Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our inpatient Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA), you will provide a continuum of treatment to patients with neuromuscular, orthopedic, and other physically-related disorders, under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist. Every day you will deliver care involving strengthening, modalities, manual therapy, neuromuscular re-education, and training in activities of daily living. You will also participate in professional responsibilities including documentation, program development, teaching, and enhancing your clinical skills, utilizing the rehab process to restore patient health. To be successful in this role, you will possess strong clinical skills in occupational therapy, a deep understanding of rehab processes, and the ability to effectively deliver patient care under supervision.

• Carries out program of corrective treatments for assigned patients, as determined by evaluating occupational therapist and under the indirect supervision of an occupational therapist.
• Implements therapy activities using measurable goals and time frames under the direction of an occupational therapist.
• Performs a variety of therapeutic interventions including, but not limited to, ADL retraining; patient education in home safety; adaptive equipment and compensation techniques; coordination, strengthening and therapeutic exercise programs, manual therapy, therapeutic activities, aquatic therapy and neuromuscular reeducation per patient needs.
• Carries out plan of care for assigned patients, as established by evaluating occupational therapist, within the scope of practice for a COTA.
• Initiates and follows through on communication with supervising occupational therapist regarding patient status, need for reevaluation and/or modification of treatment plan, goals, and patient training/education.
• Documents per department and Health Information Management guidelines/policy using correct grammar, spelling, abbreviations and medical terminology.

This role offers a PRN differential on top of base pay.

Job Requirements

Required

• Associate's Degree from an accredited Occupational Therapist Assistant program
• Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Department of Regulatory Agencies
• BLS, American Heart Association

Preferred

• Previous experience in outpatient, inpatient, or inpatient rehab unit
• Basic treatments for orthopedic, neurological, medical, and psychiatric patients
• Splinting knowledge
• Prior EMR use

Where You’ll Work

We believe in the healing power of humanity and serving the common good through our dedicated work and shared mission to celebrate humankindness. 

St. Thomas More Hospital, a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital, is the cornerstone of health care services for Fremont County and surrounding southern Colorado communities. St. Thomas More offers 24hour emergency and trauma services; inpatient acute care; intensive care; labor, delivery, and nursery care; multi-modal diagnostic imaging; inpatient and outpatient surgical services; rehabilitation services; cardiopulmonary rehab and diagnostics; sleep studies; an infusion center; wound care; and a community blood bank. We are on a mission to provide high quality care with zero harm to patients and employees.

We are a high reliability organization with positive patient outcomes. Our board-certified physicians specialize in emergency medicine, internal medicine, urology, bariatric services, obstetrics/gynecology services, general surgery, orthopedic surgery and osteopathic treatment. Employees of St. Thomas More enjoy the camaraderie of a close-knit community hospital, the relaxed feel of small-town life and an affordable cost of living in a town rich in culture and historic architecture.

Located about 50 miles from Colorado Springs at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and the mouth of the Royal Gorge, locals and visitors alike enjoy this area for some of the state’s best hiking, wildlife, rafting, camping, fishing, climbing, and mountain biking. Canon City has an assortment of restaurants, and breweries, and Farmer’s Markets in the summer months.

We believe in cultivating our nurses from within and providing them with whatever experience and opportunities needed to reach their goals, including opportunities to partake in scholarship offerings. Relationships with our physicians and surgeons are also collaborative. Many of our physicians enjoy teaching and take the time to ensure all team members understand each patient’s plan of care. We look for candidates that have creative problem-solving skills, strong clinical skills, positive attitudes, are team focused, introspective, flexible, value teamwork, and have a patient centered attitude. Our clinical employees, once settled in their home department, cross train to at least one other specialty. We expect our employees to contribute to problem identification and creative solutions to encourage excellent clinical care and an excellent patient experience. We are all one team with a common goal of providing excellent patient care.