Occupational Therapy Assistant

Advocate Health and Hospitals Corporation•Macon, GA

11d•Onsite

About The Position

This part-time Occupational Therapy Assistant position is within the Inpatient Rehabilitation department at Navicent Health Medical Center. The role involves assisting the Occupational Therapist in patient evaluations and implementing individualized treatment plans to improve patients' activities of daily living, functional abilities, and overall comfort. The position requires comprehensive documentation, communication with the supervisory therapist and healthcare team, and adherence to insurance guidelines. The OTA will also be responsible for maintaining a safe and orderly treatment area, performing manual techniques, and utilizing various equipment. Professional growth and participation in performance improvement activities are encouraged.

Requirements

Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) needs to be obtained within 6 months unless department leader has determined it is not required
Occupational Therapy Assistant license issued by the state of Wisconsin
A valid driver’s license issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles
Associate's Degree in Occupational Therapy Assist
No experience required
Intermediate computer skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Good organization, decision-making, and problem solving skills
Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, and squat throughout the workday.
Must be able to: Lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist.
Lift up to 10 lbs. from waist to overhead.
Lift and carry up to 40 lbs. at waist height a reasonable distance.
Must be able to: Push/pull with 30 lbs. of force.
Perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present.
Position requires repetitive use of hands: Simple grasping - 5-15 lbs. - 20% of the workday.
Pushing/pulling - up to 75-100 lbs. - 10% of the day.
Fine manipulation of hands during massage and joint mobilization.
Must have functional use of senses to allow for effective communication.
Exposed to electrical and chemical hazards as well as blood and body fluids; therefore must have ability to wear protective clothing as needed.
Position may require travel; therefore may be exposed to road and weather hazards.
Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.

Responsibilities

Assists the Occupational Therapist in evaluation of the patient's physical, perceptual, cognitive, social, and vocational abilities and the impact on the patient's activities of daily living.
Identifies factors affecting patient's physical and psychosocial comfort and attends to these needs.
Implements individual treatment to re-train and teach compensatory techniques for residual disability in activities of daily living, adapted homemaking techniques, bathroom transfers, functional application of mobility skills and, when appropriate, training in adapted work methods.
Monitors and notifies/updates the supervisory therapist of patient's response to treatment given.
Plans for patient discharge including providing written home programs, patient/family teaching, and ordering equipment with direction of evaluating/supervising.
Completes all required documentation with appropriate co-signatures, including patient progress notes, team conference reports, discharge summaries, and records patient care and progress of each patient assigned as well as daily statistics, billing, and scheduling.
Applies insurance guidelines regarding authorization and number of visits.
Responsible for cleaning up after patient treatment, putting away equipment, and keeping area neat and orderly.
Performs various manual techniques, patient positioning, transferring and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique.
Demonstrates skill in use of modalities, exercise equipment and other devices that are available in area worked per department orientation checklist.
Demonstrates knowledge of indications and contraindications of modalities and exercise.
Participates in performance improvement activities designed to identify and resolve problems affecting patient care outcomes and to improve quality of care.
Manages assigned caseload, informing site leadership of coverage needs and ability to cover; assists with coverage, based on department needs and regional needs.
Pursues professional growth through participation in continuing education courses, department inservices, and reading professional literature.
Orients new staff to clinical and department policies as requested.
Participates in the evaluation process of co-workers by providing verbal or written feedback as requested.
Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served.
Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures.