Occupational Therapy Assistant

Methodist Hospital Sacramento; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

CommonSpirit Health is seeking an Occupational Therapy Assistant to help patients regain daily living skills and independence. You will implement individualized treatment plans, guide patients through exercises, and collaborate with the supervising therapist to achieve rehabilitation goals.

Responsibilities include client education, careful documentation, and communicating progress with the care team, with a focus on compassionate care and timely progress toward discharge.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an approved Occupational Therapy Assistant program.
• Eligibility for certification by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.
• California License, or eligibility, to practice Occupational Therapy.
• Basic Life Support - CPR through American Heart Association.

Responsibilities

• Implements treatment following department guidelines and assesses effectiveness toward goals.
• Educates patients and families using diverse teaching methods with comprehensive content.
• Documents interventions, patient response, progress toward goals, and communication with the delegating therapist.
• Communicates treatment plan and patient status with the health care team and MD; participates in discharge planning.
• Manages time to meet department productivity standards.

Skills

Observation skills

Communication

Compassionate care

Education

Graduation from an approved Occupational Therapy Assistant program

NBCOT certification eligibility

California license eligibility

Job description

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Occupational Therapist Assistant, you will help patients regain the skills needed for daily living so they can achieve their highest level of independence and functional recovery.

Every day you will execute individual patient treatment programs developed by the therapist, guiding patients through exercises and activities.

You will be expected to provide objective feedback on patient and caregiver performance, collaborate with the supervising therapist, and contribute directly to therapy goals.

To be successful in this role, you must combine strong clinical skill implementation with excellent observation, communication, and a compassionate approach, directly contributing to effective rehabilitation outcomes and an enhanced patient experience.

• Implements effective and adequate treatment following department guidelines. Performs ongoing assessment of treatment effectiveness. Goals and treatment are modified as appropriate in relation to working toward goals. Selects appropriate treatment interventions, utilizes specialized techniques, and ensures patient safety with follow-up as recommended. Provides treatment for multiple diagnoses and levels of care.
• Addresses patient/family education using a variety of teaching methods appropriate to the patient's level of understanding. Education is provided in a timely manner, with comprehensive content including all aspects of care and safety. Patient/family performance and the need for follow-up are documented.
• Complies with department policy regarding documentation. Records are completed in a timely, concise, and legible manner using correct medical terminology and abbreviations. Documentation reflects all interventions used in treatment, patient response, progress toward goals, and communication with the delegating therapist regarding treatment plan modifications. Timecards, productivity logs, and billing are completed in a timely manner.
• Appropriately communicates treatment plan and patient status with the healthcare team and MD. Participates in team conferences and verifies payor guidelines and authorizations as needed. Notifies the MD of patient concerns or changes in status. Collaborates with the primary Occupational Therapist regarding patient progress, goal updates, and discharge planning.
• Demonstrates appropriate time management to meet department productivity standards and completes projects within established time frame

Job Requirements

Required

• Graduation from an approved Occupational Therapy Assistant program.
• Eligibility for certification by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.
• California License, or eligibility, to practice Occupational Therapy.
• Basic Life Support - CPR through American Heart Association.

Preferred

• Experience as a occupational therapy assistant.

Where You'll Work

The subacute occupational therapy services at Bruceville Terrace assist residents in rebuilding independence in essential daily tasks and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) over an extended period, promoting adaptation and participation in preparation to transition to a lower level of care. Founded in 1973, Dignity Health - Methodist Hospital is a 158-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Sacramento, California. Serving over 80,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including a Level II NICU, heart care, cancer care, women’s health, and neurology. Additionally, Methodist Hospital of Sacramento has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center.

One Community. One Mission. One California