Occupational Therapist

Evaluation and Treatment

• Evaluates patient's functional abilities and limitations.
• Determines if intervention is needed.
• Establishes a plan of care and treatment goals.
• 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.

Documentation

• Documents according to standards set by the department and regulatory agencies.
• Documents legibly.
• Completes documentation 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.

Communication

• 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.

Adaptability and Support

• 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.
• Direction and delegation of the COTA, Therapy Technician and student complies with department policies and regulatory agencies.
• Participates in the training and orientation of new personnel.
• Safeguard competency of personnel, prior to delegation of task.

Departmental Activities

• Participates in department/facility process improvements.
• Mets productivity standards set by the department.

Interactions

• Interacts with all levels of staff in a variety of departments, physicians, patients, families, and external contacts such as employees of other health care institutions, community providers and agencies concerning the health care of the patient.
• Interacts with the physician offices in order to report, requires or clarify information.