Occupational Therapist (OT) - Outpatient Neuro

Advocate Health; West Allis (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health in Wisconsin is seeking a licensed Occupational Therapist to evaluate patients, develop care plans, and provide therapeutic interventions, including assistive devices as needed. You will document progress, discharge planning, and collaborate with physicians to support patient outcomes.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy, strong communication, and adherence to certification standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy required.
• No experience required.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills required.
• Certification addendum and annual hospital-based certifications maintenance required.

Responsibilities

• Interprets physician referrals and evaluates patient abilities and impact on activities of daily living.
• Establishes a care plan and implements treatment; fabricates assistive devices or splints as needed.
• Plans for discharge including home programs and patient/family education.
• Documents patient progress, billing, scheduling, and insurance authorizations as required.
• Maintains cleanliness and safety of treatment area and uses modalities appropriately.
• Demonstrates skills in modalities, equipment, and exercises as per department orientation.

Skills

Computer skills

Communication

Organization & problem solving

Certification maintenance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy

Job description

Major Responsibilities:

• Interprets physician referrals and evaluates the patient's physical, perceptual, cognitive, social, and vocational abilities and their impact on the patient's activities of daily living.
• Establishes a plan of care and implements individual treatment based on evaluation results, functional goals and by utilizing appropriate techniques. Provides and/or fabricates assistive devices and/or splints to enhance patient's functional independence. Monitors and evaluates outcomes and appropriately adjusts individualized treatment plan based on patient's response, and provides status updates to physicians. Identifies factors affecting patient's physical and psychosocial comfort and attends to these needs.
• Plans for and completes patient discharge including providing written home programs, patient/family teaching, referral for community services, and ordering equipment.
• Completes all required documentation including patient progress notes, team conference reports, discharge summaries, and records patient care and progress as well as daily statistics, billing, and scheduling. Applies insurance guidelines regarding authorization and number of visits.
• Responsible for cleaning up after patient treatment, putting away equipment, and keeping area neat and orderly. Performs various manual techniques, patient positioning, transferring and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique.
• Demonstrates skill in use of modalities, exercise equipment and other devices that are available in area worked per department orientation checklist. Demonstrates knowledge of indications and contraindications of modalities and exercise.
• Participates in performance improvement activities designed to identify and resolve problems affecting patient care outcomes and to improve quality of care. Manages assigned caseload, informing site leadership of coverage needs and ability to cover; assists with coverage, based on department needs and regional needs.
• Pursues professional educational growth through participation in continuing education courses, department inservices, and reading professional literature. Orients new staff to clinical and department policies as requested. Participates in the evaluation process of co-workers by providing verbal or written feedback as requested.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures. Age-specific information is developed further in the departmental job standards.

Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required:

• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providerscertification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) needs to be obtained within 6 months unless department leader has determined it is not required, and
• Occupational Therapist license issued by the state of Wisconsin.

Education Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Therapy.

Experience Required:

• No experience required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Intermediate computer skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated organization, decision-making, and problem solving skills.
• Certification Addendum
• Team members will maintain annual educational requirements for hospital based certifications (e.g. DNV, CARF or others).

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:

• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, and squat throughout the workday.
• Must be able to:
• Lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist.
• Lift up to 10 lbs. from waist to overhead.
• Lift and carry up to 40 lbs. at waist height a reasonable distance.
• Must be able to:
• Push/pull with 30 lbs. of force.
• Perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs. with a second person present.
• Position requires repetitive use of hands:
• Simple grasping - 5-15 lbs. - 20% of the workday.
• Pushing/pulling - up to 75-100 lbs. - 10% of the day.
• Fine manipulation of hands during massage and joint mobilization.
• Must have functional use of senses to allow for effective communication.
• Exposed to electrical and chemical hazards as well as blood and body fluids; therefore must have ability to wear protective clothing as needed.
• Position may require travel; therefore may be exposed to road and weather hazards.
• Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.