptive equipment best suited to the needs of the individual patient. Incumbent is responsible for installation and maintenance of all the equipment utilized to ensure optimal safety of the patient. </li><li>Responsible for Home Safety Evaluations and submitting all needed requests for DME and any adaptive home equipment. </li></ul> <p>Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm</p> <p>Telework: Not Authorized</p> <p>Virtual: This is not a virtual position.</p> <p>Functional Statement #: 31784F</p> <p>Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized</p> <p>Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized</p>