Occupational Therapist

OVERVIEW:

Occupational therapy practitioners focus on “achieving health, well-being, and participation in life and address training in self-care skills; training in the use of adaptive equipment, compensatory techniques, and environmental modifications; and behavioral and mental health issues.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

·       Remediating instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) related to the patient’s discharge environment, such as                    preparing a meal or managing one’s home or finances

·       Training in functional mobility, such as how to prepare a meal while using an ambulatory device

·       Preparing the client and family for community reintegration (as appropriate for the client’s discharge site) with                          activities such as public dining or emergency response management

·       Assessing the need for and recommending potential home modifications and safety equipment to reduce barriers and          promote safe functioning upon discharge

·       Exploring adaptations and compensatory strategies for return to volunteer or paid employment

·       Assessing current leisure skills to determine whether modifications are needed to continue participation and/or                        assisting with exploring new leisure pursuits

·       Teaching functional mobility, including using an ambulatory device and/or transfers to different surfaces, such as a bed,          chair, toilet, or shower in order to perform self-care and personal tasks; and training in wheelchair mobility and safety              appropriate for the resident’s level of cognition and perception

·     Remediating or enhancing IADLs, such as ability to use the telephone or the emergency staff call system

·     Teaching residents with cognitive and perceptual deficits in compensatory techniques to maximize abilities in areas                such  as attention span, orientation, sequencing, and/or memory

·     Teaching residents with low vision how to maximize their remaining vision and enhance safety through compensatory             techniques, environmental modifications, assistive technology, and adaptive equipment

·       Instructing residents and caregivers in techniques to improve positioning, reduce the need for restraints, and maintain            skin integrity

·       Modifying the environment and adapting tasks for safety (e.g., falls prevention, fatigue management)

QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE:

·       Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from an accredited program

·       Successful completion of National Certification Examination

·       1 year of verifiable, supervised professional experience within the last 3 years

·       Valid OT license in the state of practice