Occupational Therapist - Wheelchair Seating and Mobility
What you'd do
This position is located in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service of the Northern Arizona VA Healthcare System in Prescott, Arizona. The Occupational Therapist Wheelchair Seating and Mobility Clinical Specialist will serve as the subject matter occupational therapy and treating patients in the specialty areas of occupational therapy practice that are beyond the general practice of occupational therapy in the skills in the technology professional with seating mobility specialist.
Major duties
Duties of the position include but are not limited to: Perform specialized wheelchair, seating, and power mobility evaluations. Conduct comprehensive assessments for patients with complex conditions, including deformities, amputations, wounds, pressure risk, neurological disorders, cardiopulmonary conditions, musculoskeletal issues, polytrauma, and spinal cord injury. Analyze patient needs related to size, weight, posture, skin integrity, lifestyle, home environment, transportation needs, and mobility method. Develop individualized treatment plans and therapeutic interventions to optimize functional independence and safety. Evaluate patient response to interventions and adjust treatment plans to achieve optimal outcomes. Provide examinations, treatment, documentation, and follow-up in outpatient, inpatient, skilled nursing, community-based outpatient clinics, in-home/in-community settings, and via tele-rehabilitation. Recommend and deliver appropriate prosthetic and mobility equipment based on clinical evaluation. Provides appropriate mobility devices for persons post-surgical, chronic vestibular impairment and other assistive technology for promotion of healthy activities. Provide specialty interventions for geriatric rehabilitation, neuromuscular disorders, musculoskeletal conditions, chronic pain, stroke and head injury, arthritis, amputation, spinal cord injury, and polytrauma. Perform patient and support personnel training related to mobility, seating, transfers, and equipment use. Coordinate ordering, delivery, fitting, assembly, and adjustment of wheelchair and seating systems. Ensure timely and accurate procurement of prosthetic equipment. Collaborate with Prosthetics Service and vendors, applying VA prosthetic procedures and regulations.- Identify and resolve barriers in procurement workflows and recommend process improvements. Serve as an active member of interdisciplinary teams including Amputee, ALS, SCI/D, Polytrauma, Community Living Center, and PACT teams. Communicate regularly with physicians, nurses, therapists, prosthetics staff, and other clinical team members regarding patient care. Provide consultation to staff and community partners regarding wheelchair and seating mobility needs. Provide in-service training, clinical instruction, and mentoring to staff, students, and trainees. Develop and evaluate educational materials and training programs related to wheelchair and seating mobility. Participate in clinical meetings, committees, and workgroups as assigned. Maintain competency in department equipment, procedures, and protocols. Ensure timely documentation of assessments, care plans, treatment interventions, specialty protocols, and outcome measures. Evaluate and treat patients referred to Occupational Therapy. Prepare and submit required reports to supervisory staff. Engage in continuous quality improvement and evidence-based practice updates. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 0000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
What you need to qualify
Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education and/or Experience. The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below: Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy. Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT. State Licensure. Candidates must possess] a full, current, and unrestricted state license, to practice occupational therapy in a state, territory or Commonwealth of the United States (i.e., Puerto Rico), or in the District of Columbia. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Grade GS-13 Clinical Specialist: Education, Experience, and Licensure. Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled and one of the following: A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area. This time must be within the past five years Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area An additional advanced degree in a related field. Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice. Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other OT practitioners. Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization. Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice. Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization. Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
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