Occupational Therapist Clinical Specialist-Mental Health

Department of Veterans Affairs

This position is located in the Salt Lake City PM&R service and provides Occupational Therapy services as a subject matter expert in the specialty area of Mental Health. SLC VA Medical Center is an A-1 facility complexity. This therapist serves as SME, is able to serve as consultant to occupational therapy and the medical center staff in this specialty area as well as the general current practice of occupational therapy as indicated by service needs across all clinical area.

• Serves as a subject matter expert to physicians, residents, staff, and other health care specialists on OT-specific mental health matters. Makes self available to providers throughout SLC VAMC, including primary care providers, orthopedic surgery, neurology, rehabilitation, spinal cord injury providers, social work, mental health, and emergency department providers. Receives patient caseload through referrals from varied providers. Evaluations use standard and non-standard methods to assess range of motion, strength, sensation, proprioception, psychosocial factors, coordination, perception, cognition, ADLs and work activities, orthotic and prosthetic needs, and the need for adaptive equipment. Evaluations consider lifestyle, culture, social support system, military, work, and leisure history, and age-related limitations and abilities. Based on evaluations, planning with the patient and significant others (when appropriate), and coordination with the multidisciplinary team, establishes treatment goals and the eventual discharge plan. Develops and carries out occupational therapy plans with individuals to meet individual rehabilitation objectives. Implements an occupational therapy treatment plan to meet individual rehabilitation objectives utilizing functional activities which have as their goal the improvement of patient's activities of daily living, strength, range of motion, sensation, perceptive and/or cognitive process, and may also include therapeutic exercise, muscle reeducation, neuromuscular facilitation, perceptual motor integration, recreational activities, fabrication and application of devices for daily living, teaching adaptive or compensatory techniques for community re-entry and work activities, and providing patient and/or caregiver education regarding disability. The position includes inpatient, outpatient, community, & home rehabilitation therapy as indicated by service needs, including general assessment and treatment for veterans with physical dysfunction and neurological and orthopedic diagnoses; planning &carrying out rehabilitation related to therapy; providing direct assistance with treatment; & providing discharge planning. This assignment represents the therapy aspect of an interdisciplinary team. Re-evaluates patient's performance & modifies treatment as indicated. Regularly presents patient information to health care providers regarding treatment outcomes, status, & expectations. Communication is timely and follows department policies. Evaluates patient's living situation through home visits in-person, VVC, patient and family interviews, or consultation with other health care professionals as indicated. Helps the patient solve problems associated with that environment. Participates regularly in multidisciplinary care planning meetings as needed. Manages more complex cases; effectively & independently develops, implements, & modifies the OT treatment plan. Initiates ordering, delivery, & training in the use of patient-specific adaptive equipment in a timely, efficient, & accurate manner, using processes related to the procurement of prosthetic equipment. Carries a full patient caseload & accepts new consults. Treatment intervention directly affects a patient's social, emotional, and functional well-being. Assignments may include acute care medical & surgical cases, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatients, & home and/or community settings. Documents initial evaluations, progress, & discharge planning in a timely, concise manner, per section documentation &consult management requirements. Is aware of signs & symptoms of abuse or neglect & reports to the appropriate authority. Complies with requirements to maintain prosthetic equipment supplies, providing necessary documentation of equipment provided to patients & obtaining stock replacement of equipment issued. Considers age & developmental level, gender, education, cultural background, & socioeconomic, medical, & functional status when providing OT services. Is aware of signs & symptoms of abuse or neglect & reports to the appropriate authorities. Therapy services will be provided to an adult-to-geriatric population of patients. Is aware of the indications, contraindications, & precautions in working with various neurological disorders, physical disabilities, & mental health patients, based on area of assignment. Completes treatment sessions according to safety procedures & the Practice Act. Practices infection control per policy. Complies with hospital policies & procedures, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) requirements, &Joint Commission requirements. Assists the Supervisor in implementing within clinical documentation. Work Schedule: T-F; M-F 7:30am-5:00pm Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 615820 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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