Occupational Therapist

Veterans Health Administration • Fayetteville, NC

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The HBPC Clinical Specialist for Occupational Therapy provides occupational therapy services to veterans enrolled in the Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Service through the Fayetteville VA Medical Center. The role provides safe, high-quality rehabilitative treatment; coordinates care with relevant VA services; and delivers occupational therapy education and consultation to staff and students. Treatment is provided in patients' homes while maintaining privacy and confidentiality.

The Occupational Therapist screens and evaluates patients' functional, physical, and psychosocial abilities, considering their capacities, activities, and environments. The role evaluates home safety and accessibility, collaborates with patients during evaluation, recommends additional consultations or resources when appropriate, and assesses needs for orthotic, prosthetic, and adaptive equipment. The OT develops and adjusts intervention plans based on evaluations, patient goals, current evidence, clinical reasoning, and changes in patient needs and performance.

The position also includes timely and accurate medical-record documentation, coordination of treatment and equipment consults, discharge planning, and participation in interdisciplinary team meetings. The position is full-time, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. The full performance level and actual grade for selection are GS-12.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• A qualifying education and/or experience pathway: a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy plus two years of occupational therapist experience; a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy plus two full years of graduate education in a related field; or a master's degree or higher in occupational therapy. The bachelor's-degree pathways require a degree from an approved program predating the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision regarding ACOTE accreditation.
• Graduation from an occupational therapy degree program approved by ACOTE or its predecessor organizations.
• Current NBCOT certification as an occupational therapist.
• A full, current, unrestricted state, territory, Commonwealth, or District of Columbia license to practice occupational therapy.
• For GS-12: one year of experience equivalent to GS-11 and directly related to the position.
• Knowledge of occupational therapy principles and techniques consistent with current clinical standards, OT theory, and evidence-based practice, including physical, occupational, cognitive, and psychosocial functional deficits.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate orally and in writing with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to use critical analysis, clinical reasoning, and creativity to independently solve complex problems and adapt assessments, treatment plans, activities, and procedures to patient needs.
• Skill in procuring, fabricating, adjusting, adapting, and modifying orthoses, splints, and adaptive equipment for activities of daily living, including durable medical equipment.
• Ability to conduct occupational therapy in-service and clinical training.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and background/security investigation and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must complete the required online onboarding and application requirements and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.

Nice To Haves

• Outpatient facility experience.

Responsibilities

• Screen potential clients and respond to HBPC occupational therapy consults in accordance with GEC and HBPC policies.
• Evaluate patients' functional, physical, and psychosocial abilities and assess home safety and accessibility.
• Collaborate with patients during evaluations and follow protocols when using standardized assessments.
• Recommend other consultations or resources when clients' needs are better served by other professionals or services.
• Assess medical needs for orthotic, prosthetic, and adaptive equipment, and educate patients and families on safe and correct use.
• Address inappropriate referrals and obtain clarification for incomplete or unclear orders from referring providers.
• Review relevant patient information in the medical record and, as needed, remote data from VistaWeb.
• Develop, implement, and communicate occupational therapy intervention plans based on evaluations, patient goals, current evidence, and clinical reasoning.
• Identify general contraindications to treatment and schedule and coordinate treatment with other VA services.
• Provide patient education and specialized occupational therapy treatments and procedures within established competency and applicable requirements.
• Modify treatment plans, therapeutic activities, and interventions in response to changing patient needs, goals, performance, and achievement of goals or timeframes.
• Document occupational therapy services accurately and within required timeframes, formats, and standards.
• Enter consults to GEC or Prosthetics for rehabilitation equipment in accordance with applicable policies.
• Identify when patients have attained maximum benefit from occupational therapy and terminate services as appropriate.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and communicate patient responses to care, OT recommendations, and follow-up needs.

Benefits

• Federal employees receive access to a comprehensive benefits package for themselves and their families.
• Selected applicants may qualify for annual leave accrual credit based on prior federal work or military service, subject to request and approval.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior