Staff Occupational Therapist

UNC Health•Kinston, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Occupational Therapist provides patient care assessment and treatment, develops programs, and provides team leadership when assigned. The role includes mentoring therapists, assistants, technicians, and students. The therapist plans, organizes, and conducts occupational therapy programs in hospital settings to help rehabilitate people whose abilities are affected by illness, injury, or psychological or developmental problems. The role collaborates with physicians and other healthcare team members to deliver multidisciplinary care, participates in continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities, and facilitates excellent customer service. The therapist evaluates patients in a comprehensive, age-appropriate manner; sets realistic, measurable goals; implements and adjusts treatment plans; documents patient progress; and maintains confidential, current occupational therapy records. The therapist also instructs patients, families, caregivers, and educational personnel in treatment and strategies for daily living and health maintenance. Team duties include supervising and supporting colleagues, coordinating care and training, orienting new employees, and mentoring students and rehabilitation personnel as assigned. The position maintains clinical competencies and pursues professional development consistent with best practice.

Requirements

Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited School of Occupational Therapy.
Current North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy license.
Analytical ability to delegate personnel and solve problems with positive solutions.
Good interpersonal and communication skills to facilitate interactions with customers and staff members.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ fine motor, developmental, physical, and mental abilities and identify deficits.
Review physician referrals and medical records to help determine diagnosis and treatment needs.
Develop realistic, quantifiable rehabilitation goals and implement appropriate treatment plans.
Perform initial evaluations, evaluate treatment effects, and adjust treatment to maximize benefit.
Document prognosis, treatment, patient response, progress, reevaluation plans, and other required information in patient records; maintain records confidentially and keep them current.
Prepare written materials, including IEP reports and evaluations.
Manage equipment used in treatment and adapt environments, equipment, and materials to support daily living.
Facilitate patient mobility using appropriate safe patient-handling techniques or equipment, and support social adjustment and prevention of physical or mental disability.
Educate and instruct patients, families, caregivers, and educational personnel in treatment procedures, home care, health maintenance, and daily living skills.
Promote activities and implement programs that help patients develop work, life-management, and daily living skills and adjust to handicaps within their abilities.
Provide excellent customer service, model appropriate communication and behavior, and take initiative to resolve client concerns or ensure they are addressed.
Provide direction to and supervise occupational therapy assistants; coordinate and provide training to patients, families, and medical professionals.
Provide clinical educational opportunities for students and team members; mentor students and rehabilitation personnel as assigned.
Support peers and other team members with workload as needed and consult with the rehabilitation team to coordinate occupational therapy with other therapeutic activities.
Answer staff questions, communicate hospital and departmental information, oversee multidisciplinary clinical care, and orient new employees.
Assist the Manager of Therapy Services with performance development of team members.
Confer with patients, medical practitioners, and other appropriate people to plan, implement, and assess intervention programs.
Participate in CQI activities and maintain clinical competencies and proficiency in occupational therapy techniques.
Pursue professional growth and continuing education to ensure techniques are consistent with best practice.
Arrange education and training for new equipment and procedures; build positive relationships with physicians, healthcare team members, and the community; and assist with departmental promotional efforts.
Follow the Lenoir Memorial Hospital Code of Conduct and monitor and hold coworkers accountable.