Field Occupational Therapist - Care at Home

Field Occupational Therapist - Care at Home

The Field Occupational Therapist employed by the Agency is responsible for the implementation of standards of care for occupational therapy services and for the adherence to all conditions outlined in their scope of practice.

Job Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Graduate of an occupational therapy curriculum accredited jointly by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association and the American Occupational Therapy Association. Registered with the National Registration of the American Occupational Therapy Association. Two years of clinical experience as an occupational therapist. Community/home health experience is preferred. Possesses and maintains current CPR and BLS certification. Must have valid Florida driver's license, a reliable automobile and minimum insurance as required by law. Licensed to practice as occupational therapist within the State.

Duties and Responsibilities

Evaluates patient's functional status (muscle function, endurance, visual coordination, written and verbal communication skills, self-care ability, work capacity, etc.). Evaluates home environment to assure services can be safely provided in home. Evaluates home environment for hazards or barriers for more independent living. Identifies equipment needs. Develops treatment program and establishes goals for independent living. Assesses and evaluates therapeutic/rehabilitative/functional status and participates in case conferences to develop the total plan of care. Can initiate therapy prime plan of care at any Oasis time point: Start of Care, Resumption, and Recertification. Participates in case conference to develop the total plan of care. Communicates plan of care to referring physician. Guides the patient in use of therapeutic, creative and self-care activities for the purpose of improving function. May teach new skills or retrain patient in once familiar daily activities that have been lost due to illness or injury, in accordance with OT scope of practice. May fabricate splints and instruct patient in the use of various types of adaptive equipment to improve function. May train patient in the use of prosthetic and/or orthotic devices. Observes and records activities and findings in the clinical record per Agency standards and reports to the Physician, PCC or DCS the patient's reaction to treatment and any changes in patient's condition, or when there are any deviations from the plan of care. Maintains contact/communication with other personnel involved in the patient's care to promote coordinated and efficient care. Attends and contributes to in-services, case conferences, and other meetings as required by Agency policy to ensure coordinated and comprehensive patient plan of care. Instructs patient's family/caregiver and other Agency health care personnel in patient's therapeutic procedures of occupational therapy, as indicated and appropriate. Identifies patient and family/caregiver needs for other home health services and refers as appropriate. Provides general supervision for Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants to organization policy and state regulations. Following the comprehensive assessment and initial visit(s) by a clinician and OT is the only remaining skilled service, the therapist may act as case manager and instruct, supervise and evaluate home health aide care every 14 days. Participates in discharge planning for patient. Meets agency productivity goals. Maintains clinical competency in occupational therapy practice and theory. Other duties as assigned

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Working Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

Special Equipment/ Work Aids

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of the home health agency software, Internet software and Word Processing software, and demonstrate competency with documentation in the agency EMR system.

Computer, calculator, telephone, fax machine, sphygmomanometer, stethoscope, thermometer