Description:
JOB SUMMARY
Assist occupational therapists in administering occupational therapy program in hospital, school facility, or community setting for physically, developmentally, mentally or emotionally disabled clients by performing the following duties.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
- Associates degree from an accredited program by the American Occupational Therapy Association.
- School based position
Current Occupational Therapy Assistant license to practice in the state.
- Certification required.
- Minimum of six months occupational therapist assistant experience preferred.
- Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
- Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive healthcare measures.
ORGANIZATIONAL EXPECTATIONS
- Provides a positive and professional representation of the organization.
- Promotes culture of safety for patients and employees through proper identification, reporting, documentation, and prevention.
- Maintains hospital standards for a clean and quiet patient environment to maintain a positive patient care experience.
- Maintains competency and knowledge of current standards of practice, trends, and developments in related scope of job role or practice.
- Adheres to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
- Participates in ongoing quality improvement activities.
- Maintains compliance with organization’s policies, as well as established practices, protocols, and procedures of the position, department, and applicable professional standards.
- Complies with organizational and regulatory policies for handling confidential patient information.
- Demonstrates excellent customer service through his/her attitude and actions, consistent with the standards contained in the Vision, Mission, and Values of the organization.
- Adheres to professional standards, hospital policies and procedures, federal, state, and local requirements, and DNV standards and/or standards from other accrediting bodies.
Standards of Behavior Adheres to the standards of behavior (ownership, integrity, professionalism, teammate, service excellence, and communication).
Five Fundamentals of Service Adheres to the five fundamentals of service (acknowledgement, introduction, duration, explanation, and thank you) to promote quality customer service.
Service Recovery Demonstrates a commitment to the service recovery CARE approach (Connect, Apologize, Repair, and Exceed).
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Assists in treatment of clients’ age appropriate daily living skills, fine motor and writing skills to determine extent of abilities and limitations.
- Assists in planning and implementing sensory diet, cognitive, self-care, fine motor and writing programs and activities established by registered Occupational Therapist (O.T.R./L.), designed to restore, reinforce, and enhance task performances, diminish correct pathology, and to promote and maintain health and self-sufficiency.
- Designs and adapts devices, utensils, writing tools and educational environments.
- Reports information and observations to supervising O.T.R./L. in a timely manner.
- Designs and carries out therapy programs for individuals or groups, and specific exercise programs, as needed, based on the evaluating O.T.R./L. initial evaluation and plan of care.
- Assists in instructing patient/student's family and school staff in home programs as well as care and use of adaptive equipment, and splint/braces.
- Prepares work materials, assists in maintenance of equipment, and orders supplies, when appropriate.
- Maintains observed information in student records and prepares progress notes to school staff and referral sources.
- Submits daily progress notes to Medicaid billing services, nine-week progress notes to parents, and treatment billing reports as part of the approved Individual Educational Plan (IEP).
- Teaches basic activities of daily living to students, staff, and family, as appropriate.
- Assists O.T.R./L. in administering fine motor, dexterity, and ADL to measure client's abilities to progress, and assist in preparing reports (or IEPs) per the O.T.R./L.'s direction.
- C.O.T.A. may supervise COTA students or student volunteers who are under general direction of the supervising O.T.R./L.
Communication Ability to read and interpret documents .Ability to write clearly/informatively. Speaks clearly. Active listener. Communicates effectively with physicians, employees, patients, family, and the public. Reports changes in patient condition to RN team leader and/or physician.
Teamwork Balances team and individual responsibilities. Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views. Gives and welcomes feedback. Contributes to building a positive team spirit. Puts success of team above own interests. Able to build morale. Supports everyone's efforts to succeed.
Quality Looks for ways to improve and promote quality. Applies feedback to improve performance. Monitors own work to ensure quality. Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness. Participates in department quality improvement activities.
Ethics Treats people with respect. Keeps commitments. Inspires the trust of others. Works with integrity. Upholds organizational values.
Requirements:
FUNCTIONAL DEMANDS
Working Conditions and Physical Environment
- Works in a patient care setting where there is potential exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious materials; and electrical, fire, chemical, physical contact and equipment hazards.
- Fast-paced setting with rapid patient turnover.
- High patient traffic.
- Close-quartered and shared work space.
- Sufficient mobility to negotiate physical plant.
- Strength and endurance sufficient enough to perform physically for long periods of time without sitting (four to eight hours). May include: walking; lifting 25 – 50lbs with or without assistance; bending; twisting; standing; sitting; reaching; stair-climbing and descending.
- Physical dexterity and psychomotor skills to respond adequately and appropriately to routine and emergency patient care needs in an ambulatory setting.
- Visual and auditory capabilities sufficient to read information and respond to patient care needs.
- Ability to work in a computerized environment that includes prolonged sitting and use of keyboard, mouse, and monitor.
- Cognitive ability to accurately observe, analyze, and interpret general and technical data both verbal and written to accurately communicate this information.
