Occupational Therapist - BHOSC | Full-Time

Occupational Therapist

Sanford Health is seeking a skilled and motivated Occupational Therapist 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; candidates actively pursuing CHT certification are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities include evaluating patients and developing 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 includes 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.

Preferred qualifications include 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, and a strong understanding of upper extremity biomechanics and evidence-based rehabilitation practices.

Why join our team? Collaborative specialty care model, strong provider and therapist engagement, dedication to clinical excellence, commitment to professional growth, specialty program development, diverse and complex caseload, patient-centered culture, and a learning-focused environment.