Occupational Therapist

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Occupational Therapist (OT) is responsible for traveling to a patient/client's place of residence to provide occupational therapy services. The OT is responsible for maintenance and accuracy of electronic medical records, supervision of support staff and coordination of care with other team members. The OT will provide services within the scope of Federal and State regulations, licensure, policies and procedures of the agency. The OT will provide supervision to certified occupational therapy assistants and certified aide staff.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Patient Centered Care:

• Assess and document patient/client needs and observation of patient's condition at each visit. Report changes timely to patient's interdisciplinary care team.
• Record and report to physician results of patient/client assessments, treatments, and recommendations for further services as appropriate at the following times: certification, change of care, recertification, missed visits and discharge.
• Provide direct quality occupational therapy (OT) services/interventions and supervision of those services.
• Provide education, support and teaching of care to the patient/client, family, or other caregivers.
• Complete assigned admission visits, conducting comprehensive physical and environmental assessments and assessments of risk factors related to medical diagnosis.
• Develop/revise individualized OT care plans and goals.
• Develop discharge plan with the patient/client and/or family/caregiver.
• Initiate referrals to other disciplines, health care providers or community groups as indicated.
• Maintain quality charting and records as required by agency policy and federal and state regulations.
• Be knowledgeable of payer source guidelines.

Case Management:

• In coordination with other disciplines, develop and implement individualized plan of care with patient/client and/or family/caregiver that promotes highest level of wellness attainable for each patient.
• Coordinate with interdisciplinary team, physicians and other providers/individuals in development, revision and implementation of the patient's plan of care.
• Be responsible for planning, recording and follow through of patient/client schedule; provide schedule to designated staff.
• Complete and submit OASIS data sets within required time frames.

Other Duties:

• Supervise and train staff as appropriate to patient's plan of care.
• Participate in on call rotation and related duties.
• Participate with OT/COTA student assignments as indicated.
• Maintain therapy skills through attendance at Annual Skills Fair or other continuing education opportunities.
• Manage caseload and oversight of COTA, including delegation of appropriate visits to COTA staff within their scope of practice.
• Participate in special projects and perform other duties as requested.
• Keep a daily record of time worked per agency policies.

Compliance:

• Participate in quality improvement (QI) activities to positively impact performance on agency's overall outcomes.

Confidentiality

• Assure all staff/patient information is kept confidential.
• Dispose of all written information, with the exception of the employee's personnel file and the patient's chart properly when no longer needed.
• Information about the patient/client, their condition, and their care will not be discussed with other patient/clients, the public or with other VNA staff in public places. Discussions should be respectful and related to direct patient care.

Staff Participation:

• Attend and take part in staff/team meetings and applicable in-services. Complete required in-service hours in a timely manner.
• Follow team decisions in achieving agency objectives.
• Foster atmosphere of teamwork and pride in providing agency services.

Work Environment:

• Keep work environment clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition.
• Keep storage areas free from accumulation of material that constitutes hazards.
• Present a professional personal appearance in accordance with established agency dress code, wear name badge.

Infection Control:

• Observe and follow all agency and regulatory guidelines for infection control in accordance with established policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, knowledge, licensure and certification:

• Occupational Therapist (OT) in good standing with discipline specific licensing/certification agency and able to meet all federal and state licensure requirements.
• Current CPR certification or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.

Experience:

Basic level knowledge of EMR (electronical medical records) and email functions.

Behavior standards:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills that allow staff to foster relationships, build rapport and establish patient trust to produce positive patient outcomes and work environment for both internal and external customers.
• Initiative to make independent decisions within scope of practice, licensure and/or policies and procedures of the agency.
• Function as a member of an interdisciplinary health care team, committed to the team approach for patient care.
• Represent the agency with honesty, integrity, loyalty, strong work habits and a professional demeanor.
• Communicate effectively with patient/clients, families, physicians, health care providers and other community agencies.
• Respond appropriately in stressful situations.

Physical:

• Ability to work over 8 hours per day and/or over 40 hours per week.
• Walking, bending, kneeling, squatting, lifting, grasping, fine hand coordination in repetitive tasks and motions.
• Ability to work with hands above the head or elbows above the shoulders.
• Ability to work with adequate mobility of back, neck or wrist.
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds of weight.
• Ability to assist patient/clients in body transfers from one location or position to another, utilizing proper body mechanics and appropriate equipment
• Ability to push or pull with 20 pounds of initial force.

Working Conditions:

• Employee may be subject to both inside and outside environmental and living conditions.
• Employee may be exposed to infectious diseases.
• Must have car available, valid driver's license and auto insurance as required by the state or ability to use public or private transportation to efficiently complete job duties.
• Employee is required to drive from one location to another to provide service.

Visiting Nurses requires a criminal background check and motor vehicle (MVR) check for all employees once a conditional offer of employment has been extended by the hiring manager.