Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Rehabilitation Services

The Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA), under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist and within determined levels of competency, assists with the evaluation and treatment of performance deficits in daily living or work activities, self-care tasks, and leisure activities due to illness, injuries, and disabilities. The COTA assists with occupational therapy programs in hospital, outpatient, educational, and/or community settings to facilitate performance development and independence in activities in a variety of age groups to include: infant (birth to 1 year), Pediatric (1year to 12 years), Adolescence (13-17 years, Adult (18-64 years), and Geriatric (65 years and above).

RESPONSIBILITIES (ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS): Patient and family education/training, in addition to counseling individuals and families on ways to cope with functional impairments and disabilities. Provides rehabilitative services to persons with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments under the direction of a licensed occupational therapist. Instructs and counsels patients by describing therapeutic regimens, giving normal growth and development information, and promoting wellness and health maintenance.

Helps develop and implement purposeful goals with supervising occupational therapist. Helps clients improve their quality of life by helping them compensate for limitations by using therapeutic and self-care activities designed to improve function, such as, helping injured workers improve their motor skills and re-enter the labor force, and teaching persons with learning disabilities to prepare meals or to use public transportation and increase their independence.

Observes patients during treatments and compiles and evaluates data on patients’ responses to treatments and progress and reports verbally or in writing to the occupational therapist. Maintains current state licensure by completing licensing board and state requirements. Contributes to an occupational therapist’s effectiveness by identifying patient care issues and administering treatment programs for patients.

Comply with federal and state occupational therapy regulations. Maintains safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules, and regulations, and adhering to infection-control policies and protocols Demonstrate understanding of the obligation to preserve the confidentiality of customer and staff health and financial information and circumstances. Takes responsibility for care given to patient by support staff, which includes orienting, instructing, and directing work activities of students and techs.

Completing administrative tasks including documenting billing information and keeping timely and accurate records of daily notes, treatment progress and any treatment plan notes as required by law and hospital policy and procedures. Maintains legal and accreditation compliance by adhering to policy positions concerning federal, state, and local regulations and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JACHO) standards.

Regular attendance and punctuality for scheduled shifts. Appropriately adapts assessment, treatment, and/or care methods to accommodate the physical, cultural, age-specific, and other developmental needs of each person served. Maintains professional and technical knowledge through continuing education opportunities including internal and external educational offerings.

Utilization of assistive devices for lifting is mandatory. Must adhere to safety protocols at all times. Per DRH policy, all required conditions of employment must be met and maintained including required vaccinations.

This position requires respirator and fit testing. Required testing will be performed on all team members at risk for exposure to airborne infectious diseases, droplet producing procedures, or any caustic chemicals. Implement DRH Standards of Behavior and exhibit behaviors consistent with DRH core values.

Performs other related duties as assigned.