What are the responsibilities and job description for the Occupational Therapist position at Pafford Medical Services?
The Occupational Therapist evaluates, plans, and administers evidence-based occupational therapy services to enable patients to achieve meaningful participation in daily activities (ADLs/IADLs), roles, and routines at home, work, school, and in the community. The OT practices within the scope of state and federal regulations and collaborates with an interdisciplinary team to restore function, promote health and safety, prevent decline, and optimize discharge readiness.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Conduct comprehensive OT evaluations: medical/occupational history, occupational profile, analysis of performance patterns, and standardized/non-standardized assessments (cognition, vision/perception, sensation, ROM/strength, coordination, balance, functional mobility, ADLs/IADLs).
- Address vision, cognition, and psychosocial factors that impact safety, learning, and carryover (e.g., delirium prevention, executive function supports, low-vision adaptations).
- Provide caregiver coaching and patient education on diagnosis, precautions, home programs (HEP), environmental modifications, and community resources; ensure teach-back and documentation.
- Coordinate care with the team (PT/SLP, Nursing, Physicians/APPs, Social Work/Case Management, RT, Dietary, Recreation Therapy) via rounds, huddles, and case conferences.
- Participate in discharge planning: home safety recommendations, equipment/assistive tech, level of post-acute care, and therapy frequency/continuation needs; reduce avoidable delays to discharge.
- Document thoroughly and timely in the EMR: evaluations, daily notes, progress/re-certification notes, and discharge summaries that meet CMS/payer, Joint Commission/ACHC, and organizational standards.
- Adhere to infection prevention, patient identification, fall prevention, and safe mobility/transfer protocols; escalate changes in medical status per policy.
- Engage in quality improvement (QI), competency validation, mentorship of students, and continuing education to maintain advanced clinical skills.
- Prioritize caseload using clinical acuity and throughput needs; meet scheduling/productivity expectations while maintaining quality.