Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Palomar Health Rehabilitation Institute - Escondido, CA

Kindred Healthcare and Palomar Health have signed a Joint Venture and will open a new acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Spring 2021. The two-story, 58,000-square-foot facility will feature 52 inpatient beds and is located on the campus of Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, California. The new hospital will offer treatment services to a variety of rehabilitation patient types, including brain injury and stroke patients. This will be San Diego County's first standalone rehabilitation hospital.

Our culture of caring for our patients and residents begin with our core values - our employees. We are committed to fostering professional growth and dedicated healthcare teams that make us the provider of choice. We embrace a diverse workforce and understand that hiring outstanding people is the key to providing quality care - and quality care is what we do every day!

As a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant you will:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Job Specific:

• Under guidance of supervising OTR/L: Acquires pertinent information and implements comprehensive program using varied techniques and treatment activities; reviews and modifies treatment in response to changing patient needs; identifies equipment and discharge needs.

• Is aware of patient injury/diagnosis and takes all necessary precautions for observing indications and contradictions.

• Provides treatment to diverse diagnostic populations and completes supporting documentation according to hospital policy and State Practice Act.
• Observes treatment affect, accomplishment of short and long term goals and recommends change to the supervising OTR/L, if needed.
• Communicates collaborates with support personnel regarding treatment orders as directed by the supervising OTR/L.
• Conducts the class/group situations (stroke, SCI, BI) as appropriate.
• When necessary, instructs care giver/family members in home exercise program as related to the patient's functional and self-care status: discusses necessary equipment for the home situation.
• Complies with department, hospital, and regulatory agency guidelines with respect to ethics, legal issues and supervisory relationships. Demonstrates professional accountability per AOTA Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
• Demonstrates appropriate and effective written, verbal and non-verbal communication with team members through the continuum of care.
• Completes timely and accurate documentation, including QI scoring, of patient treatment in the patient medical record as indicated
• The population is adult and geriatric patients requiring an adult medical rehabilitation program and services.
• Able to assess patient pain interfering with optimal level of function of participation in rehabilitation; makes appropriate interventions to reduce pain after consulting with supervising OTR/L and makes appropriate physician contact as indicated.
• Protects patient confidentiality in regard to medical, emotional, and social status.
• Keeps the supervising therapist informed of patient's status, problem areas, progress, etc.
• Perceives the existence of problems and notifies supervising therapist for implementation of safe, effective and timely solutions.
• Demonstrates appropriate safety measures when implementing treatment programs.
• Provides input/suggestions for the physical functioning of the department in the areas of equipment management, space utilization, storage, etc.
• Assists in inventory and ordering of supplies and equipment.
• Assists in maintenance of safe, clean work environment.
• Assists in preparation/maintenance of daily treatment schedule.
• Develops home programs and instructs patients in the programs as delegated by the supervising occupational therapist.
• Provides written and updated treatment/coverage programs for days off.
• Performs discharge planning under the direct supervision of the OTR/L (prescriptions, equipment requests, and referrals).
• Reports on patient's status at patient care in team conference when necessary. (Team conferences should be attended by the supervising OTR/L and with the COTA in attendance.)
• Assists in program development and preparation to meet regulatory agency standards i.e. Joint Commission, CARF.
• Observes, measures and records the cardiovascular responses of heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.
• Plans and presents educational programs for department; hospital and/or community.
• Provides orientation, instruction, supervision and/or guidance to ancillary staff, COTA students, and volunteers.
• May transport patients/equipment to/from therapy gym.
• Uses computer system to assist in preparation/maintenance/printing of work list and entering of charges.
• Utilizes specialized equipment, testing procedures and/or advanced treatment techniques with appropriate competency
• Other duties as assigned

Company Specific:

• Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean and wears appropriate identification while on duty
• Completes annual health, safety, and education requirements. Maintains professional growth and development.
• Maintains confidentiality of all patient and/or employee information to assure patient and/or employee rights are protected.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and the skills necessary to provide age appropriate care to the patient population served.
• Reports to work on time as scheduled; adheres to policies regarding notification of absence.
• Attends all mandatory in-services and staff meetings.
• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
• Communicates the mission, vision, ethics, core values and goals of the hospital, as well as the focus statement of the department.
• Participates and contributes to performance improvement initiatives within the hospital and department
• Maintains current licensure/certification for position, if applicable.
• Consistently demonstrates Guest Relation's skills to patients, physicians, visitors, employees, and any other individuals with whom they may come in contact.
• Consistently follows departmental and hospital Health, Safety, Security, Hazardous Materials policies and procedures.
• HIPAA: Conduct job responsibilities in accordance with HIPAA privacy laws, follow hospital policy in provision of patient confidentiality. Able to identify patient confidentiality issues and reports to proper hospital personnel immediately.
• Compliance: Conducts job responsibilities in accordance with standards set forth in Kindred's Code of Conduct, Kindred policy and procedures, applicable federal and state laws, and applicable standards.

• Current state licensure/certification as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
• Previous experience in the care of patients preferred.
• Current BLS/CPR.