Acute Care Occupational Therapist

Vantage Health Partners; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 76,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Continuing education reimbursement

Student loan repayment

Board certification pay

Career ladder

Job summary

Vantage Health Partners in Bakersfield, CA is seeking an Acute Care Occupational Therapist for a full-time, on-site role in a hospital setting.

New graduates are welcome; experienced rehab background preferred. You will evaluate and treat patients, promote ADL independence, and coordinate with medical staff to plan safe discharges. A strong emphasis on quality care and ongoing education.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an ACOTE-accredited Occupational Therapy program.
• Current California Occupational Therapist license (or obtained prior to start date).
• Current AHA BLS certification.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive OT evaluations and develop care plans.
• Provide ADL and self-care training to promote independence.
• Train patients in safe transfers and functional mobility.
• Educate caregivers to support care at home.
• Recommend home modifications for safe discharge.
• Coordinate discharge planning with care team.
• Maintain clinical documentation per regulatory standards.
• Meet departmental productivity standards while delivering high-quality care.
• Follow AOTA guidelines and state practice act.
• Complete required CEUs to maintain licensure.

Skills

ADL training

Functional mobility

Discharge planning

Documentation

Caregiver education

Education

ACOTE-accredited Occupational Therapy program

California OT license

Job description

Description

We are seeking an Acute Care Occupational Therapist to join our team in Bakersfield, CA. This full-time, on-site position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in patients' lives within a hospital setting. New graduates are welcome to apply; prior rehabilitation experience is preferred but not required.

As an Acute Care Occupational Therapist, you will evaluate and treat patients with physical, cognitive, or psychosocial impairments following acute illness, injury, or surgery. Your focus will be on restoring activities of daily living (ADL) independence and functional mobility, while coordinating closely with physicians, nurses, and case management to plan safe and effective discharges. You will also contribute to quality and safety initiatives and support the orientation of new staff and students.

This position offers a competitive hourly pay range of $55 to $85, a $10,000 sign-on bonus, $2,500 per year in continuing education reimbursement, student loan repayment of up to $250 per month, additional pay for board certifications, and a career ladder designed to support growth and pay increases.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive occupational therapy evaluations and develop individualized plans of care
• Provide ADL and self-care training to promote patient independence
• Train patients in safe transfer techniques and functional mobility
• Educate and train caregivers to support safe patient care at home
• Recommend home environment modifications to support successful discharge
• Coordinate discharge planning with physicians, nurses, and case management
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation in accordance with regulatory standards
• Meet departmental productivity standards while delivering high-quality care
• Follow AOTA guidelines and the California state practice act
• Complete required continuing education units (CEUs) to maintain licensure and certifications
• Contribute to quality and safety initiatives within the hospital
• Support the orientation of new staff members and students

Requirements

• Graduate of an ACOTE-accredited Occupational Therapy program
• Current California Occupational Therapist license (or obtained prior to start date)
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
• Ability to perform occupational therapy evaluations and develop plans of care
• Ability to provide ADL and self-care training
• Ability to teach safe transfer techniques and train caregivers
• Ability to recommend home environment modifications
• Ability to document evaluations and treatments accurately and on time
• Preferred: Prior rehabilitation experience (not required)
• Preferred: Acute care hospital experience
• Preferred: Experience with discharge planning