Occupational Therapist

Essential Job Functions

• Evaluates patient’s functional status (muscle function, endurance, visual coordination, written and verbal communication skills, self-care ability, work capacity, etc.).
• Evaluates home environment for hazards or barriers to more independent living.
• Identifies equipment needs.
• Participates in the development of the total plan of care.
• For patients who plan to return to work, the occupational therapist may perform work capacity evaluation and may refer to specialized vocational training in accordance with organization policy.
• Develops treatment program and establishes goals for improved function.
• Communicates plan of care to referring physician and other organization professionals.
• Makes new skills or retrain patient in once familiar daily activities that have been lost due to illness or injury, in accordance with organization policy.
• Fabricates splints and instructs patient in the use of various types of adaptive equipment to improve function.
• Trains patient in the use of prosthetic and/or orthotic devices.
• Maintains appropriate clinical records, clinical notes, and reports to the physician any changes in the patient’s condition.
• Sets up and submits these records in accordance with organization policy.
• Maintains contact/communication with other personnel involved in the patient’s care to promote coordinated, efficient care.
• Attends and contributes to in-services, case conferences, and other meetings as required by organization policy to ensure coordinated and comprehensive plans of care for the patients of the organization.
• Identifies patient and family/caregiver needs for other home health services and refers as appropriate.
• Instructs patient’s family/caregiver and other organization health care personnel in patient’s treatment regime when indicated and appropriate.
• Supervises Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants according to organization policy and state regulations.
• When therapy is the only skilled service, instructs, supervises and evaluates home health aide care every two (2) weeks.
• Participates in discharge planning for patient.

Basic Qualifications

• Graduate of an occupational therapy curriculum accredited jointly by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association and the American Occupational Therapy Association.
• Registered with the National Registration Examination of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
• Licensed to practice as Occupational Therapist within the state, if applicable.
• One (1) year or more experience as an Occupational Therapist.
• Good verbal, written communication and organization skills.
• Possesses current CPR certification.
• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state/or organization requirements and is in good working order.

Physical Requirements

• Typical functions of this role include standing, sitting and walking a majority of the time.
• There are occasions when kneeling, stooping, bending or reaching may be necessary.
• The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 10 lbs on a regular basis.
• There may be occasions in which the employee must be able to lift or move up to 40 lbs.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.