Under the direction of the team supervisor/manager, the Certified Hand Therapist provides skilled hand therapy and Occupational or Physical Therapy services per operational demands. Patient/client evaluation, consultation, and treatment are conducted using broad guidelines, requiring a high degree of autonomy and innovation in decision-making, including complex patient situations and problems. Involving other health care team members is essential.

The Hand Therapist practices in collaboration with other members of the health care team and demonstrates respectful interactions with patients/clients, colleagues, and others. Practice incorporates and emphasizes education to patients, clients, families, students, and others. The Certified Hand Therapist manages technical, environmental, and financial resources effectively.

• Evaluates upper extremity diagnoses thoroughly identifying impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities.
• Obtains and reviews medical, psychosocial, vocational, and avocational history along with other factors that may affect the rehabilitation process. Understands and follows precautions of each case.
• Determines prognosis and plan of care in collaboration with the patient and referring physician within the guideline of third-party payers.
• Develops, and regularly updates, patient education and home programs to maximize patient understanding of their diagnosis, expected outcomes, and fully engage them in their rehabilitation process. Partnering and aligning decisions with patient needs, wants, and preferences.
• Efficient and effective fabrication of orthoses. Follows proper principles for the patient fit, design, precautions and appropriate for conservative/surgical conditions.
• Custom orthosis fabrication. Efficient and effective fabrication of orthoses. Follows proper principles for the patient fit, design, precautions and appropriate for conservative/surgical conditions.
• Identifies and provides appropriate strategies to educate patients so that environmental constraints, learning barriers, and cultural factors are addressed effectively. Assesses effectiveness of teaching and considers emotional impact of condition on learning.
• Delegates treatment to appropriate clinical staff and provides necessary supervision. Maximizes efficiency in patient outcomes by use of appropriate support personnel.
• Maintains current professional knowledge of techniques and trends in the field through consistent communications with peers, physicians/mid-levels as well as independent study.
• Attends conventions, meetings, or special courses whenever possible and shares gained information with the department/facility personnel.

Required Skills/Education:

• Minimum Three (3) years of professional experience in therapy area of specialty Preferred Five (5) years of Hand and Upper Extremity experience Licenses & Certifications Minimum
• Hand Therapy Certification (CHT) from Hand Therapy Certification Commission
• Licensed Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist in the State of Maryland