Certified Hand Therapist

Department Overview

The purpose of this job/position is to function as a member of the Rehabilitation Services patient care team by providing occupational therapy OR physical therapy services such as ADL training, energy conservation, splint fabrication, exercise, sensory integration, and perceptual/cognitive training to assist patients in improving their function in work, leisure, and self-care. Therapists evaluate each patient referred, establish treatment goals and objectives, develop, and implement the treatment plan, and assist in the process of obtaining DME, assistive devices and post-therapy follow-up. Therapists are expected to supervise therapy interns and to assist with other educational and research activities conducted by the department or the hospital and meet hospital standards regarding documentation and productivity. Therapists provide care in multiple outpatient locations.

Function/Duties of Position

Provides a Safe Therapeutic Environment

• Ensures the safety and welfare of patients and fellow employees
• Utilizes proper posture and sound body mechanics and principles for safe patient handling
• Maintains general good physical and mental health and self care in order not to jeopardize the health and safety of self and others in the workplace
• Maintains a clean, safe, and orderly environment for patients, family and personnel. This includes, but is not limited to maintaining organization for supplies and equipment, notifying appropriate personnel when cleaning or repair is needed,
• Follows infection control policies, maintains knowledge of life safety, fire and electrical safety and disaster plan

Professionalism

• Maintains current knowledge of professional practice responsibilities and relevant national and state laws and issues which affect practice.
• Conducts oneself in an ethical and legal manor upholding the APTA/AOTA code of ethics, OHSU Code of Conduct, federal privacy policies, state statutes and OARs; complies with hospital and departmental policies and procedures.
• Manage use of time effectively to complete professional and technical tasks within realistic time constraints.
• Takes responsibility for special projects and assignments, additional caseload when needed/ adapts to changing and demanding environments.
• Displays mature, effective professional relationships by accepting appropriate suggestions and constructive criticism, and responds with modification of behaviors and exhibiting concern for others.
• Pursues continuing education opportunities, applies and shares new knowledge, participates in staff meetings and inservices.

Service

• Demonstrates excellent customer service and communication skills in all interactions with patient and family, internal and external customers, including telephone, electronic and face to face situations
• Addresses complaints and problems promptly and courteously, involving management when indicated.
• Communicates using active listening skills in a supportive courteous, professional manner at all times to patients, family and staff.
• Uses ICARE for introduction and closing

Evaluation and Treatment of Patients

• After chart review, performs individualized skilled physical therapy or occupational therapy evaluation, including general screening for indications for other therapy disciplines rehabilitation needs.
• Establishes treatment goals including functional outcomes, quantitative measure and target dates. Discusses goals for treatment with patient and includes family as appropriate, seeks agreement with plan and goals.
• Develops treatment plan directed at achieving identified goals.
• Provides therapy procedures in a highly skilled and competent manor including clear explanations to patients the purpose for selected procedures. Includes patient, family, caregiver training and education in treatment plan. Provides comprehensive handouts as indicated. Adjusts treatment plan specific to patient progress toward established goals.
• Documents evaluation, treatment plan and goals, treatment modalities and procedures in compliance with OHSU, OAR, CMS, DNV and other 3rd party standards. All charts closed within 3 days without reminders.
• Develops and/or improves patient care programs for specialty area.
• Competently and safely demonstrates use of therapy equipment for treatment modalities and procedures.
• Assesses patients for discharge from care when goals met, functional progress plateaus, pt non-compliance with treatment plan or change in medical status.
• Enters appropriate billing for care provided.
• Expected to meet productivity expectations.
• Facilitates patient scheduling therapy appointments with follow up section in Cadence, MyChart communication.
• Medicare certifications and recertifications completed accurately and sent to referring provider for signature. Monitors chart for timely cosignature of plan.
• Ensures patient has home program in place to continue after discharge.

Clinical Education

• Provides evidence based clinical instruction experiences and supervision for OT or PT students, based on licensure. All employees post 1 year at OHSU take students.
• Ensure student completion of weekly goals; indentifies and facilitates achievement of affiliation objectives
• Provides regular feedback, completes required documentation on schedul
• Participates in the supervision and training for student from other disciplines, student volunteers. All staff take volunteer and student shadowers.

Care Coordination/Interdisciplinary Communications

• Communicates with referring providers as indicated; provides feedback and educates physicians, fellows, residents, and other health care providers about rehabilitation.
• Communication with other members of rehabilitation team as needed for interdisciplinary referral.
• Timely communication to PAS Resource Specialists as needed for insurance authorization requests or to clarify coverage for set treatment plan
• Demonstrates high degree of flexibility and management of schedule with communication to lead or supervisor as needed for modifications to improve workflow.

Departmental Operations/Quality Improvement/Professional Development

• Participates in ongoing professional development, mentoring and competency assessment for self and other staff. Includes but not limited to:
  • attends educational classes, communicates additional trainingneeds to supervisor, attends staff meetings, assists in orientation of new staff, cross trains for other teams as needed, performs peer reviews, pursues independent learning for new developments in patient care area.
  • Reports program development needs to supervisor, assists in departmental quality improvement.
  • Actively works with team members, leads, and supervisor for continuous improvement of department operations as indentified.
  • Responsible for self- monitoring own pt schedule in Cadence. Reports schedule conflicts to supervisor and assists in problem solving for good customer service.
  • Attend hand team meetings, continuing education at work and independently for hand therapy specialty license.

Required Qualifications

• Completed an accredited physical or occupational therapy educational program.
• Requires the ability to develop a comprehensive, progressive treatment strategy focused on functional success in acute, community and home settings,
• Excellent communication skills, High degree of courtesy, discretion and respect for patients and fellow employees, leadership ability demonstrated by role modeling, professional demeanor, excellent organizational skills, strong triage skills
• Current State of Oregon Occupational Therapist license OR Current State of OR Physical Therapy License;
• Current American Heart BLS CPR; Certified Hand Therapist (CHT), certification required upon hire
• Compliance with Code of Conduct, Respect in the workplace and Applicable policies, procedures and agreements related to position, department or OHSU as a whole
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation

Preferred Qualifications

• Outpatient Upper Extremity Experience

Why apply to OHSU?

We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact [email protected]