Occupational Therapist - Hand Therapy

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland. Work Shift: Day (United States of America) Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 Compensation: Salary Range: $31.00 - $46.50 Sign On Bonus: $20,000 with a commitment Union Position: No

Sanford Health is seeking a skilled and motivated Occupational Therapist (OT) to join our growing Hand and Upper Extremity Rehab Program. This position focuses on evaluating and treating patients with conditions affecting the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder, including post-surgical, traumatic, orthopedic, neurologic, sports-related, and work-related injuries. A unique aspect of this role is close collaboration with hand and upper extremity surgeons, creating an integrated care model focused on exceptional patient outcomes. The therapist will participate in treatment planning, post-operative rehabilitation, patient education, and program development within a multidisciplinary orthopedic team. Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) certification is strongly preferred but not required; candidates actively pursuing CHT certification are encouraged to apply.

Hours: M-Th 8:30-5 and Fridays 7:30-4.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) credential.
• Two or more years of experience in hand therapy, upper extremity rehabilitation, or outpatient orthopedics.
• Experience with custom orthosis fabrication and post-operative rehabilitation protocols.
• Strong understanding of upper extremity biomechanics and evidence-based rehabilitation practices.

Summary Responsibilities

• Evaluate patients and develop individualized treatment plans to restore function and optimize outcomes.
• Provide specialized upper extremity care, including therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, scar/edema management, tendon and nerve rehabilitation, post-operative care, and custom orthosis fabrication.
• Collaborate with surgeons, orthopedic providers, APPs, and rehabilitation professionals to provide coordinated, evidence-based care.
• Monitor progress, adjust treatment plans, and educate patients and families on recovery, home programs, and injury prevention.
• Maintain accurate documentation and apply evidence-based practices to clinical care.
• Support program development, quality improvement, outreach, continuing education, and serve as a clinical resource.
• Supervise therapy assistants, aides, and students and collaborate with other care partners as appropriate.

Typical Patient Population

• Tendon repairs and transfers
• Hand, wrist, and elbow fractures
• Peripheral nerve injuries
• Carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes
• Trigger finger and tendon disorders
• De Quervain's tenosynovitis
• Arthritis and joint replacement/reconstruction
• Shoulder conditions
• Sports-related injuries
• Work-related injuries
• Complex trauma and post-surgical rehabilitation

Job Description Why Join Our Team?

• Collaborative Specialty Care Model: Work alongside hand and upper extremity surgeons, APPs, and rehabilitation professionals in an integrated, team-based environment focused on exceptional patient outcomes.
• Strong Provider and Therapist Engagement: Collaborate with physicians, APPs, and therapists through shared treatment planning, clinical discussions, and coordinated care.
• Dedicated to Clinical Excellence: Deliver high-quality care through evidence-based practice, incorporating current research into clinical decision-making and treatment planning.
• Commitment to Professional Growth: Access internal education, specialty training, mentorship, and a continuing medical education (CME) budget to advance your expertise.
• Specialty Program Development: Help grow and advance a thriving hand and upper extremity rehabilitation program while shaping best practices and clinical pathways.
• Diverse and Complex Caseload: Treat post-surgical cases, tendon and nerve injuries, fractures, sports and work-related injuries, and complex orthopedic conditions.
• Patient-Centered Culture: Build meaningful patient relationships while providing individualized care focused on recovery, function, education, and long-term success.
• Learning-Focused Environment: Join a team that values knowledge sharing, clinical mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Appropriate education level required in accordance with state licensure.
• Must be licensed in the state(s) of practice as Occupational Therapist.
• When working at a Sanford Health Facility (not required but preferred for GSS Facilities): Must also be certified through the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
• When applicable, may require valid driver's license.
• Obtains and subsequently maintains required department specific competencies and certifications.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for health care providers required or within the first 60 days of employment.
• In the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota, new graduates in the process of testing with the board, will be considered with the possession of a temporary license.

Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call View phone number on click.appcast.io or send an email to View email address on click.appcast.io.

The Sanford organization owns and manages multiple distinct brands, including Sanford Health, Marshfield Clinic, and Good Samaritan, as well as Lewis Drug, Sanford Health Equip, Solutions by Sanford, Great Shots, and Blue Rock Bar & Grill.

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.

Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization has 53,000 employees and serves over 2 million patients and nearly 425,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The integrated nonprofit health system includes a network of 56 hospitals, 288 clinic locations, 147 senior care communities, 4,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 1,500 active clinical trials and studies.

The organization’s transformational virtual care initiative brings patients closer to care with access to 78 specialties. Learn more about Sanford Health’s commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.

Good Samaritan, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of senior care and services, is committed to transforming the aging experience through innovation, compassion and personalized care. As part of Sanford Health, an integrated nonprofit health system headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Good Samaritan serves 10,000 seniors and offers access to a full continuum of care, including 94 rehabilitation and skilled nursing centers, 56 assisted living and memory care facilities, 44 independent living locations and 37 home health and hospice agencies. The senior care provider delivers services across the upper Midwest, with 70% of residents living in rural communities. Learn more about Good Samaritan’s mission and commitment to delivering high quality senior care in rural America at good-sam.com.