Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, JCH

This position is located at Jefferson County Hospital in Waurika, Oklahoma.

About the Role

The Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA), under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist and within determined levels of competency, assists with the evaluation and treatment of performance deficits in daily living or work activities, self-care tasks, and leisure activities due to illness, injuries, and disabilities. The COTA assists with occupational therapy programs in hospital, outpatient, educational, and/or community settings to facilitate performance development and independence in activities across various age groups: infant (birth to 1 year), pediatric (1 to 12 years), adolescence (13-17 years), adult (18-64 years), and geriatric (65 years and above).

Responsibilities

• Provide patient and family education/training, including counseling on coping with functional impairments and disabilities.
• Deliver rehabilitative services to individuals with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments under the direction of a licensed occupational therapist.
• Instruct and counsel patients by describing therapeutic regimens, providing normal growth and development information, and promoting wellness and health maintenance.
• Assist in developing and implementing purposeful goals with the supervising occupational therapist.
• Help clients improve their quality of life by using therapeutic and self-care activities to compensate for limitations, such as assisting injured workers with motor skills to re-enter the labor force or teaching individuals with learning disabilities to prepare meals or use public transportation.
• Observe patients during treatments, compile and evaluate data on patient responses and progress, and report findings to the occupational therapist.
• Maintain current state licensure by completing licensing board and state requirements.
• Contribute to the occupational therapist’s effectiveness by identifying patient care issues and administering treatment programs.
• Comply with federal and state occupational therapy regulations.
• Maintain a safe and clean working environment by adhering to procedures, rules, and infection-control policies.
• Preserve the confidentiality of customer and staff health and financial information.
• Take responsibility for care provided by support staff, including orienting, instructing, and directing students and techs.
• Complete administrative tasks such as documenting billing information and maintaining accurate records of daily notes, treatment progress, and treatment plans as required by law and hospital policy.
• Maintain legal and accreditation compliance by adhering to federal, state, and local regulations and JACHO standards.
• Ensure regular attendance and punctuality for scheduled shifts.
• Adapt assessment, treatment, and care methods to accommodate physical, cultural, age-specific, and developmental needs.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge through continuing education opportunities.
• Utilize assistive devices for lifting as mandated.
• Adhere to safety protocols at all times.
• Undergo respirator and fit testing for exposure to airborne infectious diseases, droplet-producing procedures, or caustic chemicals.
• Implement DRH Standards of Behavior and exhibit behaviors consistent with DRH core values.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program.
• At least one (1) year of COTA experience preferred.
• Communication skills, including fluency in oral and written English.
• Basic computer skills, including the ability to navigate information technology and use Electronic Health Record tools.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to remain flexible and adapt quickly to urgent situations.
• Analytical skills for selecting diagnostic tools, analyzing results, and developing effective treatment plans.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex documents.
• Compassion and sensitivity when working with individuals facing difficulties.
• Critical thinking skills for adjusting treatment plans and identifying alternative solutions.
• Attention to detail for maintaining accurate treatment and progress notes.
• Strong listening skills to understand patient concerns and symptoms.
• Ability to apply mathematical operations to tasks such as frequency distribution and analysis of variance.
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.

Additional Information

This is a "Safety-Sensitive" position as defined by Oklahoma law. Applicants cannot test positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in pre-employment or any subsequent drug tests, even with a valid medical marijuana card.

Respirator and fit testing are required for all team members at risk of exposure to airborne infectious diseases, droplet-producing procedures, or caustic chemicals.

Vaccinations are required per DRH policy, with medical and religious exemptions available upon request.