Occupational Therapist - Full Time

Job Summary:

Occupational Therapist facilitates developmental and rehabilitation of patients with mental, emotional, and physical disabilities by planning and administering medically prescribed occupational therapy. He/she must perform the housekeeping duties of the department and performs other diverse duties as requested or required. Additionally, he/she is responsible for functioning well as a member of the multidisciplinary team. 

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Works inside under normal temperature conditions with adequate light, in a well-ventilated, clean area; some areas are limited in space; usually works around others; must expect some moderate noise from equipment and instruction of patients.

1. No unusual hazard risks; may be exposed to muscular strain in supporting, lifting, and assisting patients.
2. Conditions of work may involve exposure to communicable diseases and on-the-job injuries.

This position has an OSHA Category I level of exposure to blood and body substances. Category I tasks are all procedures or other job-related tasks involving an inherent potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood, body fluids or body tissues or a potential for spills or splashes with blood, body fluids or tissues. Use of appropriate protective measures is required for every employee engaged in Category I tasks.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervises assigned areas to ensure that area is secure, orderly, and organized; technicians assigned to the area and patients receiving treatment in the assigned area.
• Non-supervisory care of equipment, machines, supplies and facilities; safety and welfare of patients; prevention of unnecessary expense, waste, loss of time and damage to equipment; order and cleanliness of department/facility.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Promptly attends work as scheduled and completes position responsibilities by following established guidelines & protocols within the appropriate time frame.
• Maintains confidentiality of the patient’s medical condition, personal problems and medical record.  
• Shows initiative in completing job responsibilities.
• Is neat, clean, and dressed according to the Dress Code Policy.
• Works cooperatively and respectfully with other personnel, showing a spirit of teamwork and cooperation.
• Demonstrates good skills in all forms of communication.
• Approaches the patient/significant other/visitor with a consistent respectful and concerned attitude, always striving for excellent customer service.
• Maintains education, credentials and development appropriate for position.
• Maintains a clean, safe, and neat work area.
• Supports the hospital mission and values – Standards of Performance and adheres to established hospital and departmental guidelines and protocols.
• Supports the hospital and helps to maintain the highest quality healthcare and strives to meet regulatory guidelines.
• Completes Annual Review Requirements – TB Skin Test or appropriate forms; every 5 years chest x-ray; Hepatitis B/ titer; attends New Hire Orientation or Annual Review; Performance Evaluation; Standards Evaluation and Goals Sheet.
• Aids in the care and safety of patients.
• Performs housekeeping duties in assigned areas by routine and periodic cleaning; maintains order and cleanliness throughout the department/facility.
• Treats patients of all ages (infants, children, adolescents, adults, geriatrics, and elderly ages 0-120 years), races, creeds, genders and disabilities without bias or prejudice.
• Complies with federal, state and local legal and certification requirements by studying existing and new legislation; anticipating future legislation; enforcing adherence to requirements; advising management on needed actions.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Interpersonal skills including customer relations, reading, and organizational skills.  
• Computer skills including word processing skills; familiarity with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and basic typing skills.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
• Able to make decisions under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and manage stress, anger, potential violence of others appropriately.
• Must be familiar with cleaning agents and methods; physical layout of department/facility; techniques of handling patients; policies, procedures, and regulations; operations of department/facility equipment; knowledge of Physical Therapy treatment techniques, general anatomy, physiology, physics, medical science, and other areas.
• Must be able to apply theory of Physical Therapy; have the ability and competency to operate the necessary equipment; perform technical procedures; speak intelligently and in a professional manner before others; have supervision and management skills.
• Must have skill in techniques of handling patients, for patients’ and own protection; efficiently assisting patients; operation of department/facility equipment; various treatment techniques.
• Must be able to instill confidence in patients, doctors, and personnel; determine proper procedures and methods and evaluate results; make decisions independently; adapt to emergency situations; be alert to changes in the patient’s condition; be alert to all activities of the department/facility.
• Must be willing to work under direction and take instructions and correction; have ability to reason and remember names and details of instructions; be alert, adaptable and flexible.
• Must have coordination of sight and body movements in various applications of procedures; know techniques of assisting and handling patients; be able to handle the tools and machines of the profession.
• Keeps current on and adheres to policies and procedures as enumerated in Policy and Procedures manual of department/facility.
• Actively participates in and adheres to all policies and procedures as enumerated in the risk management program.
• Must have a high degree of accuracy in carrying out prescriptions, receiving and translating information and charting and reporting.
• Must be thoughtful of others, gentle, courteous, patient, neat, well groomed, healthy, friendly, of above-average intelligence, with good memory and tactful; should have the ability to organize time to treat the maximum number of patients in the allotted working day.
• Conducts self with professional dignity; is pleasant and tactful; maintains optimum physical and emotional health; understands the importance of good human relations; able to motivate others; possesses broad interests; possesses strength of all extremities and back; shows initiative, good judgement, flexibility, enthusiasm, and thoroughness.
• Requires minimal supervision, instructions from Physical Therapist regarding new patients.

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in occupational therapy is required. Must be licensed by the state of Alabama. Certification is a plus but not mandatory.
• Entry level acceptable but 1-3 years’ experience preferred.
• Interpersonal skills- including customer relations, grammar, reading, and organizational skills.
• CPR certification.

Physical Requirements:

• Physical requirements: Must be able to walk, stand, stoop, lift, balance, sit, kneel, hear, reach, pull, talk, see, turn, carry, push, handle and write. The degree to which any of these is done depends on the job. This job requires you to reach above head, push/pull 5 lbs, lift/carry up to 15 lbs, and lift from floor and waist level and have good physical stamina.