Th Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant I-Per Diem

The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant will provide occupational therapy services as assigned under the direction and clinical supervision of the Director of Physical and Occupational Therapy; Hand Therapy supervisor; Senior Occupational Therapists; and Staff Occupational Therapists. The COTA contributes to the evaluation and provides occupational therapy services as specified in the plan of care developed by an Occupational Therapist. The COTA utilizes a treatment plan under the direction of the supervising occupational therapist and reports on therapy provided and observed changes along with other pertinent information. The COTA allows for an increased number of patients to have data obtained for evaluation as well as increased number of follow-up treatments which allows for registered occupational therapy staff to provide timely evaluations for more complex patients. The COTA can provide assistance in various areas to meet the needs of the department.

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Assists with the orientation of new staff, students and volunteers.
• Prepares patient, treatment area and equipment
• Participates in other departmental and interdepartmental activities as required.
• Participates in determination of discharge needs and training. Facilitates safe discharge.
• May be responsible for specific treatment areas concerning the coordination of equipment or supplies as well as assisting with patient flow.
• Will implement the treatment plan under the direction of the OTR. This may include but is not limited to the implementation of established protocols for wound management including whirlpool; therapeutic modalities; therapeutic activities or exercises; patient and/or caregiver training in use of adapted equipment; fabrication of adaptive devices or splints; cognitive; cognitive-perceptual; perceptual-motor or vision activities; management of abnormal tone; fine motor/dexterity; BADL and IADL as appropriate. The COTA will carry out activities for which training has been given and as directed by the occupational therapist.
• Directs and trains patients/caregivers/families in use of splints, adaptive/assistive equipment, prosthetic/orthotic devices; and the implementation of patients’ independent exercise/therapeutic activity programs, personal hygiene and the care of external bandages, dressing and other supports. Gives instructions to patients/caregivers for performance of therapeutic activities as outlined in the patients’ care plans.
• Provides inservice training to departmental aides and volunteers.
• Participates in departmental meetings as scheduled.
• Documents patient treatment and response in medical record as per Departmental policies. Documents treatment rendered for billing purposes. Maintains individual patient statistics as per departmental policies.
• A written supervisory plan will be developed for the delivery of occupational therapy services indicating the supervising OTR, frequency, type and content of supervision.
• Will participate in the training of other health care team members, including other caregivers to insure carryover of treatment goals.
• Collaborates with the OTR in the ongoing evaluation of patients’ treatment program by observing the response to treatment and reporting these to the supervising occupational therapist. The program will be modified under supervision of the supervising OTR.
• Contributes to the patient evaluation by collecting data, reporting observations and implementing assessments as delegated by the supervising OTR.
• Participates in weekend and holiday coverage as determined by the supervisor based on the needs of the department.
• Provides direct interventions under the direction of an OTR. The COTA may in consultation with the supervising occupational therapist, modify or terminate the patients’ treatment plan.
• Assist in maintenance of departmental records and preparation of required reports as needed.
• Assists with formal teaching of occupational therapy assistant students and supervision of volunteers.
• Is sensitive to the special age related needs for the geriatric and pediatric populations.

• Two year associate’s degree as an Occupational Therapy Assistant, certification by NBCOT, NYS registration. Professional, formal training is necessary in order to acquire the basic skills to assist with evaluation and carry out treatment plans with adequate recognition of changes in patient functional level.

• Knowledge of cognitive deficits and intervention is desirable. This experience would reflect the opportunity to acquire necessary skills to treat the patients most frequently served in this facility.
• Experience with treatment of Stroke, Trauma, and Orthopedic patients in an acute care environment is preferable. Some experience in outpatient treatment including hand therapy, is desirable.
• Ability to work at least 2 weekend days per month
• Experience in an acute rehabilitation setting would be acceptable.
• Two years of Occupational Therapy experience.