Occupational Therapist

0.9 FTE, 72 hours bi-weekly
Shifts are Monday-Friday, 8 am-3:30 pm. No weekends, no holidays.
Inpatient OT only.

Position Overview:

The Occupational Therapist (OT) provides therapy programs; across acute hospital, swing bed, and outpatient environments for referred clients of all ages with developmental deficits, physical injury or illness, and/or psychological or cognitive disability. They work in coordination with other OTs, OT Assistant(s), and/or other health professionals. The OT evaluates and treats populations including orthopedics, neurological conditions, conditions that impact cognition, home safety and adaptations, and specialty areas including pediatrics and hand therapy. The OT provides direct patient care including assessment, development of the plan of care, treatment, documentation, and patient education to clients of all ages.  She/he directs patient participation, progression, and discharge in accordance with clinical best practice guidelines to restore, reinforce, and enhance patient performance.  She/he facilitates the learning of skills and functions essential for adaptation and productivity.  The OT is accountable to productivity and personal and professional growth.  The caregiver should possess the skills to be adaptable to a dynamic team environment and open to the idea of developing, promoting, and performing new programs to facilitate rehabilitation.  She/he is responsible for student and COTA supervision and delegation to support staff.  The role may include other duties as assigned. 

 Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Performs direct patient care and evidence-based practice in a safe, ethical, and legal manner.  
• Performs all duties within the scope of the occupational therapy practice guidelines.  
• Develops and revises a plan of care based on the initial assessment, continual reassessment of patient/caregiver needs, patient history, diagnosis, physician orders, protocol, COTA feedback, expected outcomes, and patient needs and goals to include discharge plans as appropriate.  
• Evaluates patient response to treatment, measures change and development, shares findings, and makes appropriate recommendations and referrals.  
• Directs patient participation, progression, and discharge in accordance with clinical best practice guidelines to restore, reinforce, and enhance patient performance. 
• May assist in patient de-escalation.
• Documents all skilled and medically necessary care thoroughly, timely, and accurately in accordance with departmental policy.  
• Documentation, charges, and care must comply with Medicare, State, Federal, insurance, and payor requirements as well as departmental policy.  
• Maintains patient and organizational confidentiality at all times.
• Performs duties in accordance with departmental productivity standards.  
• Independent in using time wisely.  
• Promotes service excellence with patient scheduling and accommodation with appointments.  
• Responds positively to changes in the schedule and site of occupational therapy services.  
• Uses unscheduled time to develop programs, complete projects, or assist the department as needed.  
• Promotes the appropriate utilization of resources.
• Collaborates and consults with other health care professionals and shares gained knowledge.  
• Delegates appropriately to OT Assistant(s) and rehabilitation aides.  
• Serves in a mentorship capacity to students.  
• Provides consultation to individuals, businesses, schools, government agencies, or other organizations by providing professional advice or opinion, recommending solutions, or producing a specific outcome.  
• Serves on departmental or organizational committees as appropriate.  
• Delivers a high level of customer service to all internal and external customers. Provides education and communicates treatment goals and methods to caregivers.
• Fosters and promotes the occupational therapy profession; attends professional continuing education courses and hospital in-services.  
• Strives to master the skills necessary to exceed the expectations of the people we serve.  
• Works effectively as a member of the rehab team and Winona Health team through collaborative partnerships to promote occupational therapy and foster effective communication and departmental planning.  
• Participates in performance improvement and completes all required in-service programs to ensure standards are met and skills are kept current.
• Attends mandatory staff meetings and completes mandatory educational requirements of Winona Health staff.
• Understands, supports, and integrates into one’s position the organization’s vision/mission/values (see last section.)
• Performs other duties as assigned.

 Essential Skills and Experience:

Skills & Abilities

Must be able to demonstrate appropriate clinical skills and abilities necessary to perform the essential functions of the role

• Basic computer skills (Word, Outlook, Patient information database (Cerner EMR)
• Must possess good time management skills
• Good communication skills
• The ability to adapt to changing situations
• A positive attitude
• Excellent customer service skills
• The ability to problem solve and suggest solutions
• The ability to function successfully in a team environment

Education & Experience

• B.S. or M.S. Degree from an accredited Occupational Therapy curriculum.  
• Minimum of one year of clinical experience desired.  
• Must be able to demonstrate appropriate clinical skills and abilities.
• Valid Driver’s License.  
• CPR Certification. 
• Certification required with NBCOT and licensed or pending licensure with the State of Minnesota.   

Physical Demands:

Medium Work:

Work activities that require lifting frequently with 25#, occasionally 25-40# and rarely 50#. Work activities that require push/pull forces of with 50# frequently and 100# rarely Medium work activities generally exceed those for light work. Work activities may assume work in a variety of work positions including frequent bending and stooping, frequently squatting, frequent standing and walking. Medium work includes most roles within Winona Health that requires patient handling activities of transfers, rolling, and positioning.

Physical Requirements:

• May lift objects up to 50# rarely, 30-45# occasionally and frequently 10-30#
• May push/pull carts or equipment up to 50# of force frequently and rarely up to 100#
• May push/pull wheelchairs with 30-50# of force with handle height = 36”
• May require moderate to firm gripping or pinching. May use hand tools
• May reach frequently 7-36”, occasionally 6-80”

Patient Handling Work Tasks:

• Transfers patients/residents from bed, shower chairs, commodes, chair scale, recliners, lateral cart transfers, car transfers and wheelchairs up to 30 times/shift
• Transfers patients/residents with the appropriate safe patient handling equipment including EZ stand, EZ lift, Golvo lift, ceiling lift, slider boards, and scoop and transfer belts.
• Positions patients/residents in bed by rolling, boosting and turning. Assistance of additional staff is often required or the use of appropriate safe patient handling equipment including SLIPP, Ergo slide, orange sheets or the Golvo lift.
• Assumes Positions to complete the patient/resident treatments which may require holding a position or a patient in a position for period of time (5 minutes duration)
• Reaching horizontally for patient care, treatment or assessment at 6-10” frequently and occasionally up to 22-24” to reach across the bed. May over-reach to retrieve blood pressure cuff while pulling patient curtain
• May assume squatting or stooping position for emptying a Foley catheter or donning shoes and socks or adjusting the wheelchair foot rests.
• Bending duration of 7-56 seconds, depending on the cares.
• Frequent bending throughout the shift.
• Transport patients/resident in beds, carts, wheelchairs.
• Vertical handle height at 36”
• Firm grasping required.
• Push/pull force for beds=35-45#, for Wheelchairs: 15-50#
• Tipping or pushing down on the patient scale to move it = 35# force

 Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  The work environment includes areas such as outpatient rehabilitation, acute care, jobsite visits and/or contracted services with local business and industry.

 Required Work Schedule:

General working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 3:30 pm, but may vary depending on the census and needs of the department. Potential for weekend coverage on a rotational basis, per policy and departmental needs.

Internal Applicant Policy:

It is the policy of Winona Health to work with employees in an equitable fashion regarding promotions, transfers, and position reclassifications.
 
Any employee wishing to apply for another available position at Winona Health must submit an application for consideration through the internal application portal. Employees requesting to change positions should have successfully completed at least six (6) months in their current position. Employees currently in the formal disciplinary process may be required to meet with the Director of Human Resources to determine eligibility to request transfer. The employee’s past performance, experience, training and qualifications will be considered in transfer/hiring decisions. Consideration for transfer or promotion is not a guarantee of transfer or promotion. Employees may be given a chance to interview for a position when they meet the minimum position qualifications.

Disclaimer:

Winona Health is an equal opportunity employer. Winona Health does not refuse to hire, discharge, or discriminate against a person with respect to tenure, compensation, terms, upgrading, conditions, facilities, or privileges of employment because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, membership in a local discrimination commission, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other prohibited basis of discrimination under applicable local, state, or federal law. Winona Health does not tolerate retaliation against any employee, patient/resident, physician, or other individuals pursuing concerns regarding Civil Rights issues. Winona Health adheres to ALL pertinent governmental policies and legislation including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII, as amended, and the Minnesota Human Rights Act.