COTA

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Provides treatment under the direction of an occupational therapist as prescribed by the referring physician and supervising occupational therapist. Recommends changes in treatment plan to the supervising occupational therapist based upon patient condition and response to treatment.

Responsibilities:

• Attends and actively participates in staff meetings, staff development, departmental committees and in-service education programs.
• Competently assists occupational therapists in the survey of pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients within the scope of practice permitted by the Occupational Therapy Practice Acts of practicing state.
• Maintains written/electronic documentation which meets or exceeds the standard established for the facility by the organization for all clinical services rendered including documentation of changes in a patient's status, cancellations and the treatment intervention administered. Ensures documentation is cosigned in accordance with the facility specific guidelines and the Occupational Therapy Practice Acts of practicing state.
• Demonstrates clinical ability to implement the treatment program within the plan of care outlined by the occupational therapist in a fashion which reflects current scientific and clinical knowledge to effectively achieve established outcomes/goals.
• Consistently and accurately administer standardized testing as requested by the attending occupational therapist and record results to generate appropriate OT diagnoses.
• Competently provides appropriate, comprehensive, and skillful therapeutic interventions based on treatment programs that have been developed by a occupational therapist for pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients within the scope of practice permitted by the Occupational Therapy Practice Acts of practicing state.
• Rotates through selected treatment areas and/or facilities when necessary to facilitate organizational needs.
• Consistently utilizes and provides appropriate supervision to clinical support staff in accordance with Occupational Therapy Practice Acts of practicing state.
• Completes necessary charge/statistical information to accurately reflect services documented and rendered to patients.
• Schedules to achieve and maintain a level of productivity which meets or exceeds the standard established for the facility by the organization.
• Demonstrates clinical ability to implement the treatment program within the plan of care outlined by the occupational therapist in accordance with patient response to treatment and/or change in patient medical status to maximize outcomes. Recognizes information that requires alteration in of the plan of care and notifies the occupational therapist in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Appropriately requests and actively provides objective feedback to supervisors regarding department performance and emergency situations.

Qualifications:

• Graduate of an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) with associates degree as an occupational therapy assistant.
• Must possess knowledge and skills required to provide quality customer service.
• Experience in acute care and/or inpatient rehab and/or long term care, preferred.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• Licensed or eligible for licensure in practicing state.
• National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Certification.
• CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
• Occupational Therapy Assistant.
• Act 34.
• OAPSA.

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran