Occupational Therapist - Columbia, United States - Department Of Veterans Affairs

Description

Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until May 6, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be February 20, 2024, with subsequent cut-off dates starting March 5, 2024 and on the 1st of each month thereafter. 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.

Duties

Major duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Performs evaluation appropriate to the patient's functional, physical and/or psycho-social status to establish a baseline level of functioning.
• Develops and carries out OT treatment plans with individuals and/or groups of patients to meet individual rehabilitation objectives. Treatment is provided in accordance with age and population specific standards.
• Has primary responsibility for planning, revising and implementing treatment programs based upon initial and interim evaluations.
• Documents patients progress in accordance with established policies and timelines.
• Provides appropriate adaptive or assistive equipment and/ or upper extremity support as needed.
• Adapts activities and environment to improve patients' function, safety and quality of life.
• Educates patients, caregivers and other staff in purposes and procedures for adaptations.
• Attends and actively participates in conferences, rounds, etc. as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Maintains clinic and equipment in a safe and orderly manner in accordance with safety and infection control policies, Joint Commission/CARF regulations and other relevant regulatory policies.
• Submits timely, accurate initial evaluations, progress notes, re-evaluations, and discharge summaries on individual patients assigned, and modifies treatment programs, as indicated.
• Attends staff meetings; represents the occupational therapy section at any appropriate intradisciplinary team meetings; prepares and presents in-service training on occupational therapy, as assigned.
• Recommends requisition of equipment and supplies and reports needed equipment repairs to the PM&R Coordinator and/or Secretary. Recommends, modifies, and fabricates adaptive equipment as needed by disabled patients in their normal activities of daily living.
• Supervises assigned occupational therapy students by fulfilling all American Occupational Therapy Association training requirements, provides accurate evaluation of student performance, and schedules elective training experiences for the student. Works with and/or supervises therapy assistants, therapy aids, and volunteers assigned to the occupational therapy section.
• Schedules his/her patients for treatment, considering priority and frequency of care and coordinates schedules with other members of the treatment team. Flexibility of schedule must be maintained to allow for unscheduled patients and for family conference. - Maintains accurate records, attendance, progress, and final disposition, and submits necessary monthly and quarterly information in a timely and accurate manner, Incumbent attends and participates in all departmental staff meetings and training session. Incumbent plans and presents in-service education programs, when requested, to the OT section, PM&R staff, and other services, as appropriate.
• Responsible for care, upkeep, and sanitation of equipment used and may perform the regular duties of a higher-level therapist in his/her absence.
• Performs as a Student Clinical Training Supervisor, which includes planning, scheduling, coordinating, evaluating, and implementing the student affiliation program.
• Responsible for student orientation, instruction, and counseling and acts as a liaison with affiliated colleges and universities, participation with faculty members in evaluation and revision of the program and curriculum.
• Reviews the objectives and goals of the student's affiliations and plans learning experiences accordingly; incumbent evaluates each student's performance and participates in school/medical center conferences regarding students or curriculum.
• Works independently. He/she is responsible for the occupational therapy programs and clinics to which he/she is assigned and confers with supervisor at periodic intervals for the purpose of keeping him/her informed of problem cases, workload, and progress reports.