Certified Hand Therapist (Part-Time)

Overview

At Houston Methodist, the Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) position is responsible for evaluating and developing the therapy plan of care for a broad range of hand and upper extremity diagnoses and acuities. As an experienced Therapist, this position provides education to hand and upper extremity patients, patient's family members, and/or caregivers and collaborates with other health care professionals as needed for problem resolution and/or achievement of identified patient specific goals. As a member of the direct patient care team, the CHT position provides patient care directly and through delegation to Occupational or Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA) and Technicians and has responsibility for patient care delivered by assigned OTAs or PTAs and Technicians, delivering exceptional patient care with adherence to safety standards and guidelines to ensure optimal patient safety, customer service, and optimum patient outcomes. This position serves as preceptor, mentor and resource to less experienced hand and upper extremity staff to include other Occupational or Physical Therapists, assistants and technicians, and may act as a clinical instructor to OT or PT and OTA or PTA students, Residents, and Fellows.

Houston Methodist Standard

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVEDRefer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

Responsibilities

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Promotes a positive work environment and contributes to a dynamic, team focused work unit that actively helps one another to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with all members of the hand and upper extremity patient care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner.

• Serves as preceptor, mentor and resource to less experienced hand therapists (occupational or physical therapists), helping to advance their professional practice at HM.

• Teaches and provides guidance to Occupational or Physical Therapist Assistants, Technicians, and support staff. Assists with precepting students in clinical rotations and occupational or physical therapist residency or fellowship programs. May also serve as a clinical instructor.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Performs complete and comprehensive evaluation of patients across a broad range of hand and upper extremity diagnosis and acuities to identify patient's level of function and to determine the treatment plan. Develops the plan of care based on evaluation findings, implementing the hand and upper extremity treatment plan.

• Provides education to patients, patient's family members, and/or caregivers. Serves as resource to colleagues in teaching best therapy practice in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation.

• Collaborates and communicates with the healthcare team modifications to patient's treatment plan, progress, and discharge planning for achievement of identified patient specific goals.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assesses hand and upper extremity patients regularly, monitoring progress towards treatment goals, modifying goals, plan or program as indicated. Recognizes complications/limitations associated with certain procedures and proactively addresses such for optimum outcomes.