Occupational Therapist
About The Position
The Registered Occupational Therapist provides rehabilitation therapy to patients of all ages with temporary or chronic physical and mental disabilities. Treatment uses purposeful activities, including manual and creative skills, educational and recreational activities, facilitation techniques, developmental skills, and other techniques suited to patients’ needs. The goal is to improve physical function and promote mental adjustment. The therapist evaluates referred patients, develops therapy programs for individuals and groups, and evaluates, records, and reports patient progress to the rehabilitation team. Treatment is provided only according to written or verbal procedures prescribed by a medical doctor or D.O. The position also includes fitting splints as ordered, maintaining a safe and organized treatment area, managing supplies and equipment, and maintaining patient and departmental records. This is a PRN occupational therapist position in a skilled nursing facility in the Birmingham, Alabama area, with afternoons and weekends noted.
Requirements
- Complete an Occupational Therapy curriculum approved by the American Occupational Therapy Association.
- Be licensed or eligible for licensure by the Alabama Board of Occupational Therapy.
- Be certified by the American Board of Certification.
- Understand medical terminology sufficiently to interpret patient evaluations and document progress.
- Be able to maintain confidentiality concerning patients and their families.
- Be able to work with patients with temporary or chronic mental, physical, or developmental disabilities and adapt to a variety of patients and treatment programs.
- Be able to bend, stoop, lift patients and equipment when necessary, push patients in wheelchairs and on stretchers, adjust treatment equipment, give resistive exercise, and have physical contact with patients as treatment requires.
- Be alert and attentive to patients’ reactions to treatment and able to work under pressure or stress on occasion.
- No previous experience is necessary once educational requirements are met.
Nice To Haves
- Previous occupational therapy experience is desirable.
- Knowledge and experience in arts and crafts that can help patients build strength, improve function in the upper and lower extremities, and enhance self-esteem and independence.
- Good common sense, reasoning, organizational ability, and an attitude of firm kindness when working with patients.
Responsibilities
- Provide direct patient treatments and maintain patient safety in the Occupational Therapy department.
- Evaluate referred patients’ physical and functional status and assess their potential benefit from occupational therapy services.
- Plan therapy programs for individual in-patients, individual out-patients, extended care center patients and groups, and stress management patients.
- Evaluate, record, and report patient progress for review by other members of the rehabilitation team.
- Prepare and fit splints for functional upper and lower extremities as ordered.
- Maintain patient and departmental records, including charting patients’ daily progress.
- Keep the treatment area organized and in proper order and provide a safe Occupational Therapy department.
- Monitor and requisition supplies and equipment, and use hospital equipment and supplies economically.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
- Provide treatment only according to written or verbal procedures prescribed by a medical doctor or D.O.
