Home Health/Rehabilitation Occupational Therapist

Essential Functions

• Performs initial evaluation and periodic re-evaluation of clients.
• Designs treatment programs, establishes the occupational therapy care plan based on evaluative findings.
• Administers treatments to clients based on the plan of care and under the orders of a physician.
• Provides education as necessary to the patient, caregivers and others in the home.
• Prepares all written documentation for home use by the client/caregiver in order to meet the goals of the care plan.
• Maintains and encourages open and ongoing communication with physicians, disciplines, co-workers and peer organizations regarding client care.
• Ensures that all care for client is coordinated with physicians, agency personnel, other hospital personnel and community resources so to maximize care and services.
• Provides services in manner to contribute to client meeting goals.
• Interprets results and treatment goals to client, physician, caregivers, and other disciplines involved in care for client.
• Provides services in manner to contribute to client meeting goals.
• Maintains and ensures that all documentation is present on the client clinical record, according to department policy and procedures.
• Demonstrates knowledge of all departmental policies and procedures, maintains that skills necessary to execute them.
• Complies with all hospital policies and procedures.
• Maintains adequate knowledge of the regulations governing Medicare/Medicaid Home Health Services and reimbursement guidelines in order to make accurate decisions regarding covered client services.
• Maintains adequate knowledge of standards put forth by the JACHO in order to ensure on going accreditation by the agency.
• Fills accurate record of charges/mileage for all clients on a weekly basis.
• Provides a positive working environment for all co-workers, colleagues, and visitors to the department through two-way communication, good listening techniques and consideration of differing opinions or difficult situations.
• Maintains confidentiality of all client information, as well as employee and departmental information.
• Supervises supporting personnel: Home Health Aides and certified occupational therapy assistants as appropriate and set forth in agency policy and procedures.
• Participates in clinical record audits per Director requests.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Non-Essential Functions

• Participates in clinics/fairs during the year to promote the Home Health Department.
• Communicates to the public positively and proactively on services provided by the Home Health Department.

Qualifications

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Must have good verbal and written communication skills, manual dexterity, possess skills in analytical thinking and planning, ability to drive and organizational skills.
• Knowledge and competence in working with infants, pediatrics, adolescents, adult and geriatric clients.
• Must provide own car or have means of transportation in order to complete services.
• Experience:
• One year as an occupational therapist preferred, with preference given to individuals with one year of experience in Home Health, Hospice, or Long-Term Care Facility.

Physical Demands

• Requires full range of body motion. Requires frequent sitting, standing and walking.
• Requires lifting of patients up to 50lbs and carrying of up to 25lbs.
• Eye-hand coordination along with manual and finger dexterity required.
• Vision and hearing must be normal or corrected to normal range.
• Will be working under stressful conditions and irregular hours.
• Driving without a break for up to 30 minutes at a time.
• May be exposed to communicable disease, hazardous materials, sharps and clients homes in poor condition including rodent/insec infestation.
• Exposure to animals kept inside/outside of clients home.
• May be exposed to tobacco smoke.
• Will be exposed to clients bodily fluids.
• Requires occasional bending, twisting, and stooping.
• Requires occasional pushing and pulling of objects up to 50 lbs.
• Will require occasional climbing, balancing, kneeling, reaching, grasping, and overhead work.
• Must be able to distinguish letters or symbols.
• Employee must be able to operate telephone, cellular phone, fax, copier, and all equipment utilized by Occupational Therapy.
• Requires repetitive movements such as typing and handwriting daily.
• Will be exposed to extreme heat and cold due to outdoor work and traveling to clients home.