Occupational Therapist
The occupational therapist contracted through the Organization is responsible for the implementation of standards of care for occupational therapy services and for adherence to all conditions outlined in the Service Agreement.
Responsibilities
- Evaluates the patient’s functional status (muscle function, cognition, perception, sensation, visual coordination, written and verbal communication skills, self care ability, work capacity, etc.). Evaluates home environment for hazards or barriers to more independent living. Identifies equipment needs. Participates in the development of the total plan of care.
- Identifies functional problems and establishes goals and a plan of care designed to improve the patient’s functional status (revising as necessary).
- May fabricate splints and instruct patient in the use of various types of adaptive equipment to improve function.
- May train patient in the use of prosthetic and/or orthotic devices and make recommendations as per appropriate orthotic devices.
- Instructs patient and family members, as well as other health team members, to perform or assist in performance of selective treatment procedures and functional activities.
- Periodically re-evaluates and upgrades the patient’s program to maximize functional improvement.
- Confers with the family, referring physician, and other agency professional staff to obtain information to promote coordinated, efficient, and quality patient care.
- Performs and submits required documentation of patient’s evaluations, plan of care, clinical notes, and progress reports, summaries along with changes in orders. All patient visit notes must be turned in the next scheduled work day, not to exceed forty-eight (48) hours.
- Maintains necessary statistical and billing data.
- When therapy is the only skilled service (no billable LVN or RN services, for the duration of the certification period), instructs, supervises and evaluates home health aide care every 14 days.
- Orients, instructs, and supervises the home health aide every two weeks in carrying out specific occupational therapy modalities.
- Keeps abreast of changes in occupational therapy theories and practices, contributes to the ongoing development of programs and professionals within the service of sharing expertise, contributing resources and giving in-services.
- Attends and contributes to in-services, clinical records reviews, meetings required to ensure coordinated and comprehensive plans of care for the patients of the agency.
- Performs Occupational Therapy Assistant on-site supervisory visits at least once every 30 days in practice. The supervisory visits may be made either when the occupational therapy assistant is present so that the supervisor may observe and assist, or when the Occupational Therapy Assistant is absent so that the supervisor may assess relationships and determine whether goals are being met. The supervisory visit will include a complete on-site functional assessment, an on-site review of activities with appropriate revision of treatment plan, and an assessment of the utilization of outside resources.
- The Occupational Therapist will be accessible by phone to the occupational therapy assistants at all times while the occupational therapy assistant is treating patients.
- Complies with Homecare Agency Compliance Plan.
- Complies with Homecare Agency’s Infection Control Policies.
- Complies with Homecare Agency’s HIPAA Policies.
Skills
- 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.
- Registered with the National Registration Examination of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
- Two years of clinical experience as an occupational therapist.
- Demonstrates good verbal and written communication, and organization skills.
- Possess and maintains current CPR Certification.
