The Occupational Therapist provides services aimed at preventing the onset and/or slowing the progression of conditions resulting from injury, disease, and other causes. The occupational therapist provides these services to people of all ages who have functional conditions resulting from upper extremity injuries, sprains/strains and fractures, arthritis, burns, amputations, injuries related to work and sports, and others.

At FOI, occupational therapists specialize in providing therapy services in outpatient orthopaedics. This includes clinical evaluation, assessment, development of plan of care, and implementation of treatment. Occupational therapy services may include therapeutic exercise, modalities, manual therapies, and other rehabilitative treatments. The occupational therapist will work in a team environment along with other occupational therapists and other members of the health care team. Therapists may also participate in community education and research activities in order to best serve our clients within our community.

Key Responsibilities:

All occupational therapists must practice occupational therapy services within the guidelines of the FOI policies and procedures in addition to Florida State and Federal guidelines.

Key Responsibilities:

• As top priority to ensure excellent customer service to our patients and accommodate to their needs to ensure a positive Rehabilitation experience in our Therapy Facilities.
• To ensure the highest possible level of patient care, while still maintaining company accepted productivity standards.

• To attend and participate in operational meetings, patient care meetings, and in-services.
• To assume responsibility for the maintenance and overall safety of all clinic equipment.
• To demonstrate awareness and responsibility in areas of safety, environmental hazards, and infection control.
• To conduct patient evaluations, assessments, consultations, and treatment as a member of the therapy team.
• To perform appropriate tests and measurements for each patient in order to present a thorough evaluation.
• To consult with individual patients, families, and service providers in regard to the development of appropriate treatment programs, interpretation of evaluation results, and the coordination of the plan of care.
• To develop a plan of care for the patient and be responsible for its implementation and modification as necessary.
• To notify the physician of any changes in the patients status and/or need for modification of the plan of care.
• To establish patient treatment schedules and coordination of treatment for the patient within the therapy team.
• To ensure that each patient has an understanding of his or her underlying pathology, the need for occupational therapy services, and rationale for the procedures and exercises chosen to facilitate rehabilitation.
• To provide patient and family members with educational materials as needed in order to address the patients needs and concerns and to facilitate the patients rehabilitation.
• To properly record all patient records including initial evaluation, re-evaluations, daily and progress notes, reevaluations, correspondence with patient and other medical providers, discharge summaries, and all other appropriate documentation.
• To follow the referring physicians orders with proper communication and coordination with the physician concerning patient care.
• To provide only those procedures that are medically necessary for the patients rehabilitation.
• To responsibly monitor the implementation of procedures and the corresponding billing of procedures that are performed.
• To ensure the safety of all patients throughout the patients treatment.
• To participate in educational training and activities to keep clinical skills current to meet appropriate licensure requirements and to better serve our patients.
• To remain innovative and conscious of the ever-changing opportunities to provide our patients with cutting-edge care, technologies, and equipment.
• To comply with Florida state requirements regarding continuing education and maintenance of state licensure.
• To comply with the AOTA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
• To develop and present educational in-services to fellow therapy staff to improve the knowledge and skills of the therapy team as requested by Department Manager or Clinical Supervisor.
• To participate in clinical education in cooperation with occupational therapy schools by acting as a clinical instructor to a OT/COTA therapy student as requested by Department Manager or Clinical Supervisor.
• To recognize each patient as an individual and be able to address the individual concerns and needs of that patient.
• To treat all patients and staff of any sex, race, or religion with respect and tolerance.
• To protect the confidentiality of each patient and of the facility.
• To demonstrate courtesy and professionalism at all times as a representative of the FOI family.
• To maintain a positive working rapport with all members of the FOI staff, patient and family members and the general community.
• To participate in the patient care audit process to assess quality of care and to determine ways of improving care.

• To maintain appropriate inventory supplies to meet the needs of the patient population.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an occupational therapy education program accredited by the Accreditation council for OT Education. Certified from NBCOT as an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).
• Is currently licensed by the state of Florida
• Practices occupational therapy as defined by federal and state laws and regulations.
• Minimum of three years of experience in an outpatient rehabilitation setting in close association with a hand surgeon.
• Either has obtained the certification as a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) or is working towards this goal.