COTA - Full Time

About the Role

The Staff Occupational Therapist Assistant assists the Staff Occupational Therapist with resident-related activities and direct resident care.

Responsibilities

• Treat residents as directed by the Occupational Therapist.
• Complete timely, accurate, and compliant documentation in accordance with facility, governmental, and third-party payer requirements.
• Maintain a safe treatment environment by following infection control, safety, and equipment maintenance protocols.
• Participate in Resident Care conferences and/or Rehabilitation meetings, as needed.
• Assist nursing department with training of Restorative Aides.
• Communicate routinely with the supervising occupational therapist to ensure timely updates to physicians, nursing staff, the interdisciplinary team, residents, and families regarding progress, goals, and discharge planning.
• Provide in-services on training programs for other staff in the facility as needed.
• Educate residents, families, and caregivers on treatment goals, home exercise programs, maintenance programs, safety techniques, and fall prevention strategies.
• Recommend and facilitate the ordering of necessary durable medical equipment for residents to facilitate independence in ADLs; i.e., adaptive equipment, splints, assistive devices, elevated toilet seats, and grab bars.
• Maintain confidentiality of residents' information as well as company information.
• Report any problems with department equipment so that it is maintained in good working order.
• Contribute to quality assurance, performance improvement initiatives, and facility rehabilitation program development as assigned.
• Relate positively, effectively, and appropriately with residents, families, staff, and professional colleagues.

Requirements

• Associate Degree from an accredited COTA program.
• Licensed as an Occupational Therapist Assistant in the state.
• Must maintain continuing education requirements per state practices and a license in good standing with the state board.
• Determine additional certification as appropriate per facility.
• CPR certification, if required by licensure.
• Proficient in computer skills such as inputting data into programs for Net Health and Point Click Care.

Skills

• Ability to read technical procedures, policy, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers, coworkers, and families.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to solve practical problems and interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Physical Demands

The essential functions of this position require the ability to:

• Stand and walk frequently, sit occasionally.
• Occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl as needed to provide resident care and operate equipment.
• Reach, push, pull, lift, and manipulate objects and equipment, with exertion that may occasionally exceed 100 pounds, frequently exceed 50 pounds, or constantly exceed 20 pounds to safely move residents or equipment.
• Communicate effectively, including talking and hearing, to interact with residents, families, and the healthcare team.
• Perceive and respond to environmental cues, including tactile, auditory, and visual information, essential for safe and effective resident care.
• Assist, support, and transport residents in accordance with safe resident handling practices.

Work Environment

The work environment is usually low to moderate in noise level. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.