Veterans Affairs Medical Veterans Affairs Medical Center Center

Martinsburg, WVMartinsburg, WV

Recreation Therapy InternshipRecreation Therapy Internship

Mission StatementMission Statement

““Honor America’s veterans by Honor America’s veterans by providing exceptional health care providing exceptional health care

that improves their health and that improves their health and well-being”well-being”

““Heroes Serving Heroes”Heroes Serving Heroes”

About the V.A.M.CAbout the V.A.M.C

Martinsburg VAMC provides general Martinsburg VAMC provides general medical, surgical, and psychiatric medical, surgical, and psychiatric services to veterans in 23 counties services to veterans in 23 counties in West Virginia, Maryland, in West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The Pennsylvania and Virginia. The Medical Center has a fully Medical Center has a fully integrated inpatient and outpatient integrated inpatient and outpatient primary care program, and provides primary care program, and provides a full range of outpatient services. a full range of outpatient services.

V.A. DemographicsV.A. Demographics

566 Inpatient Beds566 Inpatient Beds– 68 Hospital Beds (7 ICU, 38 68 Hospital Beds (7 ICU, 38

Medical/Surgical, 23 Psychiatry)Medical/Surgical, 23 Psychiatry)– 178 Community Care Center (Including 16 178 Community Care Center (Including 16

Palliative Care Beds)Palliative Care Beds)– 312 Rehabilitation Domiciliary (109 Health 312 Rehabilitation Domiciliary (109 Health

Maintenance Beds, 77 Cat 5 Beds, 66 Maintenance Beds, 77 Cat 5 Beds, 66 GOALS Beds, 10 Mainstream Beds, 50 GOALS Beds, 10 Mainstream Beds, 50 PRRP Beds)PRRP Beds)

– 8 Transitional Housing 8 Transitional Housing

V.A. DemographicsV.A. Demographics

Martinsburg Currently Serves 129,391 Martinsburg Currently Serves 129,391 Veterans in 23 Counties in Western MD, Veterans in 23 Counties in Western MD, WV, South Central PA, & Northwest VA.WV, South Central PA, & Northwest VA.

Average Age: Inpatient – 61 Years Average Age: Inpatient – 61 Years Outpatient – 64 YearsOutpatient – 64 Years

Age is Vastly Changing Due to the Age is Vastly Changing Due to the Amount of Troops Coming Back from IraqAmount of Troops Coming Back from Iraq

FY ’08 1,583 full time employeesFY ’08 1,583 full time employees

Recreation TherapyRecreation Therapy

MissionMission

The mission of recreation therapy, a direct-care The mission of recreation therapy, a direct-care interdisciplinary service, is to improve and enrich bio-psycho-interdisciplinary service, is to improve and enrich bio-psycho-social functioning through active therapy and/or meaningful social functioning through active therapy and/or meaningful therapeutic activities to maintain or improve functional therapeutic activities to maintain or improve functional independence and life quality. The intended outcome of the independence and life quality. The intended outcome of the service is independence in life activities based upon service is independence in life activities based upon patient/resident needs and goals.patient/resident needs and goals.

The mission is accomplished through the professional skills of The mission is accomplished through the professional skills of Therapists, Specialists and Assistants through a four-step Therapists, Specialists and Assistants through a four-step process of assessment, planning, intervention/activity process of assessment, planning, intervention/activity implementation, and evaluation of services delivered. The implementation, and evaluation of services delivered. The mission includes state of the art clinical care, education, mission includes state of the art clinical care, education, technology, and research within the scope of technology, and research within the scope of recreation/creative arts therapy service.recreation/creative arts therapy service.

Recreation TherapyRecreation Therapy

VisionVision To provide an activity based To provide an activity based

patient-centered service that patient-centered service that integrates function, quality, and integrates function, quality, and meaning to one's life .meaning to one's life .

Community Living Community Living CenterCenter CLCs accommodate convalescents or other CLCs accommodate convalescents or other

persons who are not acutely ill and not in persons who are not acutely ill and not in need of hospital care, but who require need of hospital care, but who require nursing care and related medical services.nursing care and related medical services.

CLCs are a skilled nursing facility designed CLCs are a skilled nursing facility designed to care for residents with various to care for residents with various functional impairments who require functional impairments who require nursing care, supportive personal care, nursing care, supportive personal care, specialized services, and or individual specialized services, and or individual adjustment services regardless of age.adjustment services regardless of age.

Community Living Community Living CenterCenter Psychiatric CarePsychiatric Care Dementia CareDementia Care Respite CareRespite Care Rehabilitative ServicesRehabilitative Services Restorative CareRestorative Care Hospice and Palliative CareHospice and Palliative Care Geriatric Education and Geriatric Education and

ManagementManagement

Community Living Community Living Center & RecreationCenter & Recreation

Recreation Therapy professionals Recreation Therapy professionals create the opportunities for create the opportunities for

residents to be gainfully occupied residents to be gainfully occupied with activities that are suited to with activities that are suited to

the individual, yet rejuvenate the the individual, yet rejuvenate the spirit, jog the mind, and enhance spirit, jog the mind, and enhance quality of living in an culturally quality of living in an culturally

transformed settingtransformed setting

Community Living Community Living Center & RecreationCenter & Recreation

Leisure activities reflect the interests, Leisure activities reflect the interests, needs, and wants of the residents. needs, and wants of the residents.

Leisure assessments are used to Leisure assessments are used to determine leisure interests, adaptations determine leisure interests, adaptations needed for leisure functioning and needed for leisure functioning and patterns of leisure participation.patterns of leisure participation.

Planned and unplanned leisure Planned and unplanned leisure activities are available to the residents.activities are available to the residents.

RT assists the residents in adapting RT assists the residents in adapting activities and equipment to meet their activities and equipment to meet their current abilities.current abilities.

Community Living Community Living Center & RecreationCenter & Recreation

Leisure time is a very important part of a Leisure time is a very important part of a person’s life. Time not obligated for any person’s life. Time not obligated for any task is leisure time. Residents have the task is leisure time. Residents have the right to spend leisure time as they right to spend leisure time as they would prefer and as they would if they would prefer and as they would if they were home. This may be in a large were home. This may be in a large group, off-station, in a small group, with group, off-station, in a small group, with family or friends, with staff or as an family or friends, with staff or as an individual. Past leisure skills may be individual. Past leisure skills may be rekindled or new ones learned. RT’s rekindled or new ones learned. RT’s help residents to maintain as active a help residents to maintain as active a lifestyle as the resident chooses. lifestyle as the resident chooses. Leisure time is part of this lifestyle.Leisure time is part of this lifestyle.

Community LivingCommunity Living

Rehabilitation:Rehabilitation: Functions as a member of Functions as a member of the medical team, has knowledge of the the medical team, has knowledge of the illness and problems of the mentally, illness and problems of the mentally, emotionally, and developmentally emotionally, and developmentally disabled and the geriatric patient.disabled and the geriatric patient.

Education:Education: Provides education and Provides education and counseling in coping with leisure time, counseling in coping with leisure time, particularly with regard to a patient particularly with regard to a patient returning to life in the community. returning to life in the community. Creates-designs a specialized recreational Creates-designs a specialized recreational program.program.

Community LivingCommunity Living

Research:Research: Interviews patients to learn Interviews patients to learn their backgrounds, interests, and skills; their backgrounds, interests, and skills; identifies problems and needs.identifies problems and needs.

Evaluation:Evaluation: Analyzes the success of a Analyzes the success of a program for each individual patient.program for each individual patient.

Activates:Activates: Implements the program of Implements the program of action. Teamwork-between patient and action. Teamwork-between patient and medical staff to provide the most medical staff to provide the most optimum discharge plan and community optimum discharge plan and community re-entry.re-entry.

Community LivingCommunity Living

Innovates:Innovates: Modifies activities to Modifies activities to suit each patient’s capabilities.suit each patient’s capabilities.

Organizes:Organizes: Organizes the Organizes the recreational program utilizing the recreational program utilizing the facilities and community facilities and community resources; re-establish purposeful resources; re-establish purposeful lifestyle to become a functioning lifestyle to become a functioning person of the community again.person of the community again.

P.R.R.P.P.R.R.P.

Post-Traumatic-Stress Residential Post-Traumatic-Stress Residential Rehabilitation ProgramRehabilitation Program

Focus on combat veterans with diagnosed Focus on combat veterans with diagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Serves combat veterans of all age groups Serves combat veterans of all age groups with focus on Vietnam, Operation Iraqi with focus on Vietnam, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), and Operation Desert Freedom (OEF), and Operation Desert Storm veterans with combat related PTSD.Storm veterans with combat related PTSD.

P.R.R.P. & RecreationP.R.R.P. & Recreation

Leisure education courses are provided to educate Leisure education courses are provided to educate veterans about different types of leisure/recreation veterans about different types of leisure/recreation as well as the benefits and barriers to safe as well as the benefits and barriers to safe recreation practices.recreation practices.

Divisional activities that allow veterans to utilize Divisional activities that allow veterans to utilize various recreation areas at the facility that include various recreation areas at the facility that include but are not limited to: use of the bowling alley, but are not limited to: use of the bowling alley, hobby shop, and fitness center.hobby shop, and fitness center.

Community outings/trips are required and help to Community outings/trips are required and help to educate veterans about various recreation/leisure educate veterans about various recreation/leisure opportunities in the community as well as opportunities in the community as well as reintegration into a safe and beneficial social reintegration into a safe and beneficial social setting. Once a month ceremonial trips to the setting. Once a month ceremonial trips to the Vietnam War Memorial and the Vietnam Wall in Vietnam War Memorial and the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. are required.Washington, D.C. are required.

G.O.A.L.S.G.O.A.L.S.

Gaining Occupational and Life SkillsGaining Occupational and Life Skills Serves homeless veterans of any age with a Serves homeless veterans of any age with a

focus on obtaining vocational rehabilitation skills focus on obtaining vocational rehabilitation skills as well as life skills that will aid the veteran in as well as life skills that will aid the veteran in returning to productivity in the community.returning to productivity in the community.

Veterans are also assisted in obtaining safe and Veterans are also assisted in obtaining safe and affordable housing during their stay in the affordable housing during their stay in the G.O.A.L.S. program. G.O.A.L.S. program.

Average length of stay is 4-6 months.Average length of stay is 4-6 months. Veterans are taken from recreation assessment Veterans are taken from recreation assessment

until discharge with individual goals in mind.until discharge with individual goals in mind.

G.O.A.L.S. & G.O.A.L.S. & RecreationRecreation Leisure education courses are provided to Leisure education courses are provided to

educate veterans about different types of educate veterans about different types of leisure/recreation as well as the benefits and leisure/recreation as well as the benefits and barriers to safe recreation practices. barriers to safe recreation practices.

Physical fitness classes are a part of the program Physical fitness classes are a part of the program requirements.requirements.– Education on proper weight training.Education on proper weight training.– Physical and emotional benefits of overall physical Physical and emotional benefits of overall physical

fitness. fitness. Required community outings/tripsRequired community outings/trips

– Provides education to veterans about various Provides education to veterans about various recreation/leisure opportunities in the community as well recreation/leisure opportunities in the community as well as reintegration into a safe and beneficial social setting.as reintegration into a safe and beneficial social setting.

G.O.A.L.S.G.O.A.L.S.

Social Affairs are held weekly.Social Affairs are held weekly.– Specifically for G.O.A.L.S. patients & Specifically for G.O.A.L.S. patients &

staff.staff. Veterans have a chance to socially Veterans have a chance to socially

interact with their peers as well as interact with their peers as well as the staff who serve them.the staff who serve them.

These social gatherings include: These social gatherings include: Cookouts, ice cream socials, Cookouts, ice cream socials, BINGO, and live music.BINGO, and live music.

CAT-5CAT-5

Center for Addictions TreatmentCenter for Addictions Treatment Abstinence based substance abuseAbstinence based substance abuse

program that provides both outpatientprogram that provides both outpatientand residential treatment for veteransand residential treatment for veteranssuffering with substance use disorders. suffering with substance use disorders.

The goal of CAT-5 is for each veteran to learnThe goal of CAT-5 is for each veteran to learnand understand the function substance playsand understand the function substance playsin his/her life. Teaching effective tools thatin his/her life. Teaching effective tools thathelp sustain one’s recovery and opportunities help sustain one’s recovery and opportunities totopractice them. practice them.

Cat-5Cat-5

Mission: Provide a comprehensive continuum Mission: Provide a comprehensive continuum of care so that each eligible veteran has the of care so that each eligible veteran has the recovery tools necessary to live a balanced, recovery tools necessary to live a balanced, productive and service-oriented lifestyle.productive and service-oriented lifestyle.

Services: 80-Bed residential program for Services: 80-Bed residential program for veterans needing a structured, protected, veterans needing a structured, protected, and intensive treatment experience. Length and intensive treatment experience. Length of stay can range from 2 weeks to 6 months.of stay can range from 2 weeks to 6 months.

Incarcerated Veterans Outreach: Reaches out Incarcerated Veterans Outreach: Reaches out to veterans in prison 6 months pre-release, to veterans in prison 6 months pre-release, brings them directly into residential brings them directly into residential treatment, and offers transitional supportive treatment, and offers transitional supportive housing in the community.housing in the community.

CAT-5CAT-5

5 Phases (Program Tracks)5 Phases (Program Tracks)1.1. Detoxification: Veterans are medically Detoxification: Veterans are medically

detoxed from addictive substances in a detoxed from addictive substances in a controlled inpatient environment.controlled inpatient environment.

2.2. Evaluations: Veterans complete a variety of Evaluations: Veterans complete a variety of assessments and evaluations, complete assessments and evaluations, complete orientation and are medically and orientation and are medically and psychiatrically, stabilized.psychiatrically, stabilized.

3.3. Basic Education: Veterans receive an Basic Education: Veterans receive an individualized treatment plan, learn about individualized treatment plan, learn about the function of addictive behaviors in their the function of addictive behaviors in their lives, identify relapse triggers, and learn lives, identify relapse triggers, and learn alternative and healthy behaviors to help alternative and healthy behaviors to help sustain recovery.sustain recovery.

CAT-5CAT-5

4. Cornerstone: Veterans acquire employment in 4. Cornerstone: Veterans acquire employment in the community. Groups meet to focus on how the community. Groups meet to focus on how to use work as a recovery tool. Barriers which to use work as a recovery tool. Barriers which veterans routinely hit in early recovery are veterans routinely hit in early recovery are addressed as veterans experience them. addressed as veterans experience them. Veterans also learn life skills and money Veterans also learn life skills and money management in preparation for returning to management in preparation for returning to the community.the community.

5. Aftercare: Veterans complete 3 months of bi-5. Aftercare: Veterans complete 3 months of bi-weekly outpatient appointments to focus on weekly outpatient appointments to focus on integrating and maintaining their recovery integrating and maintaining their recovery skills into a routine part of a balanced skills into a routine part of a balanced lifestyle.lifestyle.

CAT-5 & RecreationCAT-5 & Recreation

Leisure Educations Classes:Leisure Educations Classes: Promote the veterans the Promote the veterans the opportunity to learn the knowledge and skills necessary to opportunity to learn the knowledge and skills necessary to lead a more productive leisure lifestyle and that supports a lead a more productive leisure lifestyle and that supports a balanced recovery program.balanced recovery program.

Aerobic Exercise:Aerobic Exercise: Veterans will attend a mandatory Veterans will attend a mandatory 3x’s/wk morning exercise class to increase cardio vascular 3x’s/wk morning exercise class to increase cardio vascular fitness and overall muscle tone.fitness and overall muscle tone.

Community Outings:Community Outings: Veterans will attend at least one off Veterans will attend at least one off station trip/month as a way to promote reintegration back station trip/month as a way to promote reintegration back into the community and learn to enjoy themselves into the community and learn to enjoy themselves substance free.substance free.

Community Recreation Night:Community Recreation Night: Veterans will attend a Veterans will attend a mandatory Thursday night activity such as going to the mandatory Thursday night activity such as going to the bowling alley, hobby shop, playing softball/volleyball as a bowling alley, hobby shop, playing softball/volleyball as a way to practice their social interaction skills and learn new way to practice their social interaction skills and learn new activities or get back into past recreation activities that will activities or get back into past recreation activities that will be of carry over value once discharged.be of carry over value once discharged.

Recreation Therapist Recreation Therapist Salaries at V.A.M.C.Salaries at V.A.M.C.

Effective as of January 2008Effective as of January 2008 Grade 7/Step 1 – $39,330Grade 7/Step 1 – $39,330 Grade 9/Step 1 - $48,108Grade 9/Step 1 - $48,108 Grade 10/Step 1 - $52, 979Grade 10/Step 1 - $52, 979

– Grade 10/Step 2 - $ 54,745Grade 10/Step 2 - $ 54,745– Grade 10/Step 3 - $ 56,511Grade 10/Step 3 - $ 56,511– Grade 10/Step 4 - $ 58,277Grade 10/Step 4 - $ 58,277

Locality Payment of 20.89%Locality Payment of 20.89%

InternshipsInternships

480 hour requirement480 hour requirement 12 weeks12 weeks 40 hours/week40 hours/week Different tour of duty requirementsDifferent tour of duty requirements 2 week intervals with each program2 week intervals with each program Special project requirementSpecial project requirement

InternshipsInternships

For more information or if For more information or if you are interested in an you are interested in an

internship with the internship with the Department of Veterans Department of Veterans Affairs please pick up a Affairs please pick up a packet of information!packet of information!