Occupational Therapist PRN

University of Maryland Medical System•Aberdeen, MD

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Delivers occupational therapy services through the evaluation of patient needs, goal determination, and development of treatment plans according to the principles and practices of occupational therapy.

Requirements

Master's degree required. Bachelor's degree accepted if licensed prior to 2008 (per previous requirement).
One year of experience preferred.
Licensed Occupational Therapist in the state of Maryland
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Ability to access, review, and integrate information from a variety of sources to develop a treatment plan.
Strong verbal, written, and non-verbal communication skills, including the ability to instruct others.
Interpersonal skills to enable the therapist to establish and maintain rapport with patient as part of the therapeutic relationship.
Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse healthcare team.
Ability to manage time and set priorities according to the demands of the job.
Ability to conceptualize and problem-solve in the management of the patient.
Ability to break down functional tasks to achieve patient centered goals.
Ability to communicate effectively with team members and patients.
Ability and willingness to adapt hours of availability to variable and changing needs of the organization.
Ability to maintain confidentiality with patients and team members.
Ability to effectively use various pieces of medical and therapeutic equipment.
Must have experience in Behavioral Health
Conduct comprehensive psychosocial and functional assessments
Develop and implement individualized treatment plans for mental health populations
Deliver evidence-based interventions (CBT-informed strategies, DBT skills, trauma-informed care)
Facilitate therapeutic groups (coping skills, life skills, stress management, social skills)
Address activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs (IADLs) in behavioral health settings
Support emotional regulation, self-management, and adaptive coping strategies
Perform risk assessments and recognize signs of crisis or decompensation
Utilize sensory modulation and sensory-based interventions for emotional regulation
Knowledge of DSM diagnoses (e.g., depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD)
Experience with co-occurring disorders (mental health + substance use)
Understanding of recovery-oriented and person-centered care models
Application of trauma-informed care principles
Familiarity with psychotropic medications and their functional impacts
Strong therapeutic communication and rapport-building skills
Ability to engage patients with diverse backgrounds and needs
Skilled in motivational interviewing
Effective collaboration with interdisciplinary teams (nursing, psychiatry, social work, case management)
Provide patient and family education
Design and lead structured therapeutic programming
Develop group curricula and psychoeducational materials
Adapt interventions to varied cognitive and emotional levels
Promote community reintegration and discharge planning
Complete timely, accurate clinical documentation
Maintain compliance with regulatory standards (Joint Commission, CMS, state regulations)
Participate in treatment team meetings and care coordination
Support quality improvement initiatives
Strong clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills
Ability to prioritize in fast-paced behavioral health environments
Manage caseloads effectively
Adapt to changing patient needs and acuity levels
Skilled in de-escalation techniques
Maintain therapeutic safety and boundaries
Knowledge of suicide prevention protocols and crisis intervention
Ability to respond appropriately in acute psychiatric situations

Nice To Haves

Experience in inpatient psychiatry, outpatient behavioral health, or partial hospitalization (PHP/IOP)
Experience with group therapy leadership
Familiarity with electronic medical records (EMR/EHR systems)
Empathy and compassion
Cultural competence
Flexibility and resilience
Strong ethical practice
Team-oriented mindset

Responsibilities

Performs occupational therapy services to patients in accordance with generally accepted occupational therapy standards, Maryland State Board Practice, code of ethics, and departmental and/or organizational policies and procedures.
Performs patient assessments and develops individualized treatment plan programs for clients/patients to promote health, well-being, and the patient’s ability to participate in the important activities in their life. Develops and maintains long- and short-term treatment objectives and re-evaluates and modifies treatment programs as necessary.
Records patient evaluations, re-evaluations and care provided in the medical record, in accordance with departmental documentation standards.
Informs patients, families, and interdisciplinary team members of evaluation results and plan for treatment and refers for further evaluation.
Plans and provides therapy education and counseling to individuals.
Provides mentorship and training to clinical team members and/or students as eligible based on departmental needs.
Participates in performance improvement activities and suggests areas for improvement to colleagues in a tactful and considerate manner. Proposes performance improvement topics and alternate treatment techniques to improve therapy services.
Reports clinical and operational issues to departmental leadership and assists in their resolution to assure high quality care and efficient departmental operations.
Demonstrates interdisciplinary, safe, patient-centered care and delivers excellent customer service.
Performs other related duties as assigned.