Occupational Therapy Assistant - GS-0636-07

Defense Health Agency; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 40,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX, seeks an Occupational Therapist to plan and coordinate diverse therapy programs for wounded and ill service members. You will develop progressive treatment plans, apply multiple OT modalities, and collect data for workload management and research.

The role emphasizes maximizing recovery, functional independence, and patient education on home programs and adaptive equipment as needed.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience in implementing occupational therapy treatment plans and documenting progress.
• Education and/or combined education and experience may qualify for this position.
• Foreign education must be evaluated for equivalence to U.S. education when used to meet qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and administer occupational therapy programs for wounded, ill, and injured service members and other beneficiaries.
• Develop progressive treatment plans and apply a full range of OT modalities.
• Collect workload data for management and research.
• Recommend use of therapy modalities as prescribed.
• Maximize healing, pain relief, and functional independence.
• Instruct patients and families on home exercise, precautions, and use of equipment.
• Provide training to patients in daily living activities and functional tasks.
• Share expertise with therapy colleagues and interdisciplinary team members.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job description

Overview

About the Position:

This position is located at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) is the United States Army's premier medical institution. Located on Fort Sam Houston, BAMC is a 425-bed academic medical center, and is the Department of Defense's largest facility and only Level 1 trauma center. BAMC is also home to the Center for the Intrepid, an outpatient rehabilitation facility. The center is composed of ten separate organizations, including community medical clinics, centered around the Army's largest in-patient hospital. BAMC is staffed by more than 8,000 soldiers, airmen, sailors, civilians, and contractors, providing care to wounded service members and the San Antonio community at large. Brooke Army Medical Center has a history which dates back to 1879 when the first Post Hospital opened as a small medical dispensary located in a single-story wooden building. In 1886, the first permanent hospital was built. In 1908, an 84-bed Station Hospital was constructed on the west side of the post.

Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions. For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/

Who May Apply: US Citizens

This is a Direct Hire Solicitation.

A recruitment & relocation incentive may be authorized.

Salary negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service.

Salary: Up to $66,563 per year

Responsibilities

• Under the direction of an Occupational Therapist, you will plan, coordinate, and administer diverse occupational therapy programs for wounded, ill, and injured service members, as well as other beneficiaries.
• Actively involved in the preparation of progressive treatment plans, utilizing the full range of occupational therapy modalities and the application of extensive judgment, observation, and treatment skills.
• Completes required data collection for workload management and analysis and research studies as directed.
• Uses problem-solving skills to make recommendations for the use of various occupational therapy modalities as prescribed.
• Ensure designated treatment plan maximizes results in promotion of healing and pain relief while ultimately improving the patient’s functional independence.
• Instruct and review all home program precautions and contraindications with patients and family members on use of physical modalities and/or adaptive equipment needs for home environment.
• Provide instruction to patients in a variety of exercise programs, functional activity, and activities of daily living to optimize independent living skills.
• Share technical expertise with other therapy assistants, occupational therapy students and other interdisciplinary team members.
• Performs Other Duties as Assigned

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document .

Specialized Experience:

One year of specialized experience which includes implementing occupational therapy treatment plans; and providing progress reports on occupational therapy patients.

OR Education:

OR Combination of Education and Experience:

A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION:

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/ .