Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

OVERVIEW

Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) will perform treatment skills within the scope of the COTA’s education in order to carry out treatment plans as specified by the Occupational Therapist. Communicates with the Occupational Therapist regarding the patient’s condition and progress, and documents regarding the patient’s treatment in the medical record.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides Occupational Therapy services to patients under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist
• Assists the Occupational Therapist in the evaluation process as needed or directed.
• Identifies indications for and assists in evaluations at appropriate intervals under the direction of an Occupational Therapist.
• Assists the Occupational Therapist in identifying a problem list, short term goals, long term goals and treatment plan.
• Conducts individual, supervised and group treatment as assigned by the Occupational Therapist.
• Monitors patient’s response to intervention and consults with Occupational Therapist if modification is needed.
• Maintains acceptable patient care ratios as determined by the Occupational Therapist.
• Provides/recommends/fabricates adaptive devices or other equipment; trains patient and caregiver in the use or application of orthotics and prosthetics.
• Confers formally and informally with other team members in coordinating the total rehabilitation program of the patient.
• Assumes responsibility for ongoing continuing education and professional development.
• Adheres to Occupational Therapy Department procedures regarding documentation of Occupational Therapy Services.
• Provides treatment in accordance with established standards of practice, department procedures and productivity standards.
• Records billable treatment times according to Occupational Therapy Department procedures and submits weekly/monthly statistics to regional office.
• Complies with all Infection Control, Universal Precautions and OSHA standards for the healthcare professional.
• Assists with and participates in Quality Assurance Programs as required.
• Adheres to established confidentiality standards.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

• Associates degree in from an accredited institution
• Licensed to practice in the state
• Current CPR certification

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This job operates in a health care setting. This role requires regular walking to various locations around the care center.
• Incumbent may be exposed to virus, disease and infection from patients and specimens in working environment.
• Incumbent may be required to work extended periods of time at a video display terminal.
• Incumbent may experience traumatic situations, including psychiatric, and deceased patients.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus
• This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling and climbing all day.
• The employee must frequently lift or move objects and patients weighing over 50 pounds.

TRAVEL

• No travel is expected for this position