Description

• Administers active and passive manual therapeutic treatments, including heat, light, sound, water, and electrical or physical agent modality treatments such as but not limited to ultrasound, electrical stimulation, ultraviolet, infrared, diathermy, and hot and cold packs to improve and maintain function.
• Assists in assessments/reassessments of patient's activity of daily living skills, strength, joint range of motion, motor development, muscle tone, sensory and perceptual awareness, functional capacity, respiratory and circulatory efficiency, cognitive function and records findings to develop or revise treatment programs.
• Assists in planning and implementing individual or group educational, functional, prevocational, vocational, homemaking skills and activities of daily living established by licensed Occupational Therapist, designed to restore, reinforce, and enhance task performances, diminish or correct pathology, and to promote and maintain health and self-sufficiency.
• Instructs, motivates, and assists patient to perform various postural and mobility related physical activities and in use of assistive and supportive devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and prostheses.
• Teaches, motivates, and assists patient to perform individual skills and techniques required for participation in activities.
• Consults with other members of interdisciplinary team to select activity programs consistent with needs and capabilities of individual and to coordinate occupational therapy with other therapeutic activities.
• Designs and constructs special equipment for individual and suggests adaptation of individual's work living environment.
• Observes patients’ performance during treatments and compiles and evaluates data on patients' carryover and physical responses to treatments and progress, and reports findings orally or in writing to Occupational Therapist.
• Instructs patient and family in home programs, as well as the care and use of adaptive equipment.
• Prepares work materials, assists in maintenance and requisition of supplies and equipment (i.e., W/C).
• Records treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart.
• Assists in conducting in-services to staff in occupational therapy techniques and objectives.
• Confers with Physician and other practitioners to obtain additional patient information, suggest revisions in treatment program, and integrate occupational therapy treatment with other aspects of patient's health care.
• Gives orientation to new Occupational Therapist Assistants and assists in providing direction to Occupational Therapy Students and Aides.
• Must be supervised by a licensed Occupational Therapist at least 10% of the time worked in direct patient care, with face-to-face contact at least 1 time a month.
• May assist in screening process, under the supervision of Occupational Therapist.
• Completes timely clinical documentation to include functional goal-setting, program and therapeutic approach.
• Completes billing/administrative documentation timely and accurately.
• Completes Resident screens in conjunction with annual MDS schedule and in response to nursing reports/referrals.

Requirements

• Associate's degree (A.A.) from an accredited occupational therapy assistant program at a college or university.
• Must be board certified and licensed by state.
• Must have good knowledge of PPS and MDS.
• Computer literacy required.
• Must have own motorized transportation to commute between facilities as required.
• Ability to work with other therapists, nursing staff, patients, and caregivers in coordinating patient care to optimize outcomes.
• Demonstrates good organizational, time management, and planning skills.
• Demonstrates good working knowledge of Prospective Payment Systems (PPS) and Minimum Data Set (MDS), Medicare Part B, and other applicable reimbursement systems.
• Adheres to all applicable federal, state and local standards of care and ethics and policies concerned with the practice of occupational therapy.
• Attends meetings, seminars and participates in other activities to promote professional growth.