Inpatient Occupational Therapist-Full-time

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare • DeKalb, IL

4d • $39 - $56

About The Position

The licensed Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) reflects Northwestern Medicine’s mission, vision, and values, follows its Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with applicable policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulatory and accreditation standards. The therapist also complies with the professional Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice and Illinois requirements.

The position includes direct patient care, teaching, participation on appropriate committees, and departmental process improvement. The Occupational Therapist serves as a role model for therapists and clinical interns in professional, clinical, communication, education, and leadership activities. The role manages occupational therapy patient care from initial contact through discharge, collaborating with other healthcare team members and treating COTAs to support functional progress, safety, and treatment outcomes.

The position is 36 hours per week (0.9 FTE), on the day shift. The listed hourly compensation range is $38.50 to $55.83.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy.
• Occupational Therapist license in the state of Illinois.
• BLS certification from the American Heart Association upon hire.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s or doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate Northwestern Medicine values: Patients First, Integrity, Teamwork, and Excellence.
• Present a friendly, approachable, professional demeanor and appearance; provide accurate information and timely updates to patients and customers.
• Use service recovery skills to address problems or service breakdowns.
• Communicate effectively, respect diverse opinions and styles, and acknowledge others’ contributions.
• Use organizational and departmental resources efficiently and manage work schedules and assignments on time.
• Facilitate collaborative care with other healthcare team members.
• Contribute to continuous improvement, cost reduction, streamlined processes, and the improvement and growth of services.
• Select appropriate evaluations, treatment modalities, equipment, and protocols; conduct re-evaluations according to department guidelines and adjust treatment plans as needed.
• Adapt treatment creatively to special circumstances.
• Manage OT patient care from initial contact through discharge, taking responsibility for functional progress, safety, and treatment outcomes, and collaborate consistently with treating COTAs regarding plans of care.
• Follow department policies for evaluations, progress notes, and discharge summaries; document medical necessity accurately in the electronic medical record and meet regulatory documentation requirements.
• Document patients’ responses to treatment, actual performance, assessment of status, treatment-plan relevance, and discharge needs.
• Provide educational materials and methods suited to patients’ understanding and motivation.
• Participate in committees, departmental processes, special projects, and educational activities such as in-services, Journal Club, new-hire orientation, and process improvement.
• Build respectful communication and professional relationships with healthcare team members, including physicians, nurses, and case managers; participate in internal and external marketing as expected.
• Accept constructive feedback and make timely changes.
• Complete non-patient-care responsibilities within established time frames, including coverage notes, schedule or PTO requests, bonus-pay forms, discharge checklists, and follow-up calls.
• Participate in student clinical or observation programs as a clinical instructor, mentor, or observation host, as expected by the department.
• Maintain departmental productivity standards and complete required education, competencies, and training on time.
• Accommodate patient-care needs and department meetings, including flexing schedule or assignment outside normal work hours when needed.

Benefits

• The company describes a broad range of benefits intended to support employees’ physical, emotional, and financial well-being and provide protection for unexpected life events.
• The company description mentions tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness, and 401(k) matching.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time