In the Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, administers, facilitates and provides consultation for regional medical, psychological and assistive technology program services. Plans, develops, negotiates, coordinates and directs the program's provisions of medical, psychological and assistive technology services with and for staff, applicants, participants and providers according to federal and state requirements.

Reads, interprets and determines adequacy of medical, psychological, and assistive technology data for eligibility and provision of restoration services; identifies the need for, areas of expertise required, approves and facilitates the provision of diagnostic and ongoing medical, psychological and assistive technology services;

Represents the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation in negotiations with physicians, hospitals, clinics and assistive technology providers regarding diagnostic evaluations, appropriate medical, surgical, therapeutic and technology services to be provided; explores alternate funding sources; interprets maximum fee schedule payments for services rendered with authority to make "exceptions to policy" where necessary;

Trains regional staff in current developments in the medical and assistive technology fields; provides consultation and technical assistance to all regional staff for participant services;

Manages a regional restoration services budget; coordinates the purchase of exceptional cost items with DSHS Office of Procurement and General Administration, Purchasing Division;

Directs changes in or additions to medical policies and procedures;

Consults with all vocational rehabilitation staff and serves as a resource for counselors in the identification and procurement of appropriate assistive technology evaluations and equipment to enhance participant vocational potential and improve independence in living and transportation; i.e., job station modifications, prosthetics and orthotics, environment control systems and modified vehicles; negotiates with vendors for purchase and delivery of specialized equipment;

Provides training and technical assistance relative to accessibility issues, identification of essential functions of a job, job modifications, implementation of assistive technology and other reasonable accommodations in the work environment, and in the community in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act;

Reviews and approves the provision of medical, psychological and assistive technology services for conformance to vocational rehabilitation policy; assists in the process of medical bill payment in compliance with maximum medical fees; evaluates the effectiveness and quality of medical/assistive technology services and providers; assures the Division's compliance with applicable laws, regulations and policies; further coordinates these activities with other state government departments for agreement and conformity in the obtainment and provision of services;

Assists in the recruitment of contract physicians, coordinates their services and monitors their contracts;

Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge of: state and federal laws, rules and regulations pertaining to vocational rehabilitation; departmental policies and procedures; medical and psychological aspects of disability; medical and procedural terminology; medical service delivery systems; disease classifications; ergonomics and assistive technology; the relationship of the Americans with Disabilities Act to participant services and community accessibility issues.

Ability to: plan, organize and manage medical, psychological and assistive technology services to participants; exercise judgment in evaluating situations and make time and appropriate decisions; implement new approaches to problems affecting medical and assistive technology service delivery; communicate and network effectively; evaluate program and community needs and establish priorities for action.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

A Master's degree in Vocational Rehabilitation or Social Work.

OR

A Master's degree in a related field which includes 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours of graduate training in vocational rehabilitation.

AND

Four years of experience in a social service field and one year in a medical setting as a supervisor or consultant.

Equivalent education/experience.

Revised definition and minimum qualifications, added distinguishing characteristics: 9-11-81
Revised definition and minimum qualifications, deleted distinguishing characteristics, title change (formerly Medical Social Work Consultant 2): 11-14-94
Revised minimum qualifications: 9-14-01
Revised new class code: (formerly 33350) effective July 1, 2007.
Base range salary adjustment adopted 6/30/2017, effective 7/1/2017.