Occupational Therapist Hand Therapy-Casual
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, regulatory requirements, and accreditation standards. The therapist provides direct patient care, teaching, committee participation, and departmental process improvement, and serves as a role model for therapists and clinical interns in professional, clinical, communication, education, and leadership activities. The role manages occupational therapy care from initial contact through discharge, including evaluations, re-evaluations, treatment planning, patient education, collaboration with COTAs and other healthcare team members, and accurate documentation in the electronic medical record. The therapist also contributes to department education, student programs, service improvement, and other department responsibilities. The position is designated casual.
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.
- Occupational hand therapy experience.
Responsibilities
- Demonstrate Northwestern Medicine’s values of Patients First, Integrity, Teamwork, and Excellence, and maintain a friendly, approachable, professional demeanor.
- Provide accurate information and timely updates to patients and customers, and use service recovery skills to address problems or service breakdowns.
- Communicate effectively, respect diverse opinions and styles, acknowledge others’ contributions, and collaborate with healthcare team members.
- Use organizational and department resources efficiently, manage work schedules, and complete tasks and assignments on time.
- Contribute to continuous improvement, cost reduction, streamlined work processes, and the growth of services.
- Select appropriate evaluations and use suitable treatment modalities, equipment, and protocols.
- Perform re-evaluations according to department guidelines and adjust treatment plans accordingly.
- Adapt treatments to special circumstances using creative problem-solving.
- Manage OT patient care from initial contact through discharge, with responsibility for functional progress, safety, and treatment outcomes.
- Maintain primary responsibility for patient plans of care through timely, consistent collaboration with treating COTAs.
- Follow department policies for evaluations, progress notes, and discharge summaries, and enter accurate documentation in the electronic medical record.
- Complete daily notes documenting the patient’s response and performance, status relative to the treatment plan, and discharge needs while meeting regulatory documentation requirements.
- Provide educational materials and methods appropriate to patients’ understanding and motivation.
- Participate in committees, department processes, special projects, and internal and external marketing as expected.
- Build respectful communication and professional relationships with healthcare team members, including physicians, nurses, and case managers.
- Accept constructive feedback and make timely changes.
- Complete non-patient-care responsibilities within established timeframes, such as coverage notes, schedule-change requests, discharge checklists, and follow-up calls.
- Contribute to department and clinic education, including in-services, Journal Club, new-hire orientation, and process improvement.
- Participate in student clinical or observation programs as a clinical instructor, mentor, or observation host, as expected.
- Maintain department productivity standards and complete required Northwestern Medicine education, competencies, and training on time.
- Accommodate patient care needs and department meetings as needed, including flexing the schedule or assignment outside normal work hours.
Benefits
- Tuition reimbursement
- Loan forgiveness
- 401(k) matching
- Lifecycle benefits
- A wide range of benefits intended to support physical, emotional, and financial well-being and provide protection for unexpected life events
