Job Purpose:
The occupational therapy assistant is responsible for providing care/services to assigned patients under the supervision of an occupational therapist in accordance with the patient’s care plan.
Supervisor: Therapist
Qualifications:
1. Licensed as an Occupational Therapist Assistant by the state in which practicing unless licensure does not apply.
2. If licensure does not apply, then one must have graduated from an Occupational Therapy Assistant education program accredited by:
» Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA), or its successor organizations.
» Is eligible to take or successfully completed the entry-level certification examination for Occupational Therapy Assistants developed and administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT).
Training:
1. At least one year of healthcare experience preferred.
2. Home health care experience preferred.
Responsibilities:
1. Provide education to the patient and family regarding safe performance of activities of daily living (ADLs).
2. Prepares clinical and progress notes.
3. Report any patient condition changes to the occupational therapist.
4. Demonstrate competency in providing care/services and provide the care/services in accordance with the plan of care.
5. Occupational therapy services may include:
» Therapeutic activities to restore physical function including exercises for neuromuscular re-education and cognitive re-training.
» Therapeutic tasks and activities to restore sensory-integrative function.
» Treatments address upper-extremity function; functional mobility including range of motion and strength; safety needs; and energy conservation.
» Compensatory techniques to improve the level of independence in ADLs.
6. Instructs the patient and family in using orthotic and/or self-help devices to compensate for loss of function.
7. Provide occupational therapy in accordance with the plan of care.
8. Maintain accurate and timely documentation of care/services provided.
9. Communicate with other team members, as appropriate, regarding the patient’s plan of care, and updates team members when there are changes.
10. Attends and participates in staff meetings, case conferences, educational in-services, and committee meetings, as appropriate.
11. Report incidents and grievances/complaints (patients and/or personnel) to the Clinical Manager.
12. Report the patient’s progress and effectiveness in meeting goals to the Occupational Therapist.
13. Participate in the patient’s discharge planning.
14. Participate in the agency’s Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program, as appropriate.
15. Adheres to the agency’s policies and procedures.
16. Maintains confidentiality of all aspects of job performance.
17. Practices proper infection control and utilizes PPE as indicated.
18. Performs treatments or special procedures only as authorized by the agency and deemed competent to perform by the Occupational Therapist.
19. Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations in performing job functions.
20. Performs other related functions as directed.
Physical Demands:
The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions in this job description successfully.
1. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and sit, as well as talk and hear.
2. The employee is required to use hands to operate vehicles and office equipment.
3. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
4. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.