Occupational Therapist (OT)

Overview

JOB SUMMARY

Occupational therapists is responsible for treating injured, ill, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help these patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Helps patient develop or regain physical or mental functioning or adjust to disabilities by implementing programs involving manual arts and crafts, practice in functional, prevocational, vocational, and homemaking skills, activities of daily living, and sensorimotor, educational, recreational, and social activities; directing aides, technicians, and assistants.
• Develop a treatment plan for patients, laying out the types of activities and specific goals to be accomplished
• Conducting physical and psychological assessments of clients and developing or following a treatment plan.
• Observe patients doing tasks, ask them questions, and review their medical history
• Evaluate a patient's condition and needs
• Evaluate a patient’s home or workplace and, based on the patient’s health needs, identify potential improvements, educate patient’s family and employer about how to accommodate and care for the patient
• Recommend special equipment, such as wheelchairs and eating aids, and instruct patients on how to use that equipment
• Assess and record patients’ activities and progress for patient evaluations, for billing, and for reporting to physicians and other healthcare providers
• Advising on adaptive equipment to help clients with daily activities.
• Developing physical rehabilitation programs to help clients regain lost skills.
• Educating caregivers and family members of clients on patient care.
• Evaluating results and progress of occupational therapy on clients.
• Complying with federal, state, and local certification requirements.
• Evaluating patient condition regarding physical and basic mental health.
• Examining the condition of patients and analyzing their needs.
• Promotes maximum independence by selecting and constructing therapies according to individual's physical capacity, intelligence level, and interest.
• Evaluates results of occupational therapy by observing, noting, and evaluating patient's progress; recommending and implementing adjustments and modifications.
• Completes discharge planning by consulting with physicians, nurses, social workers, and other health care workers; contributing to patient care conferences.
• Assures continuation of therapeutic plan following discharge by designing and instructing patients, families, and caregivers in home exercise programs; recommending and/or providing assistive equipment; recommending outpatient or home health follow-up programs.
• Documents patient care services in the medical record.
• Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; following manufacturer's instructions; troubleshooting malfunctions; calling for repairs.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

REQUIRED EDUCATION

Graduate from an Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) OR American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Accredited School

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS: (upon hire)

• Current Basic Life Support Certification for Healthcare Providers through American Heart Association
• Active and unrestricted license to practice as an Occupational Therapist in the State of Texas
• Successfully pass the national examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapists (NBCOT)