Occupational Therapist

Reporting to the Director of Rehabilitation Services, the Occupational Therapist functions under the supervision of the Director or Manager of Rehabilitation Services.  The staff occupational therapist evaluates the occupational therapy needs of assigned patients, establishes goals with the patient and plans and conducts treatment to assist the patient in meeting the occupational therapy goals. The occupational therapist provides age and developmentally appropriate care to adult and geriatric patients.--> 

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Exemplifies the RML REACH (Service Excellence) culture by demonstrating respect, excellence, appreciation, concern and honor in all interactions with patients, families and co-workers, and as identified in departmental and hospital wide behavioral expectations.

• Evaluates the patient’s ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments by administering age appropriate standardized tests, visual observation, and review of patient’s medical information.  In collaboration with the treatment team, determines patient’s range of joint motion, muscle strength, coordination, sensory and perceptual status, self-care abilities, physical tolerance, functional ability, cognitive status and endurance.

• In collaboration with the patient, family, and treatment team plans an age specific program to meet each patient’s individual treatment goals to promote the highest level of function and independence possible.

• Provides occupational therapy treatment to an adult and geriatric population including, but not limited to:

  • Activities of Daily Living (ADL) training

  • Maximizing physical and cognitive endurance

  • Increasing range of motion, strength, and coordination

  • Providing for proper body positioning

  • Maximizing self-care independence - feeding, hygiene, bathing, dressing

  • Maximizing visual perceptual abilities

  • Providing perceptual and cognitive compensatory strategies

  • Increasing cognitive skills with emphasis on orientation, judgement and safety awareness

  • Maximizing transfers

  • Maximizing functional balance and mobility

  • Maximizing home management activities

• Fabricates and/or orders individual splints and orthotics as needed for upper extremity function.

• In collaboration with the patient, family, and treatment team, orders adaptive equipment needed for rehabilitation training and for independent function.

• Documents patient evaluation and progress in the computerized medical record.  Completes and logs patient charges.  Completes discharge summaries.  Maintains confidentiality of medical information and complies with information system security requirements.  Complies with all HIPAA guidelines.

• Participates in or prepares reports for the Medically Complex interdisciplinary team meetings, staffings and rounds to report patient’s response to treatment and progress, and to modify the treatment plans, as needed.

• Provides family education and encourages family participation in carrying out learned rehabilitation strategies.

• In collaboration with the treatment team, assists the patient in recognizing and adjusting to the limitations of the disability.

• Recommends further therapy as appropriate.

• Provides services in accordance with the American Occupational Therapy Association Code of Ethics, the Occupational Therapy Practice Act of the State of Illinois and the policies, procedures and standards of RML Specialty Hospital.  Manages time, resources and supplies effectively and productively.

• Identifies and addresses opportunities to improve work processes or patient care outcomes, particularly related to improving patient safety.  Participates in department and facility Performance Improvement initiatives as requested.  Implements appropriate interventions in compliance with facility patient safety initiatives.

• Assists in the welcoming and orientation of new department staff, serving as preceptor for new staff or students as requested.  Provides education for staff of other disciplines in rehab therapy principles and techniques as assigned.

• Actively participates in staff meetings and continuing education activities.  Participates on committees or task forces and attends meetings as may be assigned.  Meets all annual and ongoing employee requirements (TB Testing,  Annual Review, Annual Clinical Validation, and performance evaluation, etc.) by demonstrating completion prior to due date.

• Responsible for supporting a safe work environment for self and others, by reporting unsafe conditions, and by using appropriate safe work practices such as proper body mechanics and applicable safety devices (patient lift and transfer equipment, PPE, etc.)

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND CHARACTERISTICS

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by therapists in this position. They are not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, knowledge, skills, abilities and working conditions associated with the Staff Occupational Therapy position.