Occupational Therapist Assistant

Overview

Provides professional occupational therapy services in accordance with applicable regulatory guidelines and licensure requirements under the direction and periodic supervision of an Occupational Therapist.  Meets, maintains, and supports the standards of occupational therapy care and practice in order to meet the health care needs of clients, their families, and their communities.

Responsibilities

• Observes and reports deviations in client health status, employing age-appropriate norms and principles of growth and development.
• Provides occupational therapy services to clients in their homes following the Plan of Care established by the Occupational Therapist and physician and under the direction of the Occupational Therapist.
• Provides occupational therapy to develop or restore function to maintain maximum performance in accordance to the Plan of Care.
• Instructs client, family, or other health care personnel in the client’s occupational therapy program, including the use of special techniques and adaptive devices to promote maximum client benefit.
• Guides the client in his/her use of therapeutic, creative, and self-care activities for the purpose of improving client’s functional abilities and to promote maximum client benefit.
• Uses activities and exercises to improve range-of-motion, strength, and coordination of the upper extremities as directed by the Occupational Therapist.
• Provides sensory or perceptual motor training, activities of daily living (ADLs) training, and splints or other special equipment for improvement of physical functioning or for preventing deformities as directed by the Occupational Therapist.
• Identifies unmet client needs and reports to Occupational Therapist and VP of Clinical Services or Director of Professional Services.
• Records and reports to the supervising Occupational Therapist, physician, and other health care personnel any changes in the client’s condition or reaction to treatment.
• Participates in case conferences and discharge planning.
• Utilizes electronic documentation of client care and complies with Agency policy regarding timeliness in submission of documentation.
• Performs other duties as assigned in response to client or Agency needs.

Qualifications

• Holds current license for state location of employment
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in Home Health Setting preferred
• 2 years of experience in acute care or outpatient setting that requires comprehensive assessment skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience in care coordination between, physician, clients, referral sources