Occupational Therapist

About the Role

This position is responsible for providing comprehensive occupational therapy assessment, treatment, and coordination to eligible patients from birth to young adulthood, including those with feeding/swallowing limitations, developmental delays, congenital conditions, sensory integration impairments, fine motor coordination, vision/perception, and activities of daily living (ADL) limitations.

Responsibilities

• Provides comprehensive occupational therapy services to eligible patients, including evaluation and treatment for feeding/swallowing disorders, developmental delays, sensory integration impairments, fine motor coordination, vision/perception, and ADL limitations.
• Evaluates for and fabricates upper extremity splints (custom or pre-fabricated); provides patient/family instruction in care and use.
• Conducts age-appropriate, evidence-based clinical and functional occupational therapy assessments and develops therapy treatment plans based on objective findings, patient progress, and family input.
• Provides Occupational Therapy consultations, screenings, and care coordination in multidisciplinary specialty clinics.
• Serves as an educator to patients, families, clinic staff, school staff, and others involved in patient care and programming.
• Supervises support personnel, including Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA), according to state, national, and professional guidelines.
• Documents all assessments, treatments, consultations, patient/family education, and relevant care information in the electronic health record accurately and timely, in accordance with clinic policies.
• Participates in new staff orientation and ongoing staff education; mentors and provides training in areas of expertise or specialty as requested by the Department Manager.
• Assesses patient needs for adaptive tools, durable medical equipment (DME), and optimal access to environmental controls, communication devices, and mobility.
• Collaborates with other clinical providers in Aquatic Therapy and Adaptive Recreation programs at offsite facilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited college/university.
• Occupational Therapy (OT) license from the Arizona Board of OT Examiners.
• AHCCCS Provider Identification Number (may be obtained upon hire).
• BLS certification.
• Two years of related pediatric experience preferred.
• Current Department of Public Safety Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card (must be obtained within 90 days of employment).

Skills

• Knowledge of therapeutic treatment techniques for pediatric occupational therapy.
• Ability to assess and treat feeding/swallowing disorders in patients with complex medical conditions and make recommendations to families and professionals.
• Knowledge of pediatric upper extremity splinting and ability to assess splinting needs as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to assess needs for adaptive tools, durable medical equipment, and optimal access to environmental controls, communication devices, and mobility.
• Skills in safe use of suspended equipment and other tools for managing sensory integration difficulties.
• Ability to demonstrate safe patient lifting and transfers, including use of equipment (e.g., sliding board, Hoyer lift).
• Knowledge of evidence-based approaches to pediatric occupational therapy and experience measuring and reporting clinical and functional outcomes.
• Understanding of corporate, local, state, and national regulatory requirements.
• Ability to select accurate billing codes for therapy services rendered.
• Knowledge of AOTA, ArizOTA, and NBCOT guidelines and ability to practice in accordance with them.
• Professional communication skills with staff and physicians to ensure quality patient outcomes and care coordination.
• Ability to operate personal computers and related office equipment.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Group Term Life insurance and voluntary life insurance options.
• Corporate Care (sick child/adult/pet and tutoring support).
• Pet Care program.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Paid Holidays, Paid Sick, and Paid Time Off.
• Supplemental insurance options.
• Flexible Work Strategies (depending on position).

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Regularly required to stand, walk, sit on the ground, rotate, or crawl; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.
• Must frequently lift, stabilize, push, pull, hold, and/or move up to 25 pounds; occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds.
• Must be able to engage in minimum to moderate activity level for 45-60 minute intervals in a minimum of 6 sessions per day.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Frequently exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals.
• Occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, risk of electrical shock, and risk of radiation.

Bloodborne Pathogen Category: 1 (Performs tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissue. Use of appropriate protective measures is required.)