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Occupational Therapist (Clinical Specialist - Geriatrics)
Veterans Health Administration · Posted 35 days ago
On-site Seattle, WA $120K – $156K Apply by Aug 19, 2026 Occupational Therapist ENFJESFJINFPISFP Healthcare
Apply for this job → About the Role
This Occupational Therapist is assigned to the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Program and develops the Occupational Therapy program for patients treated on the Spinal Cord Injury Service with special focus on Geriatrics and Aging with SCI. The incumbent serves as a subject matter expert in the specialty areas of SCI, with a focus on Geriatrics and SCI rehabilitation services which include all SCI Veterans experiencing concerns/functional decline related to the diagnosis of SCI and aging.
What You'll Do
- →This employee serves as a consultant to occupational therapy and other medical center staff in evaluating and treating patients in the specialty areas of SCI OT practice and Geriatrics and SCI beyond the general practice OT.
- →This therapist must demonstrate advanced/specialized skills and techniques for the SCI population in the specialty area of Geriatric interventions and the effects of aging on the SCI population.
- →Functions of the position.
- →Clinical: Demonstrate advanced knowledge of regular aging effects and those of SCI patients and hold a Certification in Geriatrics.
- →Evaluate patients with SCI diagnosis for functional decline considering the Veteran's type of injury, this includes pain assessment, communication ability, and disorders of hearing, dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
- →Evaluate equipment needs and modification of equipment.
- →Focus may include fall prevention, review of mobility devices and their use, posture/seating, evaluation of strength and endurance, changes in weight, skin changes, and upper limb problems that might affect the patient's ability to perform pressure releases or transfers safely.
- →Develop policies/protocols for evaluation and issuance of equipment, including templates for documentation, reference sheets, and individual procedures.
- →Evaluate patients as appropriate using specialized evidence based occupational therapy services for their age and diagnosis to determine current levels of functioning (range of motion, strength/manual muscle test, coordination, sensation, proprioception, visual-perceptual skills, self-care, mobility skills, community living skills, pre-vocational skills, cognitive status).
- →Participate in home visits as appropriate to patient's home or place of employment to assess for safety, self-care capability at home, ergonomic considerations, and need for adaptive equipment.
- →Educational: Demonstrate knowledge of general aging characteristics as well as aging with a spinal cord injury.
- →Maintain Certification in Geriatrics and act as a resource in this area for the SCI population and staff.
- →Serve as subject matter expert on Geriatrics and SCI both locally and nationally; clinicians mentored will be VA therapists as well as private sector therapists.
- →Develop educational offerings for non-therapy staff (including nursing, social work, psychologists) on Aging with SCI strategies and interventions.
Requirements
- ✓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.
- ✓A valid state issued driver's license with a clean driving history in accordance with VA Policy to drive a government vehicle.
- ✓Ability to operate and drive a government vehicle as determined by an Occupational Health driving 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.
Personality Fit
Job ID: 0242c40d-f656-471d-90df-cc6fc7357081
Posted via USAJobs