Blind Rehab Specialist; VIST Coordinator

Visual Impairment Service Team Coordinator

The Visual Impairment Service Team Coordinator case manages patient care and support services to an adult population of patients which is characterized by a very significant number of older male/female patients as well as young OEF/OIF/OND Veterans who may have wound and trauma related vision loss. Review of demographic data discloses that the average of our participants was 73.2 years old, ages ranging from 39-95 years old and the majority of participants were males (98.6%).

Within these broad categorizations, the employee must tailor patient care and support services to meet the needs of the individual patient. This includes the responsibility for assessment of each patient's need and assuring the delivery of services is responsive to the concerns of individual patients to the extent possible. Some duties may include, but are not limited to:

• The Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) Coordinator is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, directing, evaluating and administering the VIS Team Program at the San Juan VA Caribbean Healthcare System.
• The VIS Team Coordinator motivates VIST members by providing strong leadership at meetings with agenda, minutes, visions, goals and membership involvement.
• The VIST Coordinator identifies gaps in services and develops a plan in consultation with the VIS Team, the Chief of Primary Care Service and others as appropriate to improve service delivery.
• The VIST Coordinator develops and administers a formal systematic plan to review and appraise the effectiveness of each phase of the VIS Team program, in accordance with the VA Central Office and local facility policies and procedures. He (she) plans, develops and adjusts the VIS Team program to resolve patient problems, concerns, and improves service delivery. After analyzing review and appraisal results, and reporting findings to management, he (she) uses information gathered as a basis for effecting indicating improvements.
  
  Annually develops program goals and objectives which are achievable and measurable.
• The VIST Coordinator has major responsibility for the case management and coordination of services to blind/visually impaired veterans, Active Duty Service members and their families.
• The Coordinator operates as an experienced professional with full responsibility for patient evaluations and the soundness of recommendations.
• The VIST Coordinator provides therapeutic adjustment counseling to sight loss, assessing the need for rehabilitation, developing treatment plans, recommending adaptive devices and providing education on VA and community benefits and services.
• The VIST Coordinator works collaboratively with all components of blind rehabilitation Service within the James A Haley Healthcare System which includes:
  The Blind Center and the BROS (Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist) and the VIST Coordinator.
• The VIST Coordinator provides presentations, training programs and orientation sessions to its staff and outside agencies as well as to veteran and family groups.
• The VIST Coordinator serves as a liaison and consultant in matters related to visual impairment and blindness. He (she) serves as technical advisor to members of Home Based Primary Care, Home Improvement and Home Improvement and Structural Alterations (HISA) committee.
• The VIST Coordinator develops and maintains screening procedures to target the population within and outside the VA. The VIST Coordinator has specialized knowledge of VA rating criteria for sight loss and develops a formal liaison with the Regional Office staff for coordination of benefit claims and notification of ratings which reach the legal blindness level.

Work Schedule:

Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm

Compressed/Flexible:
Not available

Telework:
Not available

Virtual:
This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #:
Blind Rehab Specialist (VIST Coordinator)

EDRP Authorized:
Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required