Summary
Occupational therapist Registered (OTR) serves as subject matter expert in the area of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and as a role model for other occupational therapy staff in evaluation and treatment of patients in this specialty area. Incumbent is expected to supervise Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA), Occupational Therapy Students {OTS) and volunteers when applicable and depending on assignment.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
This is an internal announcement open to Current VA employees/HPT and recent VA Grads interested. Those who are interested external public must apply to announcement {CBTC-12544517-24-MAC}.
Duties
Occupational Therapy services to adult and geriatric patients referred from all areas of the medical center; and spends at least 80% of his/her time working in the Occupational Therapy Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. Incumbent is expected to supervise Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA), Occupational Therapy Students {OTS) and volunteers when applicable and depending on assignment.
Position is located in the Occupational Therapy (OT) Department of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PM&RS) at the VA Caribbean Healthcare System.
Duties listed but not limited to:
- Incumbent plans and carries out a full range of treatments where therapeutic objectives are complex and procedures involved require the application of highly specialized skills and advanced knowledge, particularly as related to physical disability patients, and especially to Cardiac Rehabilitation Program which includes interventions at Phase I - Acute, Phase II -Subacute/outpatient and Phase Ill - Outpatient.
- Cardiac rehabilitation treatment plans require frequent modification in response to subtle but significant changes in the condition of the patient.
- Incumbent has had specialized training in Cardiac Rehabilitation management and demonstrates expertise in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating treatment programs for cardiac geriatric and adult patients with acute, sub-acute and chronic physical conditions.
- Integral part of an interdisciplinary team, incumbent contributes to the evaluation, assessment and treatment for cardiopulmonary disease and procedures which may include: CABG, Aortic or Mitra I valve replacements, Angioplasty, CHF, COPD, PVD.
- Incumbent's advanced specialized evaluations include a medical history and results and interpretation of the appropriate tests and measurements performed. Tests are frequently complex and may need to be adapted because of multiple physical and emotional disabilities or present cardiac conditions.
- Incumbent demonstrates a full professional and current understanding of the theories of Occupational Therapy treatment and their proper application, particularly those specialized techniques related to cardiac rehabilitation treatment management.
- Has the ability to develop cardiac rehabilitation protocols and advanced intervention procedures for patients at all phases during the cardiac rehabilitation program, based on current occupational therapy theory, recent research, and practice.
- Incumbent recognizes even subtle responses or adverse reactions to cardiac rehabilitation treatment, initiates effective action immediately, and advises other health care team members as indicated. Continuously monitors patient's cardiopulmonary response to treatment and takes proper action according to findings.
- Incumbent assesses patient's learning needs, and plans and implements appropriate patient education programs, involving the patient, family, and significant others h the instructional process.
- Serves as a consultant for peers, co-workers and other health care providers regarding the delivery of care and scope within occupational therapy practice, specifically related to specialized area of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation.
- Conducts home visits as applicable. Consider architectural, attitudinal, communication, employment and any other barrier affecting outcomes.
- Incumbent exercises the highest degree of independence and professional judgment in planning and carrying out cardiac rehabilitation treatment programs to meet complex treatment objectives for this population.
- Incumbent has an active relationship with Cardiac Rehabilitation Interdisciplinary Team to include open communication, participation h case discussions and review of program outcome measurements.
- Incumbent may initiate, lead and support research projects related to the Occupational Therapy practice, specifically those related to Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation.
- Ensures compliance with all documentation and program requirements from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation to maintain current accreditation.
- As part of the interdisciplinary team actively participates in the MCVPR accreditation process for the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program h the VA Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS).
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, may include weekends & holidays, and may also be required to work various rotating shifts.
Telework: Available - Per Agency policy and Service Approval on an Ad hoc basis.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: FS-61819F-OccupationaI Therapist Clinical Specialist/ Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
- All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
Qualifications
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
Basic Requirements:United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
English Proficiency: Candidate 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:(1) 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~
(2) 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~
(3) Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.
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-Submitted Documentation: Candidates must possess a current NBCOT certification as an OT.
State Licensure-Submitted Documentation: Candidate 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.
Grade Determinations:GS-13 - Occupational Therapist (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; or
- 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:
- 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.
Assignment. Clinical OT specialists at this grade level serve as subject matter experts and as consultants to occupational therapists and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the areas of occupational therapy that are beyond the general practice of occupational therapy. This individual must demonstrate skills and techniques for a specific patient population that has highlycomplex occupational and/or psychosocial impairments. Clinical OT specialist may initiate, lead, and support research projects related to clinical needs. This may include grant writing, guiding others in the process, and direct clinical participation in research.
Preferred Experience: Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
Reference: Occupational Therapist Qualification Standards per VA Handbook 5005/127, Part II, Appendix G14, dated December 13, 2019. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is 13.
Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds or over); light carrying (under 15 pounds); straight pushing (.5 hours); reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking (.5 hours); standing (.5 hours); crawling (.5 hours); kneeling (.5 hours); repeated bending (1 hour); climbing, legs only (.5 hours); climbing, use of legs and arms; operation of crane, truck, tractor or motor vehicle; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; specific visual requirement (corrective lenses okay); both eyes required; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid may be permitted); mental and emotional stability.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- License
- Professional Certification
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
- License
- Professional Certification
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 09/30/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12553586.
- To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
- Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.
NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
Next steps
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
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