Recreational Therapist Behavioral Medicine

POSITION PURPOSE

Captures a program of recreation therapy services to assist patients in recovery from or adjustment to illness or disability, and in dealing with specific social problems.

Essential Functions And Responsibilities

• Confers with physicians and other clinical personnel to plan, and implement individually tailored programs in Recreation Therapy to provide patients with exercise, social participation and group interaction.
• Affirms patients' functional status and collaborates with physicians and other treatment team members in establishing individually tailored patient therapy goals consistent with diagnoses.
• Schedules recreation therapy activities consistent with treatment goals.
• Provides group and individual therapy to assist patients in developing interpersonal relationships, (re-socializing, relieving anxiety and developing confidence to participate in social activities), leisure education and adapted sports.
• Budgets program funds and is responsible for inventory, storage and replacement of equipment and supplies.
• Instructs patients in recreation therapy activities, participates in events and observes physical, mental and social progress of patients.
• Documents patients' reaction to various recreation therapy activities and contributes information and progress reports for use in treatment team meetings.
• Maintains knowledge of current trends and developments in the field by reading appropriate books, journals and other literature and attending related seminars, conferences, and the like.
• Provides community re-integrative activities that teach or re-teach hobbies, sports and game activities that allow the patient to use, in a practical way, what has been learned in all other therapies.
• May be responsible to perform case management duties, which may include discharge planning, referral source acknowledgement, insurance company and family contacts, as well as other duties to coordinate the case.
• Maintains good rapport and cooperative relationships. Approaches conflict in a constructive manner. Helps to identify problems, offer solutions, and participate in their resolution.
• Maintains the confidentiality of information acquired pertaining to patient, physicians, and employees, and visitors to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.
• Discusses patient and hospital information only among appropriate personnel in appropriately private places.
• Assumes responsibility for performance of job duties in the safest possible manner, to assure personal safety and that of coworkers, and to report all preventable hazards and unsafe practices immediately to management.
• Provides quality patient care by considering the age specific, developmental and cultural needs through competent clinical practice.
• Demonstrates unit/area competencies.
• Behaves in accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values of St. Joseph Mercy Health System.

Other Functions And Responsibilities

Performs other duties as assigned.