Occupational Therapist (OT) - Outpatient

Advocate Health and Hospitals Corporation•Spring Valley, WI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Seeking a therapist with an interest in or experience with outpatient hand therapy and a possible willingness to learn and develop additional specialty skills, including lymphedema management. This is a full-time, 40 hours/week position with a typical schedule of four 10-hour days from 7 am to 5:30 pm. The role involves interpreting physician referrals, evaluating patients' abilities, establishing and implementing treatment plans, and providing/fabricating assistive devices and splints. The therapist will monitor patient progress, adjust treatment plans, manage discharge planning, and collaborate with stakeholders. Documentation, statistics, billing, and scheduling are also key responsibilities. The position requires applying insurance guidelines, meeting productivity standards, and adhering to billing and documentation policies. The role also involves maintaining a clean work area, performing manual techniques, patient positioning, transferring, and transporting duties, which may require lifting and pushing/pulling. Skill in using modalities, exercise equipment, and other devices, along with knowledge of their indications and contraindications, is necessary. Promoting patient safety, participating in performance improvement activities, and managing an assigned caseload are also expected. Professional growth through continuing education and participation in department in-services is encouraged. The role may involve orienting new staff, participating in co-worker evaluations, and supervising occupational therapy assistants, occupational therapy extenders, and students.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited school or educational requirements commensurate with the date of graduation; maintains continuing education requirements as mandated by applicable state professional standards
Licensed Occupational Therapist in the State upon which you work.
Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers (obtained within 90 days unless department leader has determined is not required) by American Heart Association (AHA)
No experience required
Intermediate computer skills
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organization skills
Demonstrated organization, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
Successfully completes all competency assessments/requirements pertaining to provision of patient care and consistent with site standards
Team members will maintain annual educational requirements for hospital-based certifications (e.g. DNV, CARF or others).
Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served.
Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs.
Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, and squat throughout the workday
Must be able to: lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist.
Must be able to: lift up to 10 lbs. from waist to overhead.
Must be able to: lift and carry up to 40 lbs. at waist height a reasonable distance
Must be able to: push/pull with 30 lbs. of force.
Must be able to: perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present
Position requires repetitive use of hands: Simple grasping - 5-15 lbs. - 20% of the workday.
Position requires repetitive use of hands: Pushing/pulling - up to 75-100 lbs. - 10% of the day
Position requires repetitive use of hands: Fine manipulation of hands during massage and joint mobilization
Must have functional use of senses to allow for effective communication
Exposed to electrical and chemical hazards as well as blood and body fluids; therefore, must have ability to wear protective clothing as needed
Position may require travel; therefore, may be exposed to road and weather hazards
Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job

Nice To Haves

Interest in or experience with outpatient hand therapy
Willingness to learn and develop additional specialty skills, including lymphedema management

Responsibilities

Interprets physician referrals and evaluates the patient's physical, perceptual, cognitive, social, and vocational abilities and their impact on the patient's activities of daily living.
Establishes a plan of care and implements individual treatment based on evaluation results, functional goals and by utilizing appropriate techniques.
Provides and/or fabricates assistive devices and/or splints to enhance patient's functional independence.
Monitors and evaluates outcomes and appropriately adjusts individualized treatment plan based on patient's response and provides status updates to physicians and other teammates.
Identifies factors affecting patient's physical and psychosocial comfort and attends to these needs.
Plans for and completes patient discharge including providing written home programs, patient/family teaching, referral for community services, transition planning within the continuum of care and ordering equipment as indicated/appropriate.
Communicates and collaborates with appropriate stakeholders to assist in achieving optimum care for the patient.
Completes all required documentation following department policy and accreditation standards with appropriate co-signatures, including patient evaluations, progress notes, team conference reports, and discharge summaries as appropriate.
Record patient care and progress of each patient assigned.
Completes daily statistics, billing, and scheduling.
Applies insurance guidelines regarding authorization and number of visits.
Responsible for maintaining site/department established productivity standards.
Responsible for understanding and adhering to all billing and documentation policies, procedures, and timelines.
Responsible for cleaning up after patient treatment, putting away equipment, and keeping area neat and orderly.
Performs various manual techniques, patient positioning, transferring and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique.
Demonstrates skill in use of modalities, exercise equipment and other devices that are available in area worked per department orientation checklist.
Demonstrates knowledge of indications and contraindications of modalities and exercise.
Promotes patient safety by participating in safety initiatives as requested and appropriately follows all safety and infection control measures pertaining to the general working environment.
Participates in performance improvement activities designed to identify and resolve problems affecting patient care outcomes and to improve quality of care.
Manages assigned caseload, informing site leadership of coverage needs and ability to cover; assists with coverage, based on department needs and regional needs.
Pursues professional growth through participation in continuing education courses, department in-services, and reading professional literature.
Orients new staff to clinical and department policies as requested.
Participates in the evaluation process of co-workers by providing verbal or written feedback as requested.
May supervise occupational therapy assistants following all applicable state and local compliance requirements. This includes delegating patients to assistive personnel while providing direction, recommendations regarding treatment and ongoing supervision while maintaining responsibility for patient plan of care and goals.
May directly supervise occupational therapy extenders (rehab aides/techs) in administering treatments to patients and will teach them appropriate techniques to perform with specific patients.
May supervisor occupational therapy students after completing one year of clinical experience.

Benefits

Comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs
Competitive compensation
Generous retirement offerings
Programs that invest in your career development
Paid Time Off programs
Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
Educational Assistance Program