Occupational Therapist - Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury

The Occupational Therapist (OT) is responsible for assessment and treatment of assigned patients (adolescent, adult, and geriatric). The OT will collaborate with the patient/family to develop and implement a comprehensive treatment program. The OT will uphold the Shepherd Center standards and values through their interactions with staff, co-workers and others. Programmatic processes may vary across the center and the OT will meet required competency identified within each program.

Job Responsibilities

• Develops and implements treatment program to further patient’s functional skills, which is then periodically reassessed and adapted.
• Effective communication and team collaboration.
• Professional behaviors and expectations
• Helping patients to develop, regain, or maintain their ability to perform daily activities.
• Plans and develops effective patient and family training to ensure proper patient care.
• Makes recommendations for specialty services or consultations as needed.
• Uses evaluation findings to determine appropriate discharge planning needs.
• Effectively participates in intra-departmental staff meetings, and intra-departmental discipline/program committee assignments.
• May participate in education programs by teaching and supervising students.
• Participates in research projects as needed.
• Completes and submits required documentation according to program guidelines.
• Provides skilled interventions as outlined by AOTA
• Willing to treat a diverse population and ready to learn and grow your clinical skills.
• Participates in patient team conferences.
• Facilitates patient goals through Goal Attainment Scaling.
• Communicates with client and family to develop rapport, review POC, progress, and transition to next level of care.
• Ensures appropriate recommendations are made for DME needs for safe transition.
• Documents information clearly and completely utilizing correct forms/systems and in a timely manner according to Center policy.
• Carries out interventions that are supported by evidence-based practice standards.
• Will use resources and integrate technology for creative or innovative patient experience.
• Performs consistent with Shepherd Center standards, clinical policies, and procedures.
• Practices proper safety techniques in accordance with Center and departmental policies and procedures. Responsible for the reporting of employee/patient/visitor injuries or accidents, or other safety issues to the supervisor and in the occurrence notification system. 

• Monitors and ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements, organizational standards, and policies and procedures related to area of responsibility.

• Identifies potential risk areas within area of responsibility and supports problem resolution process.

Required Minimum Education

• A degree from an accredited program in occupational therapy.

Required Minimum Certifications

• BLS required
• Licensed to practice in the state of Georgia. (For provision of OT Telehealth, clinician must be licensed to practice in the state in which the client is residing)

Required Minimum Experience

• N/A

Required Minimum Skills

• Basic computer skills.
• Must display knowledge of growth, development, and the ability to obtain, interpret and disseminate information in terms of age specific patient needs (adolescent, adult, and geriatric.
• Demonstrates competency in time management, organization, prioritization, and critical thinking by planning and organizing work assignments and prioritizing the specific needs of the patient.
• Takes responsibility for growing professionally and seek opportunities for improving skills.
• Communicates effectively using timely verbal, non-verbal and written communication.
• Willingly adapts to changing work demands and work environment.
• Demonstrates critical thinking skills and makes sound judgments to monitor and respond to patient needs or changes in condition.
• Completes orientation and initial assessment of competency successfully by determined due date.
• Completes mandatory education and annual competency assessment requirements by determined due date.

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years recent clinical experience preferred.

Physical Demands

• Uses body, tools, or special devices to safely, effectively, and efficiently to move, guide, or place patients.
• Involves some latitude for judgement with regard to precision attained and the selection of what adaptive device(s) to utilize.
• Ability to transfer and position patients, consistent with lifting up to 30 lbs.

Working Conditions

• Normal patient care environment.
• Some potential for exposure to blood and body fluids.
• Some potential exposure to infectious viruses.
• May include exposure to community.
• Actively participates in center-wide efforts that affect occupational therapy practices.
• Establishes relationships with other occupational therapists.
• Meets transportation and driving guidelines as needed.
• Performs other duties as required/requested/assigned.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification.  They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified.