Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant - PRN JS Inpatient Dept

OakBend Medical Center•Richmond, TX

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) is a qualified, licensed professional who provides occupational therapy services to patients in the hospital/clinic as prescribed by the attending physician and the supervising Occupational Therapist. This role involves treating patients to relieve pain and/or develop or restore function to maintain maximum performance. The COTA records and reports patient reactions to treatment and changes in condition to the Occupational Therapist and/or Physician. They also travel to different hospital locations as needed, instruct patients in their total occupational therapy program, and educate other health team personnel on patient care related to occupational therapy. The position requires attending staff and agency development activities, writing progress notes, and demonstrating proficiency in documentation according to The Joint Commission and departmental standards. Strong oral, written, and interactive communication skills are essential for interacting with co-workers and patients. The COTA must be able to organize tasks efficiently, maintain patient satisfaction, and adhere to regulations for confidentiality and patient privacy. They are expected to be competent in their clinical skills, serve as a resource, and provide assistance and education to patients and staff. The role involves utilizing various exercise and therapy equipment, and in emergencies, making simple forms of equipment. Staying current with occupational therapy trends through continuing education is also a key aspect. The COTA communicates with team members regarding patient treatment plans and barriers, participates in weekly team meetings, and helps establish barriers to returning home. They provide patients with instruction on their diagnoses and a home exercise program prior to discharge, ensuring adequate preparation for discharge and documenting recommendations for follow-up services. Active participation in upholding standards set by The Joint Commission, including infection control, safety, maintaining CPR certification, vaccinations, licensure, and continuing education, is required. Competency in emergency procedures, isolation, and infection control measures is necessary, along with maintaining a safe and clean environment. Compliance with all codes of ethics related to business practices, patient relations, and ethics is mandatory. The role also includes performing other job-related duties as directed and reviewing regulatory and procedural information. Participation in the collection, input, and analysis of performance improvement outcome data, and promoting teamwork and cooperation among clinic staff are also expected.

Requirements

Must be a graduate of an accredited occupational therapy assistant curriculum approved by the American occupational Therapy Association or other approving body, and licensed in the state he/she currently practices.
Must possess knowledge of the working environment of a COTA, acute care, SNF and outpatient rehab programs.
Must possess effective communication skills.
Visual and oral skills
Manual dexterity
Must be able to demonstrate clear oral, written, and interactive communication skills amongst co-workers and patients.
Demonstrate the ability to follow regulations to maintain confidentiality and patient privacy according to company policies and procedures.
Is competent in emergency procedures and isolation and infection control measures.
Comply with all code of ethics as related to business practices, patient relations and ethics as outlined by occupational therapy professional associations.
Review regulatory and procedural information as required.
keeping current CPR certification and vaccinations maintaining current licensure and continuing education as required by professional association and compliance with all company policies and procedures.

Nice To Haves

Study trends and developments in occupational therapy and attends continuing education seminars as authorized by the company.

Responsibilities

Treat patients to relieve pain and or develop or restore function to maintain maximum performance.
Record and report to the Occupational Therapist and/or Physician the patient’s reaction to treatment and/or any changes in the patient’s condition.
Travel to different hospital locations as needed.
Instruct the patient in total occupational therapy program.
Instruct other health team personnel in the care of patients with respect to occupational therapy.
Attend occupational therapy staff and agency development activities.
Write progress on patients on the date of the visit or on a weekly basis (team conference notes) and incorporates.
Demonstrates ability to perform documentation duties as required by The Joint Commission and departmental standards.
Must be able to demonstrate clear oral, written, and interactive communication skills amongst co-workers and patients.
Demonstrate the ability to organize tasks on a weekly basis to ensure efficient, effective, patient treatment and maintain patient satisfaction.
Demonstrate the ability to follow regulations to maintain confidentiality and patient privacy according to company policies and procedures.
Demonstrates competency in clinical skill in area of expertise. Is a resource in area of expertise and provides assistance and education to patients and staff.
Utilize various types of exercise and therapy equipment and make simple forms of equipment in emergencies.
Study trends and developments in occupational therapy and attends continuing education seminars as authorized by the company.
Communicates with team members regarding patient treatment plans and barriers as identified through initial assessment. Communicates finding with team members during weekly team meeting and is an active participant in establishing both physical and functional barriers to return to home.
Provide patients with instruction on their specific diagnoses to increase patient knowledge of their condition.
Provide patients with a home exercise program prior to discharge. Adequately prepares patient for discharge and documents recommendations for follow-up services.
Actively participate in upholding the standards set forth by The Joint Commission including infection control, safety, keeping current CPR certification and vaccinations maintaining current licensure and continuing education as required by professional association and compliance with all company policies and procedures.
Is competent in emergency procedures and isolation and infection control measures. Maintains a safe and clean environment as determined by educational record, participation in in-services, appearances of work area and oral quality review checks.
Comply with all code of ethics as related to business practices, patient relations and ethics as outlined by occupational therapy professional associations.
Performs other job related duties as directed.
Review regulatory and procedural information as required.
Participates in collection, input and analysis of performance improvement outcome data.
Promotes teamwork and cooperation among clinic staff.