Occupational Therapist (Adult Care)

Overview

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, psycho-social and/or cognitive impairments. Provides interventions for deficits and elicits responses. Participates in the coordination of care.

Responsibilities

• Performs ongoing clinical assessment, including OASIS assessments at appropriate time points to identify patient needs and determine level of functioning and appropriateness of patient for home care.
• Evaluates the patient’s occupational performance in the areas of self-care, work, leisure, and rest. Assesses sensory-motor neuromuscular, psycho-social, 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 and 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, and completes clinical notes, phone order and other clinical record documentation on an ongoing basis and in a timely manner. Revises the POC based on evaluations and ongoing assessment data.
• Provides services that are ordered by the physician as indicated on the POC; oversees other team members, when applicable, in the performance of patient care that is consistent with the patient’s needs.
• 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 or performing patient care activities to prevent contamination and transmission of disease.
• Communicates with all physicians involved in the POC and other health care practitioners (as appropriate) related to the current POC.
• Meets mandatory continuing education requirement of the Agency and licensing board.
• Uses effective interpersonal relations and communication skills; facilitates the use of these skills by other team members to achieve desirable outcomes.
• Provides patient caregiver, and family counseling; provides patient and caregiver education.
• Assists and instructs patients and their families in transfer techniques appropriate to patient abilities. Instructs on use of equipment such as walkers, wheelchair, canes, etc., in a safe manner. Utilizes appropriate therapy equipment specific to patients’ diagnoses and needs.
• Promotes the Agency philosophy and administrative policies.
• Demonstrates commitment, professional growth, and competency.
• Participates in the Agency’s QAPI program.
• Participates in Agency-sponsored in-service training.

Physical, Mental, Miscellaneous Demands

• 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.
• Must have and maintain valid Driver’s License, and proof of current valid auto liability insurance.
• Requires current CPR certificate, and the ability to maintain a current CPR certificate.
• Requires ability to use up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently and/or up to 10 pounds continuously to move objects.
• Work deals mostly with areas such as preparing and reading data and figures, records, reports, visual inspection involving small details. Although important, depth perception and field of vision (peripheral) are not as critical as the ability to distinguish small details and markings very near to the observer.
• Requires ability to grasp, pull, push, carry or otherwise manipulate objects; ability to perform tasks requiring action of muscles or groups of muscles and foot and/or hand-eye coordination.
• Requires ability to communicate clearly and make self-understood effectively in face-to-face interactions; articulate with accuracy to communicate using phone.
• Requires ability to hear and receive verbal instructions correctly, answer phones, communicate professionally with people in situations with some background noise.
• Requires ability to concentrate on fine detail with frequent interruption; ability to focus attention on tasks for 10-20 minutes at a time on a continuous basis, 20-60 minutes on occasion.
• Requires ability to understand and relate to specific ideas one at a time and to the concepts behind specific ideas; ability to remember verbal and written tasks/assignments from a few hours to several day periods.
• Position requires sitting approximately 60% of time standing/stooping/bending/ climbing approximately 20% of time; and walking approximately 20% of time.
• Excellent computer software skills necessary to produce accurate documents and materials required.
• Requires ability to work effectively under minimal supervision; exercise excellent, sound professional judgment and maintain confidentiality.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy.

Licensure: Current State License as an Occupational Therapist or if licensure does not apply, meets one of the requirements listed in 42 CFR §484.115(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. Current driver’s license.

Experience: One year experience as an Occupational Therapist preferred.

Skills: Therapy skills as defined as generally accepted standards of practice. Good interpersonal skills. Proof of current CPR. Knowledge of durable medical equipment.

Transportation: Reliable transportation and valid and current auto liability insurance.

Environmental /Working Conditions: Works in a health care facility or patients’ homes in various conditions; possible exposure to blood and bodily fluids and infectious diseases; ability to work a flexible schedule; ability to travel locally; some exposure to unpleasant weather.