Occupational Therapy Assistant (Mobility Clinical Specialist)

Department of Veterans Affairs•Seattle, WA

37d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the Occupational Therapy Department of the Rehabilitation Care Service (RCS) line in the VA Puget Sound Health Care System. This position serves as the subject matter expert in powered mobility and acts as a consultant to OT staff and other medical center staff in treating veterans with disabilities. This position is located in the Occupational Therapy Department of the Rehabilitation Care Service (RCS) line in the VA Puget Sound Health Care System. This position serves as the subject matter expert in powered mobility and acts as a consultant to OT staff and other medical center staff in treating veterans with disabilities.

Responsibilities

Serve as a Senior OTA and subject matter expert in the area of Powered Mobility
Serve as Clinical Educator (CE) for OTA students
Provide instruction/training to other interdisciplinary staff members concerning the role of occupational therapy in the outpatient, inpatient, and/or long-term care environment and specialized techniques of evaluating the medically complex geriatric patient.
Apply advance practice skills to treat patients with complex diagnoses
Provide documentation of continuing education, which would support knowledge and skills well beyond entry level
Establishes and maintains contact with other key staff involved in patient care via written, telephone, and personal communication on regular basis at VA Medical Center and VISN level
Receives and interprets requests or instructions for procedures from the OT or physician
Plans and implements specialized treatment programs and applies occupational therapy procedures to patients under the general supervision of an OT
Completes a preliminary review/examination of patient data (including medical history), compiles and organizes pertinent information, and develops/presents a patient profile to be used in assessing patient's status
Assists with or renders a course of treatment based on the assessed needs of the patient, developing progressive types of occupational therapy treatment programs
Assists therapist in development of a comprehensive specialized treatment plan
Persuades and motivates Veterans and family members to participate in treatment plans and comply with indicated regimens and post-discharge activities. Interacts with the patient and family regarding goals for treatment
Assists in the performance of, or independently performs, highly specialized and diversified treatment procedures, with a focus on adaptive seating & positioning with powered mobility devices, based on the assessed needs of the patient
Monitors and records patient condition during treatment. Utilizes the full range of therapy modalities. Instructs, motivates and assists patients to learn activities of daily living and improve functional activities
Prepares and maintains appropriate equipment and supplies required for these treatments
Varies procedures or positions to adjust for Veterans' medical conditions
Modifies intervention environment, tools, materials, and activities in response to each veteran's response to treatment
Prepares and presents written and oral reports for the physician, physiatrist, nursing staff, fellow therapists and all other professionals concerned with the patient's care
Participates in family and multidisciplinary team meetings to identify patient's needs, report on patient's goals and progress and to assist in planning patient's treatment program
Maintains a safe work environment
Maintains a high level of competence through participation in continuing education programs
Assists with the supervision and training of student OT Assistants, volunteers, work students and other healthcare practitioners
Seeks advanced Powered Mobility/seating and positioning trainings and certifications, to provide excellent, evidenced-based treatment approaches to all Veterans who qualify for issuance of powered mobility devices
Performs documentation in accordance with service and medical center policies in a timely manner
Maintains appropriate timeline demands for services and communicates through spreadsheet for tracking equipment orders
Schedules appointments for assigned patients as needed
Performs other tasks as assigned by the Supervisor, Occupational Therapy Section, and the Rehabilitation Program Coordinator that is consistent with the mission of the Section, the Rehab Care Service Line and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Participates in the performance improvement activities for the service
Responsible for collection and reporting of QI data as requested by Occupational Therapy Supervisor
Demonstrates advanced knowledge of electronic documentation and computer skills
Performs other related duties as assigned