Occupational Therapist

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, evaluate, and direct our occupational therapy services, as well as its programs and activities, in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern nursing care facilities.
• Communicate with staff from related departments when planning therapy services.
• Develop and maintain occupational therapy standards.
• Assist in standardizing the methods in which occupational therapy will be accomplished.
• Review occupational therapy policies, procedures, manuals, job descriptions, a minimum of annually.
• Interpret occupational therapy policies and procedures to personnel, residents, family members, as necessary.
• Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of resident care plans, resident assessments, as necessary.
• Assume the authority, responsibility, and accountability of directing the occupational therapy department in conjunction with the Director of Rehabilitation.
• Maintain treatment records, resident files, and progress notes, as required.
• Work with the Facility’s consultants for equipment, custom wheelchairs, etc.
• Ensure that billing for therapy services rendered are coded accurately and in accordance with current standards. All billing and daily notes must be completed on the date of service.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, charting, as necessary.
• Write appropriate orders for Occupational Therapy services rendered in the electronic medical chart.
• Report any questions or concerns to your Director of Rehabilitation.
• Supervise occupational therapy assistants in accordance with state & board policies, and review treatment/documentation.
• Administer therapy services via Telehealth as required to maintain compliance.

Therapy Functions

• Review requests for occupational therapy services and physician orders.
• Interview resident to determine type of treatments needed and schedule therapy, as ordered.
• Select rehabilitative and therapeutic activities and exercises based on medical and social history of residents.
• Participate in the development and implementation of resident assessments (MDS) and care plans, including quarterly reviews.
• Inform resident of procedures involved in occupational therapy and prepare necessary equipment.
• Assist in transporting resident to and from occupational therapy room or area.
• Demonstrate to residents and staff personnel, as necessary, the procedures involved in the treatment process.
• Perform occupational therapy in resident’s room, as necessary.
• Reassure resident before and during therapy treatment.
• Prepare resident for treatment by dress or position and administer occupational therapy in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Instruct and supervise resident during therapy.
• Assist residents in ambulatory training, as necessary.
• Recommend modifications and changes in the resident’s therapy treatment as indicated.
• Ensure that all therapist notes are informative, follow guidelines, and are descriptive of the care provided and of the resident’s response to the care.

Staff Development

• Participate in programs designed for in-service education and on-the-job training.
• Attend and participate in workshops, seminars, to keep informed of current changes in the field, as well as to build skills and