Occupational Therapist I

Occupational Therapist

Under supervision, evaluates the occupational therapy needs for assigned patients, and develops, implements, and documents treatment plans and goals to meet these needs, in an inpatient and outpatient hospital or California Children's Services (CCS) setting.

The Power of WE: Together, we can make a greater impact. Bringing better care and expanding healthcare services across the community.

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) is the second largest public health care system in California and includes four acute care hospitals, 14 clinics and 60+ specialty and sub-specialty services. Our mission is to provide high-quality, accessible healthcare and excellent service to everyone in Santa Clara County.

Because we serve patients throughout multiple hospitals and clinics, you may have to work at different sites. We will meet any obligations we may have when this occurs.

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center - SCVMC is a full-service tertiary acute care teaching hospital with 699 licensed beds providing a wide range of specialized services, including Rehabilitation, Burn, Trauma, and NICU. SCVMC was ranked by U.S. News and World Report as #6 Rehabilitation Hospital in the nation and #1 in the West and designated as a 2024 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care, Heart Failure, Stroke, Hip Fracture, and Pneumonia.

O'Connor Hospital - O'Connor Hospital (OCH) is a 358 licensed bed acute care facility offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical and specialty programs to residents of Santa Clara County. It was founded in 1889 as one of the first hospitals in the county. OCH has grown significantly over the past five years in both its inpatient volume and its Emergency Department visits. Along with these volume increases other ancillary and clinical departments like imaging, lab, pharmacy, and respiratory have seen growth as well.

St. Louise Regional Hospital - Since 1989, St. Louise Regional Hospital (SLRH) has been caring for the residents in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties, offering a wide range of inpatient and outpatient medical specialties. SLRH has 93 beds, is a Designated Primary Stroke Center, and is the only acute care hospital in the area. Located in Gilroy, SLRH maintains a CALSTAR 2 emergency helicopter base on the premises.

Regional Medical Center – Regional Medical Center (RMC) is a 258-bed hospital that is the main emergency healthcare provider for East San José, treating a wide range of critical and life-threatening conditions for more than 60 years. Since the SCVH integration of RMC effective 4/1/25, RMC has expanded the critical services including Level II trauma, Thrombectomy capable Stroke Center and STEMI care, and has been seeing an increased number of emergency visits and inpatient volume.

Learn more about Santa Clara Valley Healthcare:

Typical Tasks

• Evaluates patients, including occupational history and experiences, patterns of daily living, interests, values and needs, identifying patient's problems and concerns about performing daily life activities and other areas of occupation;
• Observes actual performance of activities and tasks to identify specifically what supports or hinders performance including motor skills (e.g., mobility, posture, coordination, strength) and process skills (e.g., attention, pace, organization, sequencing);
• Integrates patient's needs, problems and concerns with an analysis of patient performance, specifically focusing on issues that support or hinder performance;
• Analyzes findings to determine therapy diagnosis and prognosis and designs a program to maximize outcomes and alleviate impairment and functional limitations; identifies the frequency and duration required to meet goals;
• Using fundamental skills in clinical reasoning and problem-solving, performs relatively routine patient care in the areas of physical function, self-care (e.g., dressing, hygiene, eating), functional mobility (e.g., bed and wheelchair mobility, transfers), homemaking, and community re-integration;
• Uses treatment skills and modalities, including: perceptual motor skills, cognitive skills and sensory integration;
• Evaluates the need for, recommends, and trains in use of basic durable medical equipment, adaptive devices, orthotics and prosthetics;
• Fabricates orthotic and adaptive devices;
• Charges for patient care and prepares medical record documentation in compliance with professional and regulatory guidelines;
• Provides patient and family/caregiver education and training;
• Conducts home, school, and worksite evaluations, and makes recommendations;
• Reports at interdisciplinary conferences and rounds;
• Coordinates with other disciplines on patient's progress and discharge planning;
• Manages assigned caseload of patients, which includes scheduling and prioritizing patient care, and being responsible for patient care delegated to OT Assistants and Therapy Technicians;
• Makes recommendations, including home programs and referrals to others as needed.

Clinical Supervisory Responsibilities

• May clinically supervise volunteers and students.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Assumes selected responsibilities of other staff during temporary absences;
• May assist in the day-to-day operations of assigned service;
• May assist with selected aspects of the orientation and training of new service personnel.

Professional Development

• Participates in internal and external professional and educational activities to enhance personal and professional growth;
• Participates in research as appropriate;
• Assists with program development as assigned;
• Provides guidance to interns, assistants and Therapy Technicians;
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
• Other related duties as assigned.

Employment Standards

Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities: Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are attained through possession of a valid license, eligibility for licensing, or Limited Permit to practice as an Occupational Therapist in the State of California according to the California Occupational Therapy Practice Act. Limited Permit Holders must pass the next scheduled examination as specified in the Business and Professions Code 2570 "Occupational Therapy Practice Act" or be released from position. Knowledge of:

• Principles, methods and theory of the practice of Occupational Therapy;
• Pathologies and injuries that result in physical impairment;
• Basic principles of psychology and abnormal psychology;
• Evaluation and treatment methodologies applied to routine patient care;
• Regulatory practice requirements.

Ability to:

• Develop, implement and adapt treatment programs;
• Evaluate patients and interpret clinical data and make clinical judgments;
• Write clearly and concisely;
• Communicate effectively with patients, staff, and other health professionals;
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with others;
• Efficiently manage time and priorities;
• Demonstrate appropriate patient handling skills;
• Reach, grasp, manipulate and carry a variety of objects;
• Assist, support, lift and transfer patients.