Occupational Therapist - Inpatient - Per Diem

Cayuga Medical Center; Ithaca (MI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Per diem

Job summary

Cayuga Health is seeking an Occupational Therapist for per diem coverage at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, NY. You will participate in comprehensive chart reviews, develop person-centered care plans, and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to manage patient progress.

Responsibilities include education, safety, discharge planning, and documentation that supports clinical decisions. Requires NYS OT license and CPR/BLS certification; shifts between 7am–6pm as needed.

Qualifications

• Education: Accredited OT program (Bachelor, Master, or Doctorate).
• Licensure: Current NYS Occupational Therapy License.
• CPR/BLS certification, and ongoing mandated safety trainings.

Responsibilities

• Complete comprehensive chart reviews to determine OT appropriateness and develop a patient-centered plan of care.
• Educate patients and families using compassionate communication tailored to age, learning style and culture.
• Identify contraindications and ensure safe patient handling and environment.
• Progress interventions toward patient goals and document defensible clinical decisions.
• Plan discharge needs, equipment, and caregiver training with the interdisciplinary team.

Skills

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Time management

Flexibility

Written and verbal communication

Education

NYS Occupational Therapy License

CPR/BLS Certification

OT Education program (Bachelor/Master/Doctorate)

Job description

About Cayuga Health

Cayuga Health offers patient-centered, comprehensive health services at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca; Schuyler Hospital in Montour Falls; and more than 40 medical offices in the Finger Lakes and Central New York. Cayuga Health employs more than 450 providers from 40+ specialties. Additional services include a neo-natal intensive care unit, a home health care agency, an addiction recovery organization, and a skilled nursing facility.

Cayuga Health is a member of Centralus Health, a community-based integrated delivery system. Our mission is to deliver high-quality care, empower our teams to succeed, and improve the wellbeing of the communities we serve.

Our commitment to quality personalized care begins with our exceptional team—over 6500 employees strong. At Cayuga Health, you will work in a collaborative environment that values excellence, integrity, compassion and stewardship. Together, we create an environment where empathy, honesty and a dedication to quality thrive, empowering us to make a positive impact on the lives we touch.

We offer competitive wages, comprehensive benefits, and professional development opportunities to help our employees grow and thrive. Whether you are just starting your career or taking the next step in healthcare, we invite you to join us in shaping the future of care in our communities.

Learn more at www.cayugahealth.org.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Clinical Decision-Making: Completes comprehensive chart review to determine OT appropriateness. Chooses appropriate exam & integrates findings into a comprehensive plan of care that is person-centered & goal centered. Uses evidenced based practice to guide decision making & therapy intensity. Assesses response to intervention & adjusts interventions/plan of care appropriately.
• Communication: Selects appropriate communication style based on age, learning style, cognition, and culture. Educates patient & family/caregivers using compassionate communication. Clearly communicates patient’s OT needs & barriers to plan with interdisciplinary team to facilitate throughput. Initiates and maintains professional communication with every team member at all times including adverse, challenging, and crucial conversations.
• Safety: Uses medical record & patient presentation to identify relative & absolute contraindications to participation in OT. Surveys patient and environment for safe movement barriers. Maintains expertise in use of all safe patient handling equipment.
• Patient Management: Progresses interventions to facilitate achievement of patient’s goals. Reassesses progress towards goals & adjusts plan of care. Produces clear, defensible documentation that supports clinical decision making. Uses clinical judgement to determine when immediate communication beyond documentation is required for safe coordinated patient care.
• Discharge Planning: Synthesizes patient’s life context and current functional status to determine discharge destination, level of support, additional services, and follow-up needs. Determines appropriate equipment needs and provides caregiver training as appropriate.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Education: Successful completion of accredited Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate level Occupational Therapy Program
• Licensure: Current NYS Occupational Therapy License
• Current CPR/BLS Certification
• Must complete yearly mandatory safety trainings and e-learning courses

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Problem solving
• Attention to detail
• Time management
• Flexibility in prioritizing and adjusting workload
• Good written and oral communication skills

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to move/lift patients with assistance
• Repetitive use of hands and fingers (e.g., use of computer keyboard)
• Sitting, walking, or standing for long periods of time
• Must be able to physically operate the equipment used for the job

Location and Shift Information:

• Location : Onsite at Cayuga Medical Center: 101 Dates Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850
• Shift : Per Diem. Coverage for weekdays and rotating Saturdays. Various shifts may be assigned within Inpatient occupational therapy operational hours of 7am - 6pm.
• Travel : 0%-10% Local Travel Between Area Clinics and Facilities

Compensation Disclosure

• Standard Rate of $38.00 to $53.00 per hour plus per diem incentive

Cayuga Health System and its affiliates are committed to treating all patients, providers, staff and volunteers equitably and with dignity, ensuring the highest levels of safety, care and respect, and striving to recognize and overcome biases and policies that contribute to disparities in healthcare access, equitable care and positive health outcomes for all.

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, supporting the growth and health of our employees and community by embracing the rich diversity, needs and circumstances of all peoples and prioritizing opportunities to build a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable protected characteristics.

If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, a job interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact the Cayuga Health Talent Acquisition team at [e-mail].