Occupational Therapist
Objectives
The Occupational Therapist (OT) is a qualified professional who provides Occupational Therapy services in compliance with the state Practice Act, any applicable licensure requirement, applicable healthcare standards, state and federal laws and regulations, The Roads Home Health Care policies and standards, and philosophy of care. The Occupational Therapist is responsible to proactively apply professional knowledge and skills to meet the needs of the patient and facilitate the achievement of individualized, defined, and measurable outcomes. OSHA defines this position as Class 1 exposure to blood.
Organization
This position reports and is supported by the Director of Nursing, or a Registered Nurse designee. Reporting to this position may be a Occupational Therapy Assistant. During a facility assignment, the Occupational Therapist has an additional responsibility to both facility-designated supervisor and all facility practices, which exceed those of the company.
Responsib ilities and Duties
The Occupational Therapist provides skilled therapy interventions in the treatment of the patient illness, rehabilitative needs and preventative care. He/she utilizes a holistic approach in the provision of ongoing assessments, problem identification and specific therapeutic interventions, teaching and training activities. The Occupational Therapist is responsible to provide service in accordance with accepted standards of clinical practice, to facilitate problem the solution, and thereby, the achievement of individualized patient goals and outcomes.
Plan of Care
1. Complies with accepted ethical and professional standards of Occupational Therapy practice as set forth by the American Occupational Therapy Association.
2. Confers with the patient’s physician in developing, implementing, and revising the therapy Plan of Care, based on initial and ongoing assessments, and as required by policy/regulations.
3. Adheres to the Plan of Care in the provision care.
4. Initiate contacts with the physician and the Director of Nursing (DON), in a timely manner, utilizing appropriate professional judgment.
5. Ensures interim/renewal physician orders are obtained as necessary and communicated effectively.
6. Utilizes a systematic, individualized, goal/outcome-driven approach in developing the therapy plan of care and in the delivery of therapy services. Ensures proactive revision or addition to the plan of care to meet patient needs as assessed or diagnosed and as required by policy/regulation.
7. Assesses the appropriateness/effectiveness of paraprofessional care related to therapy, and appropriately incorporates problem-specific interventions in the paraprofessional plan of care, as it relates to Occupational Therapy.
Care Coordination
8. Initiates and responds appropriately to contact with/from the patient, physician, DON, other members of the healthcare team, in a timely manner as regards to patient needs and status changes as per policy/standards.
9. Acts as a liaison between the patient, physician, DON, other members of the healthcare team and the community in assuring effective care coordination, appropriate resource referrals and supervision of paraprofessional staff.
10. Participates in care coordination activities and acts as a resource for other healthcare team members in the identification, management and/or resolution of the patient’s needs/problems.
11. Maintains the highest standards of professional conduct in relation to information that is confidential in nature. Shares information only when the recipient’s right to access is clearly established and the sharing of such information is clearly in the best interest of the patient.
12. Appropriately communicates to ensure adherence to professional standards in the provision of and availability of supplies, materials and equipment needed to safely and effectively implement the plan of care.
13. Provides paraprofessional staff with a personal care plan that reflects the current plan of care, as it relates to therapy. Supervises and evaluates the performance of paraprofessional staff, related to Occupational Therapy directives.
Teaching and Training
14. Ensures that the plan of care incorporates and guides appropriate teaching related to health maintenance and prevention, safely and interventions to achieve individualized patient-driven goals/outcomes. Uses appropriate methods and tools in all teaching and training activities, including those associated with discharge.
15. Participates, as assigned, in teaching and training of other healthcare staff members including, but not limited to:
a. Orientation of staff members to an individualized plan of care, inclusive of expected goals and outcomes.
b. Providing leadership and direction, especially as related to paraprofessional personnel, in the ongoing implementation of the plan of care.
c. Timely assessment and provision of policy or procedure-specific training whenever a need is defined.
Documenting
16. The Occupational Therapist will prepare, submit and maintain documentation as required by the Agency.
NOTE: Submission of clinical, time visit notes and any other documentation related to documents is required for satisfactory completion of an assignment as defined by the Agency’s policy. Failure to provide required documentation on a timely basis as defined by the Agency’s policy will result in disciplinary action, and on the case of time documents, the Agency will be unable to generate a paycheck due to the lack of written documentation of time worked.
The Occupational Therapist
17. Accurately and thoroughly documents patient’s care observations, interpenetrations and evaluation on a day services are rendered.
18. Assures that verbal orders obtained from the physician are accurately transcribed for implementations.
19. Documents supervisory visits for inclusion in the patient’s records on the prescribed form in timely manner.
20. Monitors the appropriate completion of documentation by home health aides/nursing assistant as part of the supervisory /leadership responsibility.
21. Contacts the office / DON immediately with any itinerary changes.
22. Can be contacted at all times by beeper / cellular while in the filed.
23. Complies with Human Resources standards.
Professional Conduct and Development
24. Participates in the Quality Assessment and Improvement Activities as assigned. Communicates information that enables collection and root analysis of data to identify opportunities for improvement.
25. Attends, participate in and/or conducts internal staff development programs, obtains continuing education as required by Agency policy and regulations.
26. Maintains a professional appearance as per dress code guidelines, is reliable and punctual, cooperative, and conducts self according to accepted standards of professional practice in the course of assigned duties.
27. Performs other duties as assigned in response to the patient, office, and/or facility needs.
Regulatory Requirements:
· Current valid state occupational therapy license.
· Graduate of an accredited occupational therapy curriculum/school; or,
· For Medicare-certified agencies:
· Graduate of an occupational therapy curriculum accredited jointly by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association and the American Occupational Therapy Association; or,
· Is eligible for the National Registration Examination of the American Occupational Therapy Association; or,
· Has two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist, and has achieved a satisfactory grade on a proficiency examination conducted, approved, or sponsored by the US Public Health Service except for those individuals initially licensed by the State or seeking qualification as an occupational therapist after December 31, 1977.
· Two (2) years of work experience.
· Prior home health experience preferred.
· Valid state driver’s license and reliable automobile.
· Proof of current automobile insurance.
· Current health certificate/physical examination and TB testing.
· Current BCLS certification.
· Criminal background check.
· Current liability insurance.
· Current CPR card.
Language Skills
· Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
· Additional language proficiency an asset
Skills
· Understands regulations/standards applicable to home healthcare.
· Knowledge of general occupational therapy modalities and scope of occupational therapy practice within the state of Florida.
· Flexible, yet organized, with the ability to exercise sound judgment.
Job Type: Part-time
Salary: From $60.00 per hour
Medical specialties:
- Home Health
COVID-19 considerations:
Take and record temperature for all employees and visitors. Ask each employee on a daily basis the exposure questions. Every workstation needs to be cleaned and disinfected daily. Face masks should be utilized when gathering in groups.
Education:
- Bachelor’s (Preferred)
Experience:
- Home Health or Acute Care: 1 year (Required)
License/Certification:
- Occupational Therapy License (Required)
- CPR Certification (Preferred)
Work Location:
- Multiple locations
Work Remotely:
- No
Work Location: Multiple Locations