Occupational Therapist
Position Description:
As a patient-focused organization, the University of Utah Health Sciences exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. The Health Sciences Center seeks faculty and staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, diversity, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission.
Position Summary:
This position provides occupational therapy to patients where physical injury, birth defects, emotional or functional problems have interfered with their ability to perform occupational tasks appropriate to their age and level of independence.
Essential Functions:
• Evaluates patients' abilities and limitations.
• Establishes treatment goals based on the evaluation and reason for the referral of neuromuscular components of movement and stability; sensation; ADL's; perception; cognition; avocational and prevocational abilities; developmental; dysphagia; manual muscle test; range of motion; body mechanics; and other tests appropriate for the patient and the profession.
• Administers therapy according to the established plan, utilizing appropriate procedures, equipment and techniques within the scope of practice of Occupational Therapy.
• Educates the patient and the care giver about the goals of the occupational therapy program, methods of accomplishing goals, how to perform the home program and injury prevention.
• Recommends adaptive equipment, completes the equipment justification forms and arranges for the delivery of the equipment.
• Re-evaluates patients, assesses their progress and makes recommendations regarding discharge.
• Evaluates home or work environments and makes physical barrier modification recommendations or ergonomic recommendations.
• Consults and co-treats with therapists from other disciplines.
• Provides documentation of patient care according to established criteria.
• Participates in continuous quality improvement projects.
• Supervises the patient care activities of occupational therapy assistants and rehabilitation aides.
• Participates in services, medical conferences, staff meetings, continuing education courses, team meetings and other related activities.
• Assists with departmental maintenance and supplies.
• Provides in-services for staff, other departments and the community.
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities:
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above.
• Demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills.
• Provide care appropriate to the population served.
• This position has the authority to administer occupational therapy services to patients; provide work direction to aides, assistants, volunteers and occupational therapy students; identify program needs; develop new areas of activity; and respond to emergency situations.
• Ability to respond to emergency situations; develop treatment plans and provide therapy according to individual needs.
• Knowledge of current and latest technology, insurance practices and community resources in order to provide quality treatment.
• Incumbents in this position must maintain a current knowledge of safety issues needed in the treatment of patients, especially regarding body substance precautions and body mechanics to protect self, patients and personnel working with therapists.
• Incumbents in this position participate in rotations of work area, weekends and week-day hours and assigned holidays.
• The incumbent must abide by the ethical guidelines as outlined by the American Occupational Therapy Association.
• The staff member must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit.
• The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development and the ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.
Qualifications:
Required
• Current licensure to practice as an Occupational Therapist in the State of Utah.
• Basic Health Care Provider card or obtain one within one month of hire.