Blind Rehabilitation Specialist

• Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

The primary purpose of the Blind Rehabilitation Specialist position is to provide blind and vision rehabilitation services for visually impaired Veterans and service members.

Blind Rehabilitation Specialist is responsible for:
Following a model of lifetime care coordination offered to all Veterans with visual impairment who are eligible to receive services. The model requires varying degrees of intervention based on the clinical and psychosocial needs of each Veteran.

Providing care coordination services to eligible Veterans with visual impairment by assessing (at least annually), coordinating and reviewing the Veteran's rehabilitation and adjustment needs and determining and referring the type and intensity of services needed, based upon clinical judgment and the Veteran's goals. Determining if additional intervention by other providers will be needed in order to develop a Veteran's individualized treatment plan.

In such instances, the BRS clinician is expected to refer, consult, educate and/or cotreat with other providers in order to support the Veteran in addressing individualized goals (e.g., assessment for supplementary adaptive interventions, issuance criteria and core competencies for prosthetic recommendation). Ensuring the update and maintenance of the VIST roster including all legally Blind and low vision Veterans enrolled at the Carl Vinson VA medical facility.

Providing outreach and education to VA medical facility and non-VA agencies and personnel through brochures and other educational materials about Veteran counseling and family information. Regardless of the level of care coordination, VIST Coordinators counsel Veterans with visual impairment about their health needs and refer them annually for medical examinations to include, but not limited to, ocular health examinations, physical examinations and audiological examinations.

Conducting monthly VIST support groups for Veterans on various topics to enhance outreach, education, adjustment to sight loss, and peer-to-peer engagement. Ensuring the recommended prosthetic devices and rehabilitation interventions are in alignment with the Veteran's goals and individualized rehabilitation plan.

NOTE:

This is a VIST Coordinator responsibility if a contracted vendor is utilized for therapeutic interventions.

Promoting awareness of the needs of Veterans with visual impairments to the VA medical facility staff through identifying eligible Veterans with visual impairment in the Electronic Health Record. Coordinating community care and VHA care to assist Veterans with visual impairment in receiving the best services in both the BRS continuum of care (BRS CoC) and from community providers.

Ensuring seamless coordination of BRS-related care for traveling Veterans with visual impairment who are away from their primary residence and preferred VA medical facility. This includes leading the Veteran's care coordination and contacting the Veteran's primary VIST Coordinator, if necessary. Ensuring adherence to best practices by conducting VIST Reviews via in person contact or telehealth.

NOTE:

Telephone encounters are acceptable after exhausting all other avenues for face-to-face encounters. Entering the initial application for the Veteran with visual impairment admission into BRC care in accordance with the Veteran's choice of date for admission. The VIST Coordinators must refer Veterans with visual impairment to BRCs via the Blind Rehabilitation (BR) National Database guidelines detailed in Directive 1174(1).

Monitoring and assisting in developing and updating service agreements and assisting in developing VA medical facility operating procedures pertinent to blindness and visual…