Occupational Therapist (OT, Rehab) - Acute Care

Hartford Healthcare•Willimantic, CT

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Backus Hospital is seeking a caring and dedicated Occupational Therapist for its acute care team. The Occupational Therapist independently evaluates patients’ functional abilities and develops and implements individualized treatment goals and plans aligned with patient and caregiver goals. The role provides Occupational Therapy services to promote health and wellness, prevent injury or disability, and improve or maintain independence, productivity, leisure, perceptual-motor function, rest, and mental, cognitive, physical, sensory-perceptual, psychosocial, developmental, and emotional well-being. Services are delivered in varied contexts and environments to maximize function in daily living, leisure and recreation, and work. The Occupational Therapist delegates patient care tasks and provides clinical supervision to Occupational Therapist students, Rehabilitation Aides, and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants. The position requires evaluation and analysis of patients and application of Occupational Therapy to maximize functional independence. The therapist evaluates patients upon physician referral, establishes measurable goals with patients and families, delivers and delegates care using appropriate interventions and clinical judgment, educates patients and caregivers, completes clinical documentation, and collaborates on care transitions and discharge planning.

Requirements

Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
License to practice as an Occupational Therapist in Connecticut.
Certification by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®).
Ability to work efficiently, organize time, and prioritize daily assignments.
Ability to read and understand oral and written instructions and communicate information effectively.
Basic computer skills, including email, text messaging, and basic internet use.
Proficiency with Windows-based word processing, database, spreadsheet, and presentation software.
Working knowledge of the State Practice Act and federal Medicaid and Medicare regulations.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team.
Competence in meeting the needs of patients across age groups.
Ability to maintain infection-control policies related to patient care.
Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion, use good judgment, and perform duties promptly and consistently with little direction.
Ability to adapt to a changing environment and respond appropriately to changing circumstances.
Ability to communicate and collaborate with the patient-care team.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Strong analytical ability to gather and interpret information from various sources.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience as an Occupational Therapist in an acute care setting.
Experience with electronic medical records.

Responsibilities

Evaluate patients’ level of function upon physician referral, including upper-extremity strength, motor control, joint mobility, soft-tissue integrity, pain, balance, coordination, perceptual-cognitive motor function, and activities of daily living.
Establish measurable goals with patients and families based on patient-care protocols and critical paths.
Implement, deliver, and delegate patient care using appropriate interventions and clinical decision-making.
Use therapeutic techniques to support everyday activities, including fine-motor skills, gross-motor exercises, and strategies to maximize function in daily living, leisure and recreation, and work.
Educate patients and caregivers about treatment, precautions, and equipment use.
Complete documentation, including evaluations, care plans and goals, patient status and progress, visits, discharge summaries, and care-transition plans and summaries.
Participate in patient transition and discharge planning, including recommending community resources to meet patient needs across the continuum of care.
Coordinate care transitions with physicians, rehabilitation therapists, nurses, social workers, and relevant community resources.
Delegate patient-care tasks and provide clinical supervision to Occupational Therapist students, Rehabilitation Aides, and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants.

Benefits

Flexible scheduling
Extensive paid time off (PTO)
Medical and dental benefits
401(k) with company match
Company-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance
Continuing education and tuition reimbursement
Clinical specialty and senior clinician opportunities
Team-oriented structure
Comprehensive continuing education program
Special Interest Groups supporting evidence-based clinical knowledge, growth opportunities, and organizational support