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Veterans Health Administration is Hiring an Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist)-Hand Therapist Near Dallas, TX

Qualifications:

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.
• Education and/or Experience. The individual must meet at least one of the following requirements below:
  (a) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy.
  or
  (b) Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and two (2) full years of graduate education in a related field; NOTE: The baccalaureate degree must be from an approved program prior to the AOTA January 1, 2005 decision that ACOTE would only accredit master or doctoral degree programs in occupational therapy.
  or
  (c) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy. AND
• Individuals must be a graduate of a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. This is inclusive of an internship (supervised fieldwork experience required by the educational institution). ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
• Certification. Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an Occupational Therapist.
• 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.
• English Proficiency. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met:
Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist), GS-13

• Education, Experience, and Licensure. In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must have completion of one year of experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. Experience at the GS-12 level includes independent practice and comprehensive assessment of functional and occupational roles using standardized and non-standardized evaluation tools. OTs select and provide direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures with varying degrees of complexity to enhance safety, wellness, and performance in ADL, instrumental IADL, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation. OTs demonstrate a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in occupational therapy and their proper application through the use of activity analysis, behavioral intervention, frame of references, and therapeutic procedures) AND directly related to the position being filled being filled AND one of the following:
  • (a) A minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice directly in the advanced practice area. This time must be within the past five years;
  • (b) Certification in an area recognized by the AOTA;
  • (c) Completion of a fellowship/residency or advanced degree program in the advanced practice area; or(d) An additional advanced degree in a related field.
• Demonstrated KSAs. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:
  • (a) Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy across multiple areas of practice.
  • (b) Ability to provide clinical guidance in the advanced practice area to other OT practitioners.
  • (c) Knowledge of advanced specialized evaluation, interventions and services to independently develop treatment strategies for area of specialization.
  • (d) Skill in developing protocols and procedures for intervention programs based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice.
  • (e) Ability to provide consultation to other health care practitioners and outside groups about occupational therapy scope of practice for area of specialization.
  • (f) Ability to implement, revise/update evidence based occupational therapy services and programming in area of specialization.

Preferred Experience:

• Completion of a entry level degree in Occupational Therapy with a current Certification from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, NBCOT
• A minimum of at least 2 years clinical practice as a Hand Therapist
• Active National Certification as a Certified Hand Therapist recognized by the American Occupational Therapy Association, AOTA
• Past or current experience collaborating with surgical services.
• Experience in providing clinical guidance and mentorship to OT practitioners in the Acute Care (Inpatient and Outpatient) areas.
• Orthotic fabrication for post-op surgical protection/immobilization, correction of injury or deformity and conservative management of common upper extremity syndromes.

References: VA Handbook 5005/127, Part II, Appendix G14. Occupational Therapist Qualification Standard, VHA, 12/13/2019.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-13.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); moderate carrying (15-44 pounds); straight pulling (0.5 hours); pushing (0.5 hours); reaching above shoulder; walking (5.3 hours); standing (5.3 hours); repeated bending (5.3 hours); ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid ma be permitted).

Responsibilities:

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until December 8, 2023. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be June 26, 2023, with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks until 12/08/2023. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Applicants who are referred will be considered for 90 days, after 90 days applicants will have to reapply.

The employee is a Licensed Occupational Therapist (OT) who serves as the Certified Hand Therapist within the Occupational Therapy Section of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service, (PM&RS) at the VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS). The VANTHCS provides occupational therapy services to several inpatient and outpatient clinics, dispersed over a large geographic region and holds affiliations with several colleges and universities for student clinical rotations. The employee serves as the subject matter expert and as a consultant to OT and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the specialty area of Hand Therapy. The employee is certified by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC).

Functions/Duties:
A. Employee dedicates 75% of the clinical duties as the sole Certified Hand Therapist in the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service at the VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS).
B. Employee possesses the knowledge and techniques for highly complex cases in hand rehabilitation, including but not limited to arthroplasty, contractures, fusions, ligament/tendon repairs, nerve compression syndrome, and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).
C. An employee demonstrates a full professional understanding of the theories of treatment in the area of hand therapy and their proper applications.
D. The employee works closely with the Orthopedic and Plastic Surgeons within the VANTHCS to develop protocols for the treatment of patients undergoing surgical procedures relating to the upper extremities.
E. Employee evaluates for a different type of orthotic devices including custom-made types to meet the individual patient's needs.
F. Employee dedicates 25% of their duties, or as directed due to operational needs, participating in providing general occupational therapy to the inpatient/outpatient populations.
G. The employee establishes treatment programs with measurable goals, based on evaluative findings and within the boundaries of the individual prescription. Employee modifies the program according to changing patient needs and terminates treatment program when all goals have been met.
H. Employee provides accurate written and/or verbal documentation of patient status and progress, treatment program plans, and patient response to treatment.
I. Employee independently schedules patient visits throughout the day allowing for adequate individual treatment time as well as necessary time for conferences and any administrative tasks.
J. Employee consults with patients and their families through patient-family education, training, and advising them in the specific nature of their medical condition and by providing home programs as part of their individualized treatment plans.
K. Employee provides professional oversight and consultation relating to hand therapy for staff therapists and monitors and evaluates clinically appropriate treatment programs with great autonomy.
L. Employee secures work area and equipment to provide a clean and safe therapeutic environment.

Customer Services Requirements:
A. Consistently practices the customer service performance expectations as established by the CARE (connect, appreciate, respond, and empower) model.
B. Communicates in a clear, caring, courteous, and respectful manner with patients, visitors, co-workers, suppliers, supervisors, and other stakeholders (internal and external) and clarifies information received. Responds to customer's requests, inquires, and complaints in an accurate and timely manner and provides follow-up as needed.
C. Refers inquiries or complaints to an appropriate source for resolution, if needed. Maintains patient confidentiality and privacy during all communications whether in writing or orally.
D. Responsible for maintaining open communication with patients, families, Medical Center staff, and others.
E. Demonstrates the ability to identify and resolve interpersonal or professional conflicts when dealing with patients and members of the organization.
F. Maintains confidentiality of patient medical records per established policy.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 08:00AM to 04:30PM, Rotates to cover weekends and holidays as needed for patient care.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Job Summary