Community Care, Inc -
Community Care, Inc. is currently seeking Occupational Therapist to join our growing home health team. Occupational therapist will be providing in home care to patients throughout Westmoreland County. Daylight hours between 8a and 4p. - NO WEEKENDS
- Excellent work/life balance.
- Flexible scheduling
- Very Competitive Rates
- Help grow our therapy team.
- Full time available/salary positions available.
Local patients. Community Care, Inc., Department of Home Healthcare Services provides occupational therapy services to patients in need of rehabilitation and in accordance with the physician's written plan of care. Occupational therapy services are provided by a qualified occupational therapist (OTR/L) that is licensed by the State, holds a current NBCOT certification, is a graduate of an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) accredited program of occupational therapy and has clinical experience in a relevant treatment setting. The certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA), is licensed by the State, holds a current NBCOT certification, is a graduate of an American Occupational Therapy Assistant program and has clinical experience in a relevant treatment setting.
SERVICES: Occupational therapy is the application of goal-directed activity in the evaluation and prevention, or therapeutic treatment of persons whose ability to function may be impaired by normal aging, illness, injury or developmental disability. Treatment goals in occupational therapy include functional independence, prevention of disability, and maintenance of wellness. Therapeutic activities are designed to assist individuals to adapt to their social and physical environment, given their functional capacity, through mastery of essential living tasks.
Occupational therapy is considered a qualifying service under Medicare. The occupational therapist cannot be the initial and/or admitting service but may continue to visit after other primary service providers (RN, PT) have discharged the patient. If there is a need for a home health aide, the OTR can take responsibility for the assignment, instruction and supervision of the aide when the OTR is case managing and serving to qualify the patient's skilled care needs.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY REFERRAL CRITERIA: Patients with a diagnosis as a result of neurological, musculoskeletal, psychiatric or general medical impairments are appropriate for occupational therapy services if they experience dysfunction in their abilities to complete ADL (activities of daily living - basic self-care feeding, dressing, bathing, transfers, etc.) or IADL (instrumental activities of daily living - higher level self-care cooking, cleaning, financial management, community ADLs). These areas of dysfunction may require intervention to design compensatory techniques, assistive devices (orthotics) or environmental modification to remediate the ADL dysfunction. Treatment intervention includes training to patient/staff/ caregivers to achieve optimal ADL independence.
REFERRAL PROCEDURES: Patients are accepted for occupational therapy services either on direct referral from the community or on referral from the visiting staff. In both cases, physician orders are required for the initial evaluation and any ongoing therapy activities.
The director of professional services or designee telephones the therapist and provides patient information such as name, address, phone number, additional contact and phone number, MD and phone number, hospitalization and dates, start of care date, diagnosis, primary nurse and/or
disciplines involved and visit plan, any medical orders specific to the discipline and suggested number of visits per week and other pertinent clinical information, e.g., medications, behavior, history, Advance Directives, etc.
The OTR evaluates the patient within forty-eight (48) hours of the referral for OT unless the physician order, care needs or patient/family request dictates otherwise.
COMMON PATIENT REFERRAL INDICATORS
Cognitive and perception impairments Inability to perform transfers safely and
Gross motor coordination deficit effectively
Fine motor coordination deficit Work simplification
Impaired sensory functions Energy conservation
proprioception, stereognosis, tactile Increase cardiovascular tolerance
discrimination Upper extremity impaired motor function
Self-care and ADL deficit Lower extremity dressing technique
Joint protection techniques Modification of environmental-
Early onset of fatigue and limited architectural barriers
mobility due to pulmonary status Independent prosthesis management
Requires adaptations for maximum Structured activity program
independent function in home Anxiety and depression
PLAN OF CARE/PLAN OF TREATMENT: The plan of care is developed based on a comprehensive assessment including OASIS data completed by the RN, PT and the initial occupational therapy evaluation conducted by the OTR. A physician's plan of care is required on referral with a comprehensive reassessment and recertification, at least, every sixty (60) days. The plan is developed in consultation with staff and includes, but is not limited to, diagnosis including mental status, service and equipment required, visit frequency, prognosis, rehabilitation potential, functional limitations, activities permitted, nutritional requirements, medications, and treatments, safety measures to protect against injury, instructions for timely discharge or referral and other appropriate items. If an attending physician refers a patient under a plan of care that cannot be completed until after an evaluation visit, the attending physician is consulted to approve additions or modifications to the original plan.
Registered occupational therapists are permitted to accept verbal orders when it is impractical for the orders to be given in a written manner by the responsible practitioner (physician). According to the State Board of Occupational Therapy, the verbal (oral) order may be accepted if the oral order is immediately transcribed, including the date and time, in the patient's medical record and signed by the occupational therapist taking the order. The OTR initiates the request for the counter-signed order within 24 hours of receipt. The countersignature of the licensed physician is then obtained via mail or fax to the occupational therapist.
If specific orders with treatment/modalities and visit frequency are not received for OT at the Start of Care and the admitting professional identifies a need for OT, the admitting professional is responsible for discussing a referral with the physician and securing an evaluation order. The OTR is responsible for calling the physician after the patient evaluation to secure verbal orders for the follow-up treatment including visit frequency, treatment modality and service duration and for completing the request for written orders. The therapist and other agency health team members participate in developing the plan of care and alert the physician to any changes in patient's condition and/or response to treatments/medications that suggest a need to change the plan of care. The treatment plan includes a description of patient responsibility for performing and completing tasks within a specific time.
If occupational therapy is the ongoing, qualifying service after SN or PT have discharged, the OTR is responsible for the comprehensive reassessment, including the OASIS data set and recertification of the Plan of Care/medical orders.
ASSESSMENT: On the first occupational therapy visit, an initial evaluation of the patient is completed and documented by the OTR. This evaluation includes a medical record review, medical history and patient and family interview. It may also include but is not limited to the following items:
Activities of Daily Living
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
Sensation Assessment
Cognitive/Communication Status
Coordination
Vision
Range of Motion/Strength
Perceptual/motor evaluation as appropriate.
Balance, Fall risk
Pain level, if present
Living Situation
Goals
CARE PLAN: Based on the evaluation, the OTR develops goals and a treatment plan with the patient/family and other care providers. The therapist plans and implements this individualized, goal-directed treatment program that includes but is not limited to therapeutic exercise, functional mobility training, occupational modalities and procedures, ADL and IADL training, compensatory techniques, and addressing performance components. Specific visit frequency and duration of service is included. Adjustments in the treatment plan are made in conjunction with the physician, as the patient's status changes. Education of the patient/family is an integral part of the care, and, where necessary, other staff members. Patient outcomes are emphasized with improved function the primary goal. The treatment plan includes a description of patient responsibility for performing and completing tasks with a specific time. Referrals to community resources that can augment care are made as indicated.
COORDINATION OF CARE: The therapist, the case manager, and other visiting staff coordinate care so that services complement and supplement one another, support the objectives outlined in the plan of treatment and work toward goals established with the patient. The OTR:
Calls the case manager or supervising nurse after the initial evaluation visit to discuss visit frequency . click apply for full job details