Occupational Therapist

Department of Veterans Affairs

This Occupational Therapist (OT) position is located within the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Service of VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS).

• Duties include, but are not limited to: Clinical Assessment and Exercise Prescription: Conducts standardized physical performance tests at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and annually using validated tools aligned with national protocols; documents and bills encounters using correct codes. Interprets results and explains findings to Veterans with standardized scoring and a strengths-based approach. Designs individualized exercise prescriptions based on assessments, personal goals, functional limits, and diagnosis-specific needs. Adjusts exercise progressions or regressions according to ongoing clinical monitoring. Creates home programs for Veterans unable to join in-person or virtual groups. Documents and bills group classes and 1:1 testing appropriately. Program Delivery: Leads in-person and virtual group classes addressing cardio, strength, flexibility, and balance. Prepares weekly lesson plans and instructor schedules, ensuring content meets national standards. Monitors participation, adapts activities for safety and engagement, and follows up on absences or health events, coordinating with SCI/D teams. Program Coordination and Administration: Serves as primary contact for the national coordinating center and maintains mentoring partnerships. Completes onboarding and mentoring requirements; builds and maintains clinic infrastructure, templates, health factors, and scheduling systems. Writes and updates site-specific SOPs to meet national and local policy. Processes consults, screens eligibility, contacts Veterans, schedules assessments, completes intake notes, and closes consults promptly. Staff Training and Supervision: Trains Exercise Specialists and PSAs in program policies, group and virtual instruction, and physical performance assessment. Provides daily workflow direction, coverage coordination, and clinical oversight. Supports a positive, consistent team environment to strengthen staff continuity, group cohesion, and Veteran engagement. Advanced Clinical Assessment: Performs comprehensive upper-limb evaluations for SCI/D Veterans, including strength, tone, sensation, ROM, grasp/pinch, dexterity, and ADL/iADL performance. Integrates findings with neurological status and goals to create individualized rehabilitation plans. Tracks outcomes with standardized measures and uses data to guide decisions and refine programming. Physical Agent Modalities and Neuromodulation: Applies PAMs-including therapeutic electrical stimulation, FES, and iFES-to improve voluntary movement, reduce spasticity, and enhance occupational performance. Holds CPAM and iFES certifications. Develops and delivers TES protocols targeting cervical segments and peripheral motor points, adjusting placement, parameters, and scheduling based on response. Collaborates with neurosurgical and neurophysiology teams on EES protocols, contributing to stimulation-training strategies and outcome monitoring. Stays current on evidence to maintain state-of-the-art care. Robotic and Technology-Assisted Rehabilitation: Implements robotic-assisted upper-limb training using exoskeletons, end-effectors, assistive systems, and VR platforms. Integrates technology-based training with conventional OT interventions-therapeutic exercise, functional tasks, ADL re-training, and orthotic management-to deliver comprehensive individualized plans. Uses robotic data (kinematics, force, performance) as supplemental outcome measures. Upper Extremity Management and Orthotic Fabrication: Evaluates upper-limb function and orthotic needs; fabricates, fits, and adjusts custom orthoses to optimize positioning, prevent contracture, and support performance. Provides adaptive equipment evaluation, prescription, and training for ADL/iADL tasks. Educates Veterans, caregivers, and families on orthoses, adaptive equipment use, care, and maintenance. Individuals may perform ancillary assignments as deemed appropriate on an occasional basis where the amount of work is not substantial (less than 25% of duty time). Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30AM-4:00PM Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

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