Occupational Therapist

Position Description

To provide direct patient care and support activities which build and maintain outstanding outcomes of the therapy department.

Aids in the restoration and enhancement of independent function in those individuals whose living status has been compromised by illness and/or injury. Evaluates and treats patients, communicates with families, physicians and other health team members, and documents services in the medical record. Contributes to professional development of self and others and enhances interdisciplinary team through professional skills and knowledge. Demonstrates safe working practices.

• Provides patient treatments in accordance with facility clinical procedures, including accurate comprehensive patient evaluations and development of effective treatment plans approved by referring physicians.
• Supervises Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants and/or Aides in direct patient care and patient related activities according to facility policy as well as state and federal requirements.
• Communicates with supervisor and other health team members regarding patient progress, problems, and plans.
• Instructs patient’s families or nursing staff in specified follow‑through programs.
• Interviewing patient and families regarding previous level of functioning and lifestyle and current and future expectations.
• Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate resources for problem‑solving and clinical best practice.
• Assesses, trains, and issues necessary ADL adaptive equipment and durable medical equipment for patients to facilitate independence in ADLs.

Writes accurate, complete, and clear documentation in accordance with regulatory, licensing, payor, and accrediting requirements. Includes recording resident needs reviews, evaluations, daily treatment notes, progress notes, and discharge summaries in accordance with facility procedures; recording treatment charges and ensuring documentation is consistent with billing data; writing specific, objective, outcome‑oriented documentation with measurable goals; managing Medicare medical review and denials process in conjunction with Director of Rehabilitation;

acquiring and documenting consents/approvals for treatment when necessary.

• Consistently demonstrates the facility’s interdisciplinary approach to patient care, integrating findings of other members of the interdisciplinary team in treatment assessment and recommendations, integrating input from patient and family, preparing for and providing meaningful contributions to the rehab team conferences, patient care conferences, utilization review meetings, family conferences, and caregiver training sessions, collaborating with and informing facility staff in areas of patient progress, educating members of the team in areas of expertise, working with facility to teach documentation practices, and communicating effectively with discharge planners.
• Contributes to professional development of self and others, utilizing continuing education assistance to achieve targeted quality improvements, interacting with peer therapists at local acute hospitals and other environments if appropriate, presenting at weekly rehab team conferences, facility in‑services, and professional conferences, maintaining a current body of knowledge in areas of clinical expertise through seminars, professional journals, and peers, and meeting continuing education requirements of regulatory agencies.
• Aids in building and maintaining a positive facility culture as a professional member of the staff, consistently demonstrating positive core values in interactions with co‑workers, patients and families, with all other persons involved with the patient’s care, and the general public, consistently demonstrating professional standards, contributing to a positive work team by sharing information, using problem‑solving methods and accepting new ideas, constructive criticism, or advice from others, and demonstrating superior customer service through courtesy, consistent follow‑up and positive communication.

• Demonstrates safe working practices, identifying and correcting safety hazards or notifying the facility or the Director of…