Occupational Therapist (OT) - Outpatient

Advocate Health • Milwaukee, WI

3d • $38 - $57

About The Position

The Occupational Therapist facilitates activity-based therapeutic groups in outpatient behavioral health programs serving children, adolescents, and adults. This is a part-time position of 24 hours per week, scheduled Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with a 30-minute unpaid meal break each day. The ideal candidate is passionate about supporting mental health and engaging patients through therapeutic activities.

The Occupational Therapist interprets physician referrals; evaluates patients’ physical, perceptual, cognitive, social, and vocational abilities and how these affect activities of daily living; and develops and implements individualized plans of care. The role monitors patient outcomes, adjusts treatment as appropriate, communicates patient status to physicians and teammates, and supports patient discharge and transitions of care.

The position also involves documentation, billing, scheduling, caseload management, maintaining department productivity and safety standards, and participating in quality improvement and professional development activities. Depending on qualifications and department needs, the Occupational Therapist may supervise occupational therapy assistants, extenders, or students.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited school, or educational requirements commensurate with the date of graduation.
• Maintain continuing education requirements mandated by applicable state professional standards.
• Occupational Therapist license in the state where the employee works.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification from the American Heart Association, obtained within 90 days unless the department leader determines it is not required.
• No work experience required.
• Intermediate computer skills.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated organization, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Successfully complete competency assessments and requirements related to patient care and site standards.
• Maintain annual educational requirements for hospital-based certifications, such as DNV or CARF.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills to provide age-appropriate care, knowledge of growth and development across the lifespan, and the ability to assess and interpret patient information in relation to age-specific needs.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, lift, and squat throughout the workday.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds from floor to waist; lift up to 10 pounds from waist to overhead; and lift and carry up to 40 pounds at waist height a reasonable distance.
• Ability to push or pull with 30 pounds of force and perform a sliding transfer of 150 pounds with a second person present.
• Ability to perform repetitive hand use, including simple grasping of 5–15 pounds for 20% of the workday, pushing or pulling up to 75–100 pounds for 10% of the day, and fine hand manipulation during massage and joint mobilization.
• Functional use of senses sufficient for effective communication.
• Ability to wear protective clothing as needed due to exposure to electrical and chemical hazards, blood, and body fluids.
• Ability to operate all equipment necessary to perform the job.
• May be required to travel and be exposed to road and weather hazards.

Responsibilities

• Interpret physician referrals and evaluate patients’ physical, perceptual, cognitive, social, and vocational abilities and their effects on activities of daily living.
• Establish plans of care and provide individualized treatment based on evaluation results and functional goals, using appropriate techniques.
• Provide or fabricate assistive devices and splints to support patients’ functional independence.
• Monitor and evaluate outcomes, adjust individualized treatment plans based on patient response, and provide status updates to physicians and other teammates.
• Identify factors affecting patients’ physical and psychosocial comfort and attend to those needs.
• Plan and complete patient discharges, including home programs, patient and family teaching, community-service referrals, transition planning, and equipment orders as appropriate.
• Communicate and collaborate with stakeholders to support optimal patient care.
• Complete required documentation according to department policy and accreditation standards, including evaluations, progress notes, team conference reports, and discharge summaries as appropriate.
• Record patient care and progress; complete daily statistics, billing, and scheduling; apply insurance authorization and visit guidelines; and adhere to productivity, billing, documentation, and timeline requirements.
• Clean up after treatments, put away equipment, and maintain a neat and orderly work area.
• Perform manual techniques, patient positioning, transferring, and transporting duties, including lifting and pushing or pulling, using proper technique.
• Use available modalities, exercise equipment, and other devices in accordance with department orientation and demonstrate knowledge of their indications and contraindications.
• Promote patient safety by participating in safety initiatives and following safety and infection-control measures.
• Participate in performance-improvement activities to address problems affecting patient outcomes and improve quality of care.
• Manage the assigned caseload, inform site leadership of coverage needs and availability, and assist with coverage based on department and regional needs.
• Pursue professional growth through continuing education, department in-services, and professional literature.
• Orient new staff to clinical and department policies when requested and provide feedback on co-workers during evaluations when requested.
• May supervise occupational therapy assistants, including delegating patients, providing treatment direction and recommendations, and maintaining responsibility for plans of care and goals.
• May directly supervise occupational therapy extenders in administering treatments and teach them appropriate techniques for specific patients.
• May supervise occupational therapy students after completing one year of clinical experience.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off programs.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses.
• Adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
• Educational Assistance Program.
• Premium pay, such as shift and on-call pay, based on the teammate’s job.
• Incentive pay for select positions.
• Opportunity for annual increases based on performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level