Per Diem Occupational Therapist

Our Occupational Therapists administer Occupational Therapy care to patients requiring professional therapy services. These services are performed in accordance with physician’s orders, under the direction and supervision of the Rehabilitation Director and in compliance with applicable laws and regulation and the policies of the organization.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Conducts home occupational therapy visits; performs evaluations, follow up visits, 30-day re-evaluations, re-certs, and discharges.
• Evaluates the patient's rehabilitative status and participates in the development of the total plan of care.
• Initiates occupational therapy program and instructs other personnel in certain phases of occupational therapy with which they may work with a patient.
• Communicates with physicians regarding therapy frequency, duration, and goals.
• Prepares and submits clinical notes and progress summaries based on the attainment of goals in a timely manner.
• Teaches and instructs patient and/or patient’s family members where applicable.
• Helps patient accomplish treatment plan by instructing, encouraging, and assisting patients in performing activities, such as therapeutic exercises, transfer training, neuromuscular re-education, coordination, and educating patients on safety and fall prevention in the home to improve patient’s ability to participate in activities of daily living.
• Assesses patient’s vitals BP, HR, SaO2 as needed for patient safety and reports abnormal findings to Rehabilitation Manager and PCP.
• Educates and instructs patients on proper use of durable medical equipment (DME), such as walkers, grab bars, shower chairs, wheelchairs, crutches, canes, and prostheses, and orders DME when appropriate.
• Accurately and thoroughly documents patient response to occupational therapy by observing, noting, and evaluating patient's progress; recommending adjustments and modifications as related to rehab potential using current EMR.
• Completes discharge planning by consulting with physicians, nurses, social workers, and other health care workers involved in patient care.
• Educates on importance of continuation of therapeutic plan following discharge by designing home exercise programs; instructing patients, families, and caregivers in home exercise programs; recommending and/or providing assistive equipment; recommending outpatient or home health follow-up programs.
• Effectively communicates with supporting staff SN, OT/COTA, PT/PTA, SLP, MD.
• Maintains patient confidence and protects agency operations by keeping information confidential.
• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Protects patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols.
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; follows manufacturer's instructions; troubleshoots malfunctions; calls for repairs.

• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviews professional publications; establishes personal networks; participates in professional societies.
• Complies with federal, state, and local legal and professional requirements by studying existing and new legislation; anticipates future legislation; enforces adherence to requirements; advises management on needed actions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

WHAT YOU HAVE:

• Possess a graduate degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited university
• Valid license to practice Occupational Therapy within the state of Massachusetts
• Possess and maintains current CPR Certification
• 1 year of home care, skilled nursing facility, acute care, or inpatient rehab experience required
• Valid Driver's License
• Access to a vehicle and active car insurance

Preferred Education and Experience:

• 1 year of home care experience preferred

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Frequently required to stand.
• Frequently required to walk.
• Frequently required to sit.
• Continually required to use hands and fingers.
• Frequently required to climb, balance, bend, stoop, kneel or crawl.
• Occasionally required to lift/push light weights (less than 25 pounds).
• Occasionally required to lift/push light weights (greater than 25 pounds).
• Moving, lifting, or transferring of patients may be required on occasion.
• Frequent exposure to bloodborne and airborne pathogens or infectious materials.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Daily local travel required by car to perform patient visits, attend in-person meetings, continued education, etc. Occasional travel required to corporate offices outside assigned region.