Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Program Coordinator (Interdisciplinary) Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapy program coordinators in the assignment evaluate, plan and direct a program to ensure proper coordination of care within the local facility inclusive of regional/national stakeholders. The OT program coordinator has full responsibility for managing day-to-day activities of the program and successfully collaborates with leadership, supervisors and staff to facilitate efficient and effective delivery of patient-centered care.

AMERICA'S VETERANS NEED YOU!

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

Clinical Functions Applies advanced knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy within specialty areas of amputee, geriatrics and seating and mobility to provide clinical guidance, training or education for internal and external stakeholders. Performs highly complex and advanced examinations and evaluations of individuals who have or may develop impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions related to conditions of the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and/or integumentary systems while considering the effects attributable to unique personal and environmental factors. Review of medical records to interpret findings from examination, diagnostic studies and/or medical tests. During evaluation select appropriate clinical tests and measures; then integrate findings into the plan of care for the full range of patient populations, using relevant evidence-based data and norms. Establish a diagnosis within the scope of physical therapy and identify the appropriate intervention to treat and/or refer to another provider for further consultation when needed. Determine therapy prognosis by incorporating examination findings with the patient's preferences for meaningful level of function in order to set clinically appropriate treatment goals and optimize outcomes.

Administrative Program Coordinator Functions Monitors outcomes and provides data for community care rehabilitation outsource services, student trainee programming and patient/staff safety data. Assists with identifying, collecting and analyzing appropriate patient care information to provide a database to support program performance evaluation system(s) and Performance Improvement projects related to assigned program and specialty areas. Provides/Assists with triage, coordination, and makes recommendations for the best/most appropriate level of care on outsourced referrals to community providers from Primary Care and PM&R providers for rehabilitation services. Oversee PM&R Service safety work standards, patient handling, and clinical practice policies to support a safe work environments. Coordinates with VANTHCS Education Service to manage and assign PM&R Health Profession Trainee (HPT)students in occupational and physical therapy affiliations for Level I and Level II placements. Coordinate and collaborates with PM&R Clinical Specialists, PM&R Coordinators, PM&R Leads, Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Facility Coordinator, and with Rehabilitation Service Managers to assist with administrative processes to ensure compliance obtain resources and operations of the program and specialty areas within the PM&R Service. Provides administrative direction and makes decisions related to their designated direct patientcare services area(s).

Treatment Implementation Identifies adverse reactions and modifies treatment plan according to patient response to treatment and towards meeting established goals. Documents treatment progression and/or modifications accordingly. Demonstrates a full professional understanding of selective therapeutic techniques and modalities related to disability being treated. Serves as a consultant within the assigned program area for intra-agency and interagency planning and to provide service coordination to optimize program continuity, efficiency and effectiveness. Establishes and maintains a collaborative relationship with nursing and the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team to facilitate the operation of the ward/unit/clinic to meet common goals. Participates in interdisciplinary team meetings, rounds, family conferences and other meetings as needed. May assess Veterans in the home and make environmental modifications accordingly to ensure patient and caregiver safety in the home.

Education and Research Identifies learning activities for self and others. Participates and contributes to the advancements of knowledge and techniques related to physical therapy via in-services, mentorship projects. Coordinates and conducts in-services for interdisciplinary team and other rehabilitation programs. Provides two in-services per year to staff members regarding rehabilitation and physical therapy services, techniques, and protocols. Participates in facility and/or service education projects. Develops patient education printed materials. Serves as a resource person to VANTHCS

Work Schedule: 7:30 am - 4:00 p.m. Occasional weekends and holidays as needed for patient care.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 55582F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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: 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:

• 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
• 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
• Master's Degree or higher in occupational therapy.

Foreign Graduates. Graduates of foreign occupational therapy programs meet the requirements if they have a current, full, active and unrestricted license.

Certification. Candidates must possess a current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (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.

Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard (12/13/2019) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of this occupation.

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 Determination for GS-13:

Completion of one year of experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 grade level and directly related to the position being filled.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of contemporary occupational therapy within specialty area to provide clinical guidance, training, or education for internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to set priorities, delegate tasks, meet multiple deadlines, and balance responsibilities.
• Ability to articulate and communicate the assignment, project, problem to be solved, actionable events, and objectives; as well as provide direction on work methods, practices and procedures in administration and/or education methodologies.
• Ability to monitor and report on the status and progress of work, evaluate the program to ensure that methods, deadlines and quality have been met, and ensure adjustments to the work process are in accordance with priorities.
• Ability to develop and coordinate treatment and/or educational programs within a concentrated field or specialty area, such as amputee, spinal cord injury, chronic pain, student clinical education/residency programming, polytrauma/traumatic or brain injury.
• Ability to effectively motivate and manage a clinical staff with widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.

Preferred Experience:

• Two or more years of experience in rehabilitation for acute and/or sub-acute setting.
• Experience performing chart review, evaluation and develop treatment plan for acute and/or chronic injuries with impairment such as; amputation, musculoskeletal, neurological, orthopedic, cardio-pulmonary, pain management, cancer, etc.
• Experience in performing direct supervision Physical Therapy assistance and/or Physical Therapy students
• Experience providing mentoring to peers and provide education regarding rehabilitation to others healthcare services.
• Leadership Development experience or project development.

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: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds. The incumbent will need to drive a car and have a valid state license. The position often places the incumbent in a position of stress. Frequent/daily travel is required, and overnight travel may be required when multi-day stays are necessary.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Accreditation Information: Individuals must be a graduate of] a degree program in occupational therapy approved by the ACOTE or predecessor organizations. ACOTE is the only accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Degree programs may be verified by contacting the American Occupational Therapy Association website, https://www.aotf.org, or at their office address: American Occupational Therapy Association, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220.

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/.

• 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.
• 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.