Occupational Therapist

Evaluations and Planning

• Evaluates patient's functional abilities and limitations.
• Determines if intervention is needed.
• Establishes a plan of care and treatment goals.
• Completes comprehensive evaluation within the established time frame set by the department.
• Identifies and prioritizes key limiting factors.
• Establishes treatment goals that are functional, measurable, patient related and reflect the key limiting factors.
• Collaborates with patient and family/caregiver when setting goal.
• Initiates discharge planning.
• Recommends additions to or modifications of referring orders.
• Implements individualized treatment plan with consideration to the patient's physical, social, spiritual, cultural, educational and age specific needs.
• Provides skilled treatment in a safe manner.
• Affirms ongoing effectiveness of treatment and modifies plan of care as indicated.
• Involves patient and family/caregiver in the treatment and decision making process.
• Provides ongoing education to physician, nurse, patient, family/caregiver, and interdisciplinary team.

Treatment Implementation

• Documents according to standards set by the department and regulatory agencies.
• Documents legibly.
• Documents within the established time frames of the department.
• Documents innovative and individualized treatment techniques/plan.
• Documentation reflects comprehensive assessment of patient's progress or lack of progress.
• Treatment goals are reassessed according to department policies.
• Communicates pertinent patient information to ensure the best possible follow through of care.
• Communicates evaluation/treatment results and patient progress to physicians, nurses, patient, family/caregiver, co-workers and the interdisciplinary team.
• Communicates in a clear and timely manner.
• Accepts responsibility to contact physicians for routine or difficult problem solving to ensure optimal patient outcome.
• Defends treatment rationale with standard practices and/or current literature.

Departmental Responsibilities

• Exhibits adaptability in assignments as it relates to caseload, scheduling, and staffing shifts.
• Takes initiative to assist in other patient care areas and accepts responsibility for all patient care needs.
• Demonstrates appropriate direction and delegation of personnel to achieve safe delivery of quality cost effective patient care.
• Participates in the training and orientation of new personnel.
• Assures competency of personnel, prior to delegation of task.
• Department operational activities.
• Maintains departmental productivity standards.