Occupational Therapist (Full-time, Monday - Friday Days)

Organization Overview, Mission, Vision, and Values

Our mission is to improve the health of people in the communities we serve through compassionate, high-quality care, prevention, and wellness education. Washington Regional Medical System is a community-owned, locally governed, non-profit health care system located in Northwest Arkansas in the heart of Fayetteville, which is consistently ranked among the Best Places to live in the country. Our 425-bed medical center has been named the #1 hospital in Arkansas for five consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. We employ 3,300+ team members and serve the region with over 40 clinic locations, the region's only Level II trauma center, and five Centers of Excellence - the Washington Regional J.B. Hunt Transport Services Neuroscience Institute; Washington Regional Walker Heart Institute; Washington Regional Women and Infants Center; Washington Regional Total Joint Center; and Washington Regional Pat Walker Center for Seniors.

Position Summary

The Occupational Therapist reports to the Physical Medicine Manager and is responsible for evaluating, planning, and implementing occupational therapy services for hospitalized patients across a variety of diagnoses and levels of acuity. This role supports patients in achieving maximum independence, safety, and functional performance in activities of daily living, mobility, cognition, and upper extremity function. This role collaborates closely with physicians, nursing, case management, rehabilitation staff, patients, and families to develop individualized treatment plans, provide evidence-based interventions, and facilitate safe discharge planning and continuity of care. This position also ensures timely, accurate documentation and compliance with all regulatory, professional, and organizational standards.

Essential Position Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive occupational therapy evaluations to assess functional status, self-care performance, cognition, strength, coordination, sensation, visual-perceptual skills, and safety awareness.
• Develop and implement individualized treatment plans designed to improve independence in activities of daily living, transfers, mobility-related tasks, and other functional goals identified in the patient's plan of care.
• Provide therapeutic interventions, adaptive techniques, and patient and caregiver education to support recovery, prevent functional decline, and promote safe return to home or the next level of care.
• Collaborate with physicians and the interdisciplinary care team to communicate patient progress, update goals, coordinate discharge recommendations, and ensure continuity of care.
• Recommend and train patients in the use of adaptive equipment, splinting, positioning, energy conservation, and environmental modifications as appropriate to their condition and discharge needs.
• Complete documentation accurately and within established timeframes in accordance with department standards, payer requirements, and regulatory guidelines.
• Maintain current knowledge of evidence-based occupational therapy practice, hospital safety standards, infection prevention requirements, and applicable policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• Education: Must be a graduate of an accredited occupational therapy program.
• Licensure and Certifications: Current Arkansas Occupational Therapist license required. Current CPR certification required.
• Experience: Previous experience in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, or hospital-based occupational therapy is preferred.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Strong clinical assessment skills; knowledge of rehabilitation principles, safe patient handling, discharge planning, and adaptive equipment; ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, providers, and interdisciplinary team members; and the ability to prioritize workload in a fast-paced hospital environment.

Work Environment: This position works primarily in a hospital and clinical care environment and requires frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, pushing, pulling, and assisting with patient mobility and transfers. The role may require lifting and/or supporting up to 50 pounds in accordance with safe patient handling practices. This position also includes time spent seated while completing documentation and care coordination activities. Frequent interaction with patients, families, physicians, and interdisciplinary team members is required.