What are the responsibilities and job description for the Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist position at CommonSpirit Health?
Job Summary and Responsibilities
As a Clinical Specialist - Occupational Therapy, you will be a central figure specializing in providing expert occupational therapy assessment and advanced therapeutic interventions to complex patient populations, driving exceptional outcomes and specialized program development. You will play a vital leadership role in advancing occupational therapy practice and contributing to holistic patient recovery.
Every day, you will meticulously conduct comprehensive evaluations, develop highly individualized and evidence-based treatment plans, and skillfully implement specialized therapies for patients with complex functional needs. You will also provide expert consultation to the interdisciplinary team, mentor junior therapists, participate in program development and quality improvement initiatives, and maintain meticulous documentation, ensuring adherence to the highest professional standards and regulatory guidelines.
To be successful in this role, you will combine an active Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) license, a relevant Master's or Doctoral degree, and extensive advanced clinical experience in a specialized area of OT practice (e.g., neurological rehabilitation, hand therapy, oncology). You will demonstrate exceptional clinical reasoning, strong leadership qualities, outstanding communication skills, and thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment dedicated to advancing occupational therapy excellence and optimizing patient quality of life.
- Abuse Protection and Reporting: Identifies and reports patient abuse and neglect i.e.: physical assault, domestic abuse and neglect of elders and children. Measurement: Feedback, Chart Review, Observation.
- Annual Performance Evaluations: Conducts annual performance reviews as assigned by Therapy Manager/Supervisor and works to assist other speech therapists in improving job performance. (NA - per diem) Measurement: Feedback, Observation.
- Assessment: Accurately identifies patient's functional deficits/dysfunction through review of the medical record, through observation of the patient, through information obtained from the patient/family, and through assessment of expressive/receptive language, motor speech, cognitive/linguistic hearing, voice and swallowing and other speech therapy assessment techniques. Measurement: Accurately interprets the physician's order. Discussion Feedback Chart Review Observation
- Bedside Swallow Assessment: Accurately identifies signs and symptoms of dysphagia and the patient's functional deficits/dysfunction with swallowing through review of the medical record, observation of the patient, information obtained from the patient/family/staff, oral-pharyngeal and respiratory examination, trial feed assessments and other occupational therapy assessment techniques. Accurately interprets the physician order. Received Advanced Practice Certification in Swallowing from the California Board of Occupational Therapy or be working towards advanced practice certification following established guidelines for supervision and continuing education. Measurement: Discussion, Feedback, Chart Review, Observation.
- Communication: Communicates regularly with other members of the healthcare team regarding goals, progress and rehab potential. Works as a collaborative member of the treatment team. Measurement: Feedback, Observation.
- Continuing Education: Maintains current skills and competency by attending at least one continuing education course annually and at least 1 department/hospital inservice a month (NA - per diem). Measurement: Observation.
Job Requirements
Required
- High School Graduate
- Minimum of five (5) years clinical experience
- Evidence of extensive trainingin a given specialty area.
- Specialty areas may include but not be limited to: neuro rehabilitation, orthopedics, pediatrics, swallowing, hand rehabilitation, pain management and work hardening
- High School GED
- Occupational Therapist: CA
- Basic Life Support - CPR
Where You'll Work
St. John’s Regional Medical Center, located in Oxnard, California is a recognized as a Top 250 Hospital in the Nation and as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care by Healthgrades. St. John’s Regional is a part of Dignity Health’s Southern California Division and is a member of CommonSpirit Health, the largest not-for-profit health care system in the nation, boasting an integrated network of top quality hospitals, with physicians from the most prestigious medical schools, and comprehensive outpatient services - all recognized for quality, safety, and service. Each hospital is supported by an active philanthropic Foundation to help meet the growing health care needs of our communities. Learn more here at www.dignityhealth.org/StJohnsRegional.
One Community. One Mission. One California