Certified Hand Therapist

Overview

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

This position evaluates and implements physical or occupational therapy to patients with hand and upper extremity pathologies through the use of advanced therapeutic techniques to relieve pain, restore physical functioning and facilitate independence. The incumbent may be involved in the prevention of disabilities or injury reoccurrence. This position may be required to access and administer medications within their scope of practice and according to State Law.

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates and assesses the patient's abilities and limitations.
• Establishes plan of treatment and goals based on the referral and evaluation of functional skills, joint mobility, gait, developmental reflexes, muscle strength, tone, and coordination, sensation tests, and other measures to ensure rapid patient recovery.
• Implements therapy according to the established plan, utilizing appropriate procedures, equipment and techniques within the scope of physical therapy.
• May participate in wound management through wound debridement, dressing changes, exercise, stretching and splinting.
• Recommends adaptive equipment, completes the equipment justification forms and arranges for the delivery of equipment.
• Re-evaluates patients, assesses their progress and makes recommendations regarding discharge.
• Consults and co-treats with other patient care team members to discuss patient progress, set objectives for patient treatment and integrate physical treatment with other activities.
• Educates the patient and/or caregiver about the findings of the evaluation, established goals of the physical therapy program, plan of treatment, home programs, injury prevention and other related information.
• Evaluates home or work environments and makes physical barrier modification or ergonomic recommendations.
• May assist with departmental program development and training physical therapy students.
• May provide in-services for staff, other departments and the community.
• Provides documentation of patient care according to established criteria.
• Participates in continuous quality improvement projects.
• Supervises the patient care activities of aides, assistants, attendants, students and volunteers.
• Participates in in-services, medical conferences, staff meetings, continuing education courses, team meetings and other related activities.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above.

• Demonstrated human relation and effective communication skills.

• Current knowledge of safety issues needed in the treatment of patients, especially regarding body substance precautions and body mechanics to protect self, patients and personnel working with therapists.

• Ability to participate in rotations of work area, weekends and week-day hours and assigned holidays.

• Ability to follow ethical guidelines outlined by the American Physical Therapy Association.

• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on the assigned unit.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development and the ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.

Qualifications

Qualifications
Required

• 3 years clinical/practical experience.

Licenses Required

• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire.

• Current Hand Therapist (CHT) certification through the Hand Therapy Certification Commission

• One of the following
  • Current license to practice as a Physical Therapist in the State of Utah, or obtain one within 90 days of hire under the Physical Therapy Compact if switching residency to State of Utah. Must maintain current Physical Therapy Compact (multi-state) license if residency is not being changed to Utah.
  • Current licensure to practice as an Occupational Therapist in the State of Utah.

* Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Qualifications (Preferred)

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This position involves intermediate working conditions in a healthcare setting that may exert up to 50 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or otherwise moving patients or objects, such as medical equipment, while providing patient care. Workers in this position may be exposed to infectious diseases and may be required to function around prisoners or behavioral health patients.

Physical Requirements

Carrying, Climbing, Color Determination, Crawling, Far Vision, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Near Vision, Non Indicated, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Walking