Occupational Therapist Home Health - Work-Life Balance! - Interim Healthcare of Mercer

Occupational therapist requested per diem for home care. Six locations have openings! Hunterdon, Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington, Warren, Mercer! 

Great for those looking to pick up a few extra hours here and there. Self-scheduling! Sign up case-by-case. 

Pediatric, adult and geriatric patients in need of services.

General Purpose:

Occupational therapy is provided for the purpose of treating physical impairments, functional limitations, disabilities and/or changes in physical function associated with a patient’s health status.  The treatment and intervention provided is in accordance with the patient’s plan of care, accepted professional standards of occupational therapy practice, applicable law and regulation, as well as Interim HealthCare policies, procedures and clinical pathways.

Essential Functions:

• Assist the physician or other licensed practitioner in evaluating the level of patient function and performance and equipment needs, as well as in developing the resulting plan of care/treatment including appropriate long term treatment goals, selection of interventions, and the intensity, frequency and duration of services to meet the needs of an individual patient.
• Completes initial and ongoing comprehensive assessments at appropriate time points as assigned.
• Provide interventions and therapeutic treatment in accordance with the physician certified plan of care and occupational therapy professional standards of practice.
• Select and teach task-oriented therapeutic activities designed to restore physical function, and sensory-integrative function.
• Teach compensatory technique to improve the level of independence in the activities of daily living (ADLs).
• Design, fabricate and fit self-help devices.
• Regularly assess changes in the patient’s status since the last visit/treatment day, and determine whether the planned services should be modified, performing a re-evaluation and obtaining revision orders from the physician as indicated.
• Advise and consult with the family and/or other caregivers to promote patient progress toward mutually agreed upon goals and planning for discharge.
• Participate in educating the patient and the family, and other caregivers to promote patient progress toward mutually established goals.
• Actively communicate with other members of the interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary healthcare team providing care to the patient to promote coordination of care.
• Prepare and submit timely, legible, relevant and sufficient documentation - whether written or electronic - of treatment and skilled intervention provided and client and family’s response to interventions, as well as appropriate reports of a patient’s progress toward goals in accordance with professional standards of practice, policy and procedures, and payor requirements.
• Participate in quality and performance improvement measures
• Participates in in-services or training, as requested.
• Able to perform CPR, per organization-specific policy.
• Supervise professional and paraprofessional staff, including occupational therapy assistants, as assigned.
• Read and interpret technical instructions related to the care of the patient and use of equipment in providing treatment.
• Visually and aurally observe and assess the patient.
• Perform and prioritize multiple functions or tasks to effectively deal with multiple changes based on patient needs and scheduling.
• Provide proof of valid driver's license, as per organization-specific policy.
• Provide proof of valid auto liability insurance if assignment(s) include driving own vehicle to transport patient per organization-specific policy.
• Travel within geographic area serviced by the home care or hospice.
• Complete other assignments as requested and assigned.
• Meet the health requirements to provide patient care per applicable law or regulation.
• Access, use and disclosure of personal health information (“PHI”) necessary to fulfill the above duties and responsibilities and as defined by each organization.

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements:

• Current licensure or certification as an occupational therapist, as applicable, in the state(s) in which he or she will practice, unless licensure or certification does not exist;
• Graduate of an accredited occupational therapy education program or equivalent recognized by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA.)
• Evidence of passing the examination for occupational therapy administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) or equivalent recognized by the AOTA or evidence of eligibility for an OT exam as recognized by the AOTA.
• In the last five (5) years, two (2) years of experience as an occupational therapist that is relevant to the patient population assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Meets applicable state and federal health screening requirements.
• Pass federal and state required criminal and abuse background checks where required.
• Verification of employment eligibility (I-9) in accordance with local, state, and federal law and regulations.

For Organizations That Must Meet the Medicare Conditions of Participation: Additional requirements apply as per Addendum A of this job description.  An occupational therapist must meet 1 of 4 options for qualification to provide care under the Medicare home health, hospice or outpatient therapy benefits.

Working Conditions & Physical Effort:  

• Work is normally performed in a residence, aggregate living facility, school or occupational setting.
• Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment.
• Able to effectively communicate with all levels of the workforce, both clinical and non-clinical.
• Ability to visually and auditorialy observe and assess the patient.
• Ability to work flexible schedule and/or evening hours, as needed.
• Heavy physical activity that may require lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling over 50 lbs., and physically stretching, bending, and stooping.