Occupational Therapist - As Needed

Meritus Health; Hagerstown (MD); On-site; USD 64,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Supportive clinical leadership

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Hagerstown is seeking an entry-level Occupational Therapist I. This role involves providing occupational therapy services to patients of all ages, from newborns to geriatrics. Responsibilities include conducting patient assessments, designing therapy interventions, and maintaining clinical documentation. Ideal candidates will possess a degree in Occupational Therapy and a Maryland license. Join a supportive team that emphasizes professional growth and collaborative practice.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited Occupational Therapy program.
• Current Maryland Occupational Therapy license or temporary Maryland license pending exam.
• Current BLS certification required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive patient assessments.
• Design and implement individualized therapy interventions.
• Maintain accurate clinical documentation.
• Supervise and mentor assistants and aides.
• Provide discharge planning recommendations, including transitions of care and community resource utilization
• Supervise and mentor assistants, aides, students, observers, and volunteers as applicable

Skills

Knowledge of occupational therapy treatment interventions

Strong assessment skills

Effective communication skills

Communication with patients & teams

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy

Accredited OT program graduate

Job description

Overview

Position Summary Under the supervision of the Program Manager and with clinical guidance from Occupational Therapy staff, the Occupational Therapist I is an entry-level role responsible for providing diagnostic and therapeutic occupational therapy services to a full caseload of patients. This position participates in departmental programs, education, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The Total Rehab Care caseload spans newborn through geriatric populations, while Behavioral Health serves adults age 18+. In accordance with licensure, the Occupational Therapist I supervises Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs), rehabilitation aides, and may supervise students when experience and clinical competency meet departmental and national guidelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive patient assessments in accordance with licensure and departmental standards
• Design, implement, and adapt individualized therapy interventions and patient/family education plans
• Maintain accurate, timely clinical documentation per regulatory and departmental requirements
• Apply critical thinking to patient care, integrating physiological, psychological, age-specific, socio-economic, and educational factors
• Provide discharge planning recommendations, including transitions of care and community resource utilization
• Supervise and mentor assistants, aides, students, observers, and volunteers as applicable

Minimum Qualifications

• Education
  • Graduate of an accredited Occupational Therapy program
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy

• Experience
  • One (1) year of relevant experience preferred (new graduates encouraged to apply)

Licensure & Certification

• Current Maryland Occupational Therapy license or temporary Maryland license pending state board examination or reciprocity
• Current BLS certification required (BLS not required for Behavioral Health positions)

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of occupational therapy treatment interventions
• Strong assessment, clinical reasoning, and treatment-planning skills
• Ability to evaluate patient progress and modify treatment plans as needed
• Effective communication skills with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams

Physical & Working Conditions

• Ability to perform patient handling and therapeutic activities, including lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling as required
• Requires fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and sustained attention to detail
• May involve exposure to blood and body fluids and other healthcare-related environmental conditions

Why Join Us?

• Supportive clinical leadership and collaborative team environment
• Opportunity to work with diverse patient populations across the lifespan
• Professional growth through mentorship, education, and interdisciplinary practice

Happy to Help

At Meritus, we believe in a collaborative and caring work environment. Interactions are an opportunity to learn, listen and to be there for one another. Therefore, we provide warm welcomes, hospitality-driven closures, and are always Happy to Help.