Occupational Therapist

JOB Summary:

The Occupational Therapist is responsible for providing occupational therapy services to patients in accordance with agency policy and procedure, State of Connecticut and federal regulation and payor guidelines. Functions require special skills and knowledge of home healthcare principles and practices.

FUNCTIONS:

1. Provides a comprehensive evaluation, health history and physical exam to determine the patient's level of functioning and participates in the development of the patient's total plan of care. Performs ongoing evaluation and revision of the plan of care, as needed.

2. Develops care plan to address patient-centered goals, deficits, equipment needs, home modifications and safety risks. Specific long-term and short-term goals are established and updated in an ongoing manner.

3. Comprehensive assessment and treatment plan must take into account the patient's mental status/cognition, ambulation, transfers, coordination, ROM, endurance, functional status, muscle strength, architectural barriers, equipment needs, safety, splinting needs and patient's routines surrounding ADLs and IADLs.

4. Performs all care per plan of care and physician orders and updates the physician with any changes in condition.

5. Assures that visits are scheduled and made to meet the patient's care needs in accordance with physician orders and the MD is updated of any changes in the plan of care.

6. Teaches appropriate treatment procedures and supportive activities to patients, family members and involved caregivers.

7. Evaluates patient's response to care and progress and revises treatment plan as needed.

8. Performs skilled treatment and interventions following infection control practices and agency annual flu vaccination protocols

9. Directs and aids patients and families in learning:

a) ADL/IADL program

b) work simplification/energy conservation

c) muscle reeducation

d) perceptual motor and neuro-developmental training

e) transfer training

f) massage techniques

g) fine and gross motor/dexterity training

h) coordination training

i) sensory enhancement

10. Arranges for HME and fabricates equipment/splinting as indicated.

11. Confers periodically with the attending physician regarding the patient's progress and reports physical, emotional or social factors affecting the patient's care.

12. Attends and contributes to IDT meetings effectively communicating with the interdisciplinary team to achieve goals of care and prevent complication or hospitalization.

13. Identifies patient and family needs for other home health or community services and refers for same when needed.

14. Biweekly case conferencing is performed and documented amongst all members of the interdisciplinary team per State of Connecticut regulation.

15. Conferences biweekly with Supervisors of Therapy Services and Clinical Services when no other services are being provided.

16. Instructs and supervises other health team personnel, and when appropriate, the Home Health Aide and family or primary caregivers in the occupational therapy regime.

17. Supervises the Home Health Aide at least every two weeks when participating in OT treatment regime or when no other services are being provided. The HHA plan of care is updated and reviewed as needed and delegated to the aide.

18. Helps individuals and families to accept and adjust positively to physical, mental and social limitations.

19. All documentation is accurate, complete and in the patient record according to agency policy and procedure.

20. All physician summaries are completed at evaluation, resumption, recert and discharge. 30 day Medicare summaries are timely, quantitative and meet Medicare guidelines.

21. The occupational therapist will document the skilled nature of all visits and follow all Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance coverage guidelines.

22. Obtains timely initial authorization and reauthorization as required from all managed care plans.

23. Schedules and performs home visits in a cost effective manner, in concert with other disciplines to achieve maximal functions and safety.

24. Participates in the orientation program for new staff or students as requested.

25. Accepts cases assigned and remains flexible and cooperative in fulfilling role obligation.

26. Responds to agency communication in a timely manner and communicates availability weekly.

27. Assists in planning and presenting in-service programs as requested by the agency.

28. Participates in the Home Health Aide training program, e.g., in-service education and orientation as requested by the agency.

29. Serves as consultant to other facilities serviced by the agency and interprets the role of the occupational therapist to other community agencies.

30. Personally implements, promotes and enforces the Stratford VNA Corporate Values System.

31. Maintains knowledge of Medicare and State guidelines, measures to prevent fraud and abuse.

32. Participates in ongoing competency and self evaluation and carries out a plan for professional development, which includes peer consultations, at least on a quarterly basis.

The above statements are only intended to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. B.S. degree in Applied Science-Occupational Therapy.

2. Registration in the State of Connecticut as an Occupational Therapist.

3. At least one year's experience in an institutional or ambulatory care setting.

4. Four years of clinical experience preferred.

5. Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of occupational therapy.

6. Exercise independent judgement in the home, seeking supervisory support/guidance when needed.