Occupational Therapy Assistant

<p>The position is in the Occupational Therapy Section of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service (PMRS) in the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System. The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) provides rehabilitative services to persons with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments that improve and/or prevent the loss of acute and chronic physical and psychosocial dysfunction and promotes wellness.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>Provides direct and indirect occupational therapy services to address physical, psychosocial, cognitive, congenital, and/or developmental disorders or the aging process, to improve and/or prevent loss of physical or mental functioning and to promote wellness. Performs preliminary chart review including medical history and contraindications for treatment. Provides functional and purposeful interventions to enhance safety, wellness, performance in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), education, work, play, leisure, and social participation. Recommends treatment changes based on physical, mental, and/or medical status of the patient as well as reporting progress toward the attainment of established goals. Identifies and recommends adaptive and assistive devices, mobility devices, and durable medical equipment. Provides patient education in areas of occupation, assistive devices, positioning, mobility devices, and orthotics based on patient and family levels of cognition, cultural and/or behavioral variables. Documents Occupational Therapy services in the medical record within the timeframes, formats and standards established by PMRS, the Medical Center, VHA policy and protocols, and other entities that may govern programs provided by the Facility. Performs non-direct patient care tasks including, but not limited to, coordinating schedules with team members and monitoring inventory of clinical supplies. Performs and assists in the day-to-day management of the mobility clinic including, but not limited to, wheelchair training and fitting, testing, equipment ordering, scheduling and follow-up as indicated. Initiates ordering, delivery and training in the use of patient specific and complex adaptive and mobility equipment in a timely, efficient, and accurate manner, utilizing the processes related to the procurement of prosthetic equipment. Carries a full patient caseload as directed by department needs. Complies with requirements to maintain prosthetic equipment supplies, providing necessary documentation of equipment provided to patients and obtaining stock replacement of equipment issued Maintains patient schedule and attendance For each patient assigned. Participates in multidisciplinary meetings including chart rounds, family conferences, and discharge planning. Participates in Occupational Therapy and service staff meetings. Presents in-services as needed or directed. Designs and /or participates in quality assurance activities as directed and has a working knowledge of departmental performance improvement projects. Issues supply/stock and submits requests to the appropriate personnel, including supervisor. Shares in the maintenance of equipment and complies with safety standards. Participates in CARF and Joint Commission activities to ensure compliance and accreditation. Assists with management of the mobility clinic at the direction of the Occupational Therapy Supervisor or Mobility Clinic Coordinator. Complies with federal, state, and local environmental and other requirements preventing pollution, minimizing waste, and conserving cultural and natural resources. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not available Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 614060, 614070,614080,614090 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized</p><h3>Requirements</h3>You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. 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). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.<h3>Education</h3>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/.