Occupational Therapist

Overview

Job Summary: A registered professional who provides occupational therapy to patients of all age groups. Plans, implements, and evaluates patient care plans to restore or maintain patient well-being. Evaluates occupational roles and occupational performance of patients with physical, psychosocial, and/or cognitive impairments. Provides interventions for deficits and elicits responses. Participates in the coordination of care.

Responsibilities

• Performs ongoing clinical assessments, including OASIS assessments, at appropriate time points to identify patient, and to determine level of functioning and appropriateness of the patient for home health.
• Evaluates the patient's occupational performance in the areas of self-care, work, leisure, and rest. Assesses sensory-motor neuromuscular, psychosocial, and cognitive-perceptual components of occupational behavior. Assesses physical, social, and cultural components of the patient's occupational environment.
• Assesses and facilitates through direct therapeutic intervention the patient's ROM, strength, coordination, need for and use of adaptive equipment, environmental modifications, functional mobility, and safety issues as related to the patient's ADL performance needs. Fabricates and maintains adaptive equipment and hand splints.
• Develops and evaluates the plan of care in partnership with the patient, representative (if any), and caregiver(s). Documents, prepares, revises, and completes clinical notes, phone orders, and other clinical record documentation on an ongoing basis and in a timely manner.
• Accepts clinical assignments that are consistent with education and competence to care for patients. Provides services that are ordered by the physician as indicated in the plan of care, including patient, caregiver, and family counseling, and patient and caregiver education. Provides supervision and guidance to occupational therapy assistants and home health aides as appropriate.
• Applies concepts of infection control and standard precautions in coordinating and performing patient care activities to prevent contamination and transmission of disease.
• Uses effective interpersonal relations and communication skills; facilitates the use of these skills by other team members to achieve desirable outcomes.
• Communicates with all physicians involved in the plan of care and other health care practitioners related to the current plan of care.
• Participates in the Agency's QAPI program.
• Participates in the Agency sponsored in-service training.
• Meets mandatory continuing education requirements of the Agency and the licensing board.
• Demonstrates commitment, professional growth, and competency.
• Promotes the Agency philosophy and administrative policies to ensure quality of care.

Qualifications

• Education : Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy.
• Licensure : Active, state license as an occupational therapist, or if licensure does not apply, meets one of the requirements listed in 42 CFR §484.llS(f). A military spouse may engage in the practice of occupational therapy without obtaining the applicable occupational therapy license, if the military spouse is currently licensed in good standing by another jurisdiction of the U.S. that has licensing requirements that are substantially equivalent to the requirements for the license in this state.
• Experience : One year of experience as an occupational therapist, preferred.
• Skills : Therapy skills as defined as generally accepted standards of practice. Good interpersonal skills. Proof of current CPR certification. Knowledge of durable medical equipment.
• Transportation: Reliable transportation and valid auto liability insurance. Current driver's license.

Environmental and Working Conditions

• Works in patients' homes in various conditions; possible exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and infectious diseases; ability to work a flexible schedule; ability to travel locally; some exposure to unpleasant weather.

Physical and Mental Effort

• Ability to do heavy lifting, bending, pulling, pushing, and standing.
• Prolonged standing and walking required.
• Requires working under some stressful conditions to meet deadlines and patient needs, and to meet patient and family individualized psychosocial needs.
• Requires hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity.

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