Occupational Therapist/ Certified Hand Therapist

Prerequisite Skills:

• Ability to provide appropriate care and progress treatment based on professional standards of practice, and on the needs of the specific individual, including age and developmental considerations, cultural and psychosocial issues, precautions and medical condition
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Ability to demonstrate advanced professional and clinical skills; keeps abreast of current trends and practice issues in hand therapy
• Ability to utilize sound clinical reasoning to determine appropriate patient interventions; demonstrates good safety awareness, judgment and problem analysis and resolution
• Knowledge and adherence performance standards specific to the clinician's professional organization
• Knowledge of computer systems and software used in functional area
• Knowledge of Etiology and pathology of medical conditions that may manifest with signs or symptoms in the hand or upper extremity
• Knowledge of evaluation and treatment methodologies as applied to patients
• Knowledge of Kinesiology and biomechanics relative to the shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist and hand Knowledge of principles of tissue/wound healing Knowledge of regulatory practice requirements
• Knowledge of surface anatomy of the shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist and hand

Primary Customer Served (Age Specific Criteria):

((  ) Infants: Birth up to 1 year

(  ) Toddlers: 1 up to 3 years

(  ) Preschool Children: 3 up to 6 years

(  ) School Age Children: 6 up to 12 years

(X) Adolescents: 12 up to 18 years

(X) Early Adults: 18 up to 45 years

(X) Middle Adults: 45 up to 61 years

(X) Late Adults: 61 up to 80 years

(X) Late, Late Adults: 80 years and up

• This position is not a patient care position. The incumbent will, in many cases, be the initial face of the organization to a variety of external constituencies. As such, a high degree of professionalism, tact, and communication skills are required.

Patient Privacy (HIPAA Compliance):

• Employees in this position have access to protected health information.  The protected health information a person in this position can access includes demographics, date of service, insurance/billing, medical record summary information, and all other information that may be contained in patient records.  This position requires patient health information to perform the functions outlined as part of this position description.

Duties And Responsibilities:

Essential (Not Modifiable)

• Completes all documentation and billing accurately and in a timely fashion, including Medicare forms, monthly progress notes and discharge summaries.
• Ensures that prescriptions are up-to-date and comprehensive for the treatments given
• Consistently follows up on outstanding issues, including contacting physicians for changes or additions to orders, new prescriptions, and discharge planning.
• Coordinates care of patient with other health professionals; including MD's and case managers.
• Discharges patient from treatment when appropriate with adequate discharge planning including equipment procurement and family training, and communicates appropriately to patient, family and health care team.
• Examines, assesses and documents skeletal, muscular, nervous, vascular, lymphatic, skin, and connective tissue status;
• Assesses and documents psychosocial, functional and ergonomic factors and status; identifies impairments, functional limitations and disabilities based on the results of assessment; reassesses and documents patient status at appropriate intervals.
• Performs all necessary patient care documentation, including assessment, plan of care, progress notes, discharge summaries, and charges for evaluation and treatment.
• Documentation reflects patient status, progress or change, and participation by patient and family in goal setting and delivery of care. Performs complex patient care tasks with advanced skills in clinical reasoning, problem-solving and treatment interventions.
• Assesses and treats patients within professional organization's scope of practice including but not limited to the application of modalities, therapeutic exercise and splint fabrication.
• Provides direct patient care that meets department and professional standards of practice, including patient assessment, development of therapy care plan, patient treatment, family/caregiver training and discharge planning.
• Selects and administers appropriate assessment and treatment techniques.
• Performs age-appropriate competency skills in area of practice and with respect to individual patient's problems.
• Provide information to Occupational Therapy Supervisor about complicated patient situations.
• Supervises students when assigned; provides mentoring and orientation to others when appropriate.

Secondary (Modifiable)

The following duties and responsibilities pertain to hand therapy consultation, evaluation and/or treatment, within the Marin Health Medical Center (hospital) location, including physical disabilities units as well as behavioral health unit.

• Perform evaluation of the functional performance of inpatients and establishes a plan of treatment consistent with occupational therapy Scope of Practice; this involves the patient and his/her family in the design, goals and plan of treatment Evaluates effectiveness and outcomes of occupational therapy interventions, including evidence-based measures and practices, as well as the patient’s and family’s response to therapeutic interventions
• Works proactively with health care team (occupational therapy supervisor, nursing, dietary, physical therapy, speech pathology, care coordination, social work, department navigators, physicians, etc) to continually assess patient’s discharge planning needs and ensure timely discharge of patient.
• Functions independently in performing occupational therapy treatments, which may include, but are not limited to, retraining in self-care, functional mobility, functional cognitive assessment/interpretation, neuro re-education, upper extremity function, splinting/bracing to support functional task participation (and/or progression of positioning/stabilization per surgeon protocols within the acute stages of upper extremity recovery), visual-perception screen/assessment or retraining activities, medication management, home management/safety, adaptive or durable medical equipment assessment, recommendation and retraining. Identifies a patient and caregiver, family, and/or significant other’s specific learning needs and plans appropriate teaching interventions
• Remain up to date with updates on procedures, policies and protocols within the acute care occupational therapy department. Other duties as assigned.