Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist) - Drivers Rehabilitation

Veterans Health Administration•Albuquerque, NM

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist) serves as the subject matter expert in Occupational Therapy Drivers Rehabilitation and consults with occupational therapy and other medical center staff on evaluating and treating patients whose needs extend beyond general occupational therapy practice. The role provides consultation to health care providers and medical staff in evaluating people with driving impairments, orients the VISN to the driving rehabilitation program, and evaluates and trains patients in driving. The specialist ensures compliance with applicable state laws and regulations and VA policies and procedures concerning driving, licensure, and vehicle adaptations. The position also educates and mentors health care providers and occupational therapy staff, orients occupational therapy students, maintains VA Driving Instructor certification, and keeps current with scientific and professional materials. It provides at least one annual in-service program to the PM&R department, plans and reports on performance-improvement activities, submits quarterly reports to the supervisor, coordinates vehicle adaptations with prosthetics, and prepares required VISN or Central Office reports. The incumbent may assist with patients outside the specialty as caseload or department needs require. Under department policies, the incumbent conducts complex occupational therapy examinations and treatment across a broad range of ages and diagnoses. Responsibilities include assessing age-related, physical, psychosocial, and cultural needs; developing, implementing, modifying, and documenting progressive treatment plans; applying advanced treatment methods; guiding other occupational therapists; and monitoring treatment programs. The role works cooperatively with other disciplines, educates and counsels patients and families about disabilities, home programs, and post-hospital adjustment, and recommends home structural adaptations when appropriate. The incumbent completes timely clinical documentation and scheduling-related tasks, including consultations, notes, testing results, progress and discharge notes, treatment plans, encounters, MDS, and consult closures. The role also maintains professional competence through continuing education and provides clinical instruction to occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant students. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The position requires holiday rotations and an on-call weekend rotation as designated by the Therapy Supervisor, PM&R service. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under applicable law.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
Meet one of the occupational therapy education pathways: a qualifying bachelor's degree in occupational therapy plus two years of occupational therapist experience; a qualifying bachelor's degree plus two full years of graduate education in a related field; or a master's degree or higher in occupational therapy.
Graduate from an occupational therapy degree program approved by ACOTE or its predecessor organizations, including required supervised fieldwork.
Current NBCOT certification as an occupational therapist.
Full, current, unrestricted state, territorial, Commonwealth, or District of Columbia license to practice occupational therapy.
For GS-13: one year of experience equivalent to at least GS-12 directly related to the position, plus one of the stated specialty qualifications: 2,000 hours of clinical practice in the specialty area within the past two to five years; AOTA-recognized certification; completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area; or an additional advanced degree in a related field.
Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple practice areas.
Demonstrate ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other occupational therapy practitioners.
Demonstrate knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions, and services to independently develop treatment strategies in the specialty area.
Demonstrate skill in developing intervention protocols and procedures based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice.
Demonstrate ability to consult with other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice in the specialty area.
Demonstrate ability to implement and update evidence-based occupational therapy services and programming in the specialty area.
Meet pre-placement and periodic physical examination requirements for the hybrid occupation and be able to perform essential job functions without endangering personal or coworker health.
Meet applicable application, background/security investigation, onboarding, identification, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
Male applicants born after 12/31/1959 must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
Serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to the stated evaluation and certification conditions.
Use education recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; foreign education used to qualify must be accompanied by a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of clinical experience working as a certified VA Driver's Rehabilitation clinical specialist.

Responsibilities

Serve as the Drivers Rehabilitation subject matter expert and consultant to occupational therapy, medical center, and VISN health care staff.
Orient VISN staff to the driving rehabilitation program.
Evaluate and train patients in driving.
Ensure compliance with state laws and regulations and VA policies and procedures regarding driving, licensure, and vehicle adaptations.
Educate health care providers about occupational therapy and Drivers Rehabilitation; mentor occupational therapy staff and orient occupational therapy students to program requirements.
Act as an expert role model for therapists evaluating and training patients in driver rehabilitation.
Maintain current knowledge of scientific and professional materials and maintain VA Driving Instructor certification.
Provide at least one in-service education program per year to the PM&R department.
Plan, implement, and report performance-improvement activities and outcomes relating to driver rehabilitation.
Provide quarterly reports to the supervisor regarding driver rehabilitation consults and visits.
Coordinate vehicle adaptations with prosthetics and prosthetic agents.
Provide Drivers Rehabilitation VISN and/or Central Office reports as needed.
Assist with patients outside the Drivers Rehabilitation specialty as caseload permits or departmental needs dictate.
Conduct complex occupational therapy examinations and treatments across a broad range of ages and diagnoses.
Assess patients’ age-related, physical, psychosocial, and cultural needs and determine appropriate treatment requirements.
Develop, implement, modify, and document progressive treatment plans and goals.
Apply advanced treatment methodologies and theories, provide clinical guidance to occupational therapists, and monitor and evaluate treatment programs.
Work holiday rotations and on-call weekend rotations as designated by the Therapy Supervisor, PM&R service.
Communicate and collaborate with NMVAHCS disciplines to provide comprehensive patient care.
Educate and counsel patients and families about disabilities or diseases, home programs, and post-hospital adjustment; recommend home structural adaptations when indicated.
Complete timely documentation, including consultations, evaluations, testing results, progress and discharge notes, treatment plans, and patient education.
Schedule patients, complete encounters and MDS, and close consults in a timely manner; document findings and changes in medical status and follow documentation and coding practices.
Maintain professional competence through learning experiences and continuing education.
Provide clinical instruction to Occupational Therapy and Occupational Therapy Assistant students assigned to the facility.