Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Assists the Occupational Therapist carrying out plans of care and providing direct treatment in the outpatient and inpatient hospital settings and in the community. May perform patient transport, aide/volunteer supervision, health promotion/disease prevention activities, community services such as health fair and community education

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Monitors vital signs, recognizes changes in patient status, and uses independent judgment to discontinue a procedure or therapeutic exercise as indicated. Notifies the therapist and/or physician provider of changes in patient status and responds immediately and appropriately to potentially life-threatening events.
• Assesses patients for pain management, physical disability, and wound care, carries out established treatment plans, suggests changes to plans and goals based on patient response to treatment.
• Writes concise, informative, legible progress notes in correct format
• Keeps current on competencies for all therapy modalities, therapeutic exercise programs, procedures, and equipment in the Occupational therapy Department.
• Participates in continuing occupational therapy education and by participating in departmental and hospital in-service presentations, and by documented self-study.
• Applies ice packs, hot packs, and operates selective equipment, including but not limited to N-K table, tilt table and exercise equipment fluid therapy, paraffin, hydro collators, etc.).
• Administers or assists in a variety of rehabilitation procedures such as orthotic construction and training, activities of daily living, selective exercises, removal and/or re-application of dressings, splints, braces, adjustment of adaptive equipment, etc.
• Prepares patients for treatment.
• Reports any unusual reaction or signs of distress or discomfort by the patient.
• Schedules patients.
• Participates in staff conferences and in-service training for hospital and departmental staff.
• Performs other duties as required