Unit Assistant Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Professionals certification from the American Heart Association.
• California Occupational Therapy Assistant license from the California Board of Occupational Therapy.
• Knowledge of occupational therapy treatment methods.
• Ability to maintain neat, accurate, and concise records.
• Ability to document patient care and progress efficiently in an electronic health record.
• Effective professional communication skills.
• Ability to direct the work of aides and/or student interns.

Nice To Haves

• Associate’s degree in a COTA program.
• Three years of experience in all aspects of the discipline.

Responsibilities

• Implement occupational therapy treatment according to the treatment plan and report subjective and objective patient responses.
• Report pain that interferes with patient function or rehabilitation participation and implement interventions as appropriate.
• Provide care in a manner that promotes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical or healthcare errors.
• Participate in patient teaching based on identified learning needs, report on its effectiveness, and include family when appropriate.
• Use modalities, equipment, and therapeutic procedures safely and appropriately.
• Adapt modified treatment plans under therapist direction and within the patient’s capabilities to support the highest possible level of functioning.
• Recognize when additional assessment by the primary therapist is needed.
• Assist with identifying and providing community resources and making appropriate service referrals as directed by the therapist; liaise with community agencies as needed.
• Complete timely, complete, legible, concise, and accurate documentation in accordance with organizational, professional, payer, and regulatory requirements.
• Complete applicable documentation elements, including interdisciplinary plans of care, education records, and billing; maintain records related to departmental operations.
• Participate in departmental activities such as continuous quality improvement, staff meetings, and chart review.
• Represent the department on committees and system-wide activities when requested.
• Present discipline-specific resource information to patients and families.
• Communicate patient-care and departmental issues, offer suggestions for operational improvements, and complete additional assignments in a timely manner.
• Adapt to changes in work schedules and assignments as needed.
• Maintain departmental cleanliness and safety, use time effectively, and support cost-conscious ordering and use of supplies.
• Assist with equipment and supply ordering and submit requisitions to the therapist as requested.
• Participate in the continuous Quality Improvement Program and take responsibility for one major departmental project.
• Provide supervision and clinical direction to other assistants in the department if needed; direct the work of aides and/or student interns.
• Share therapeutic ideas and principles, provide in-service education or training, and participate in the student program.
• Remain actively involved in professional development.