Occupational Therapist

Description

General Duties and Essential Functions:

• Evaluates and executes appropriate treatment for referred patients within area of expertise, state, and federal regulations with emphasis on quality of care, continuity of services, and cost-effectiveness. Provides medically prescribed therapy and establishes a plan of care for patients. Recognizes potential issues and works with the physician to enhance the therapeutic approach. Acts as a clinical and professional role model and department resource.
• Interprets physician referrals, performs screens and completes musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiopulmonary, and/or integumentary evaluations utilizing appropriate methods.
• Establishes a plan of care and implements individual treatment based on evaluation results and functional goals. Monitors and evaluates outcomes and appropriately, adjusts the individualized treatment plan based on the patient's response to treatment, and provides status updates to physicians. Recognizes potential issues and the need to advocate for the patient by working with the physician and/or key professionals.
• Plans for and completes patient discharge including providing written home programs, attending

Job Description Therapist GRA.docx (01/23)

care conferences, instruction of facility personnel on restorative or functional maintenance programs, patient/family teaching, referral for community services, and ordering equipment.

• Completes all required documentation following department policy including daily notes, progress notes, and discharge summaries as appropriate. Record patient care and progress of each patient assigned as well as completing billing and timecard daily. Applies insurance guidelines regarding authorization and number of visits.
• Responsible for cleaning up after patient treatment, putting away equipment, following all GRA and facility infection control procedures, and keeping area neat and orderly. Performs various manual techniques, patient positioning, transferring, and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique.
• Documents at time of service and ensures billing entry is done daily for compliance with State, Federal, Facility and Agency guidelines prior to the end of the workday.
• Acts as a clinical and department resource. Mentors and facilitates clinical problem solving with other staff. Participates in community education or sponsored events.
• Willing to assist other rehabilitation departments, home health agency contracts, senior community, and in-home services as needed to ensure patient care needs are met.
• Assists other Agency departments to meet patient care needs and contributes to overall department productivity by achieving greater than 85% productivity.

Department Responsibilities

• Full and part time Therapists are required to work at least one weekend per month (Saturday and Sunday). Individual exceptions are granted only with approval from the GRA Administration. Team members are expected to travel and assist other departments if the need arises to ensure the company is providing an exceptional experience and the patient needs are being prioritized and met.
• Assist in reporting department and/or facility concerns and offer suggestions to improve programming when appropriate.
• Assist in training of new department personnel, tasks and other duties as directed by the Rehab Director.
• Supervises, assigns tasks to and directs the conduct of assistants within the State licensure guidelines and Federal Medicare program requirements.
• Supervises and directs the Rehab Office Coordinator as appropriate and within licensure requirements.
• Responsible to abide by company policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates a positive and professional attitude, verbal, and non-verbal communication to all facility staff, GRA staff and family members to reflect GRAI’s philosophy of operation.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

• Graduate of an accredited school with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, or a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology.
• Certification or license as required by the State of Wisconsin or applicable state to practice as a Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist or Speech-Language Pathologist.
• Willingness to serve as a supervisor for an occupational therapy assistant (OT only) or a physical therapist assistant (PT only).

Personal Characteristics:

• Is committed to ensuring an exceptional experience for all patients, partners, and other team members.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and a collaborative spirit for teamwork.
• Able to “Be the Duck”, achieve exceptional outcomes, and demonstrate exceptional customer service through our core values of agility and integrity.

Physical Characteristics:

• Have ability to lift at least 40 pounds using appropriate biomechanical techniques, push wheelchairs frequently throughout the course of an eight (8) hour day, walk, bend, stand, and reach.
• Have ability to speak, hear, and see (near and far) sufficiently enough to evaluate, diagnose, and monitor patient needs, maintain accurate records, recognize people, provide directions, drive to various sites, identify pieces of equipment, and communicate with patients and team members.
• Have fine motor skills to effectively and efficiently handle therapeutic equipment and document treatment provided on electronic devices.
• Have endurance to work eight-hour days with a half hour lunch break. Ability to participate in sustained activity for up to four hours at a time.