Main Responsibilities and Required Skills for Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist is a healthcare professional who conducts occupational therapy assessments for patients. They plan and evaluate patient care plans to restore or maintain patient well-being. In this blog post we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Occupational Therapists.
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Main Responsibilities of Occupational Therapist
The following list describes the typical responsibilities of an Occupational Therapist:
Adhere to
Adhere to all department procedure and polices.
Adhere to Healthcare Services policies and procedures.
Adhere to standards regarding the timeliness of reports.
Advocate
Advocate on client's behalf in medical clinics, schools, etc. when possible.
Analyze
Analyze patient data to determine patient needs to treatment goals.
Apply
Apply existing guidelines and procedures to make varied decisions within a department.
Apply occupational techniques in the treatment of children with disabilities.
Apply organizational and decision-making skills to manage a time constraint caseload.
Arrange
Arrange for repairs / replacements as required.
Assess
Assess child's strengths and needs in motor development, sensory processing and modulation.
Assess client functional skills and capabilities in order to determine services required.
Assess physical, social and cultural components of the patient's occupational environment.
Assign
Assign components of occupational therapy service to OTA / PTA.
Assist in
Assist in lifting and transferring clients as required.
Assist in monitoring of quality management indicators.
Assist patients in reaching their maximum level of performance and provides plan of care.
Assist site team and parents in interpretation of Occupational Therapy reports.
Assist the medical director with forms / paperwork.
Assist with and complete applications for funding of equipment and renovations.
Assist with wheelchair and seating set-up and maintenance as required.
Attend
Attend and actively participate in the clinical team multidisciplinary patient conference.
Attend staff, department and other meetings as required.
Build
Build a strong physical therapy program.
Collaborate with
Collaborate with Clinical Team Manager(s) to address scheduling needs.
Collaborate with interprofessional team in providing patient focused care.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary team to accomplish service goals and objectives.
Collaborate with other members of the health team as needed.
Collaborate with the client / family to plan, implement and evaluate care.
Commit to
Commit to maintain and protect patient, client and personal safety on an ongoing basis.
Communicate
Communicate with physicians and other health care providers to confirm plans of care.
Complete
Complete clinical documentation and daily workload measurement.
Complete formal and informal client assessments.
Complete InterRai MDS assessment elements as appropriate for the discipline.
Complete progress notes and reports as needed.
Complete progress reports and other relevant documentation.
Complete special projects as assigned by the Manager.
Conduct
Conduct compensation reviews of positions on a routine basis.
Conduct mobility, ergonomic and Assistive Device Program assessments.
Conduct occupational therapy assessments in acute pediatric population.
Conduct Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) session performance analysis and problem isolation.
Conduct workplace assessments and analyze job demands and physical demands.
Confirm
Confirm, on a weekly basis, the scheduling of visits with the Patient Care Coordinator.
Consult
Consult and collaboratively work with the interdisciplinary team supporting each child.
Consult with parents to help them in supporting their child's development.
Contribute to
Contribute to the overall vision / mandate of the Marketed Services Health System.
Coordinate
Coordinate treatment plan with patient, family and other team members.
Coordinate with members of other departments and staff in Rehab Department.
Deliver
Deliver occupational therapy modalities to hospital inpatients and outpatients as assigned.
Develop
Develop and implement treatment programs.
Develop and maintain a schedule for client services.
Develop occupational therapy goals as part of a multidisciplinary service plan.
Develop strong working relationships with OTA / PTA dual-trained assistants.
Develop treatment program and establish goals for improved function.
Devise
Devise a detailed, client centered, and goal orientated treatment plan for each client.
Direct
Direct patient care according to the treatment plan.
Document
Document and communicate care plan as well as client care activity per college standards.
Document daily notes and progress notes according to documentation guidelines.
Document patient care interventions, formulating goals and recommendations.
Document accurate workload statistics.
Document care, programs, and interactions as required on the resident's health care record.
Document initial plan, interim progress, and final summaries in patient's electronic medical record.
Educate
Educate a patient's family and employer about how to accommodate and care for the patient.
Ensure
Ensure policies and procedures are followed with facility culture, vision mission & Values.
Ensure that Occupational Therapists have the necessary competencies.
Establish
Establish achievable and appropriate treatment goals with patient and family.
Establish and evaluates occupational therapy practice standards.
Establish and implements evidence-based treatment plans.
Establish education and treatment planning.
Establish individual patient schedules in conjunction with other team members.
Evaluate
Evaluate and treat patients in a sub-acute Inpatient setting.
Evaluate and treats patients using medically prescribed occupational therapy programs.
Evaluate a patient's home based on the patient's health needs, identify potential improvements.
Evaluate home environment for hazards or barriers to more independent living.
Evaluate new clients in his or her home and / or community.
Evaluate patient functioning, capabilities, or health.
Fabricate
Fabricate and maintain adaptive equipment and hand splints.
Facilitate
Facilitate continuity of care for patients accessing services at the clinic.
Facilitate group counseling sessions.
Facilitate the use of these skills by other team members to achieve desirable outcomes.
Follow
Follow established standards for point of service technology, documentation, and synchronization.
Generate
Generate reports for patients and their physicians and families.
Help
Help people with various disabilities with different tasks.
Help the patient manage fatigue so as to conserve energy and reduce stress.
Implement
Implement occupational therapy intervention, role model to parents and coach Aides.
Implement strategies or interventions according to achieve realistic client-centered outcomes.
Implement treatment program.
Instruct
Instruct patients, their families and other caregivers in skills and techniques of the patient.
Instruct the student in the use of functional adaptive equipment and devices.
Integrate
Integrate occupational therapy treatments with other aspects of patient care.
Interpret
Interpret evaluation findings for patient, family, and treatment team members.
Lay out
Lay out materials for individual's use and clean and repair tools at end of sessions.
Liaise with
Liaise with other rehab interdisciplinary Educators on a regular basis to share best practice.
Liaise with community organizations and school therapy teams as appropriate.
Liaise with patients, families, support departments, etc., to adequately plan for patient needs.
Maintain
Maintain active Occupational Therapy Certification in the State of Colorado.
Maintain adequate records on all patients, including summary reports.
Maintain adequate vehicle insurance coverage with a minimum of $1,000,000 liability coverage.
Maintain a minimum of ten clients on caseload.
Maintain appropriate records of planned programs and attendance.
Maintain assessment reports and progress notes in the patient's health record.
Maintain current registration with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.
Maintain current state licensure as a Registered Occupational Therapist.
Maintain / promotes open communication with internal contacts, such as nursing and social work.
Maintain required patient health record reports, workload statistics and related documents.
Make
Make appropriate referrals as necessary, develop and submit treatment plans to insurer.
Make recommendations pertaining to discharge and community care with inter-professional team members.
Meet
Meet the client in the community, their own home, at a coffee shop or at the clinic.
Model
Model and coach site team regarding intervention strategies.
Monitor
Monitor and revise IEP goals and objectives as needed and communicate with all team.
Monitor each student's attendance and progress.
Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.
Notify
Notify appropriate team members of evaluation and general plan for follow up.
Orient
Orient patients to program services and treatment procedures appropriate to their needs.
Own
Own a reliable vehicle and hold a valid Alberta driver's licence.
Participate
Participate in discharge planning, records evaluation, treatment and charges.
Participate in interdisciplinary team conferences and communicate progress with family members.
Participate in lifts / transfer of individuals with mobility issues.
Participate in ongoing internal and / or external education activities.
Participate in professional, program and hospital committees.
Participate in Quality Assurance as it relates to patient care.
Participate in return to work planning with an Interdisciplinary team and multiple stakeholders.
Perform
Perform evaluations and assessments, administers treatments and screenings, and documents services.
Perform home safety and home modification assessments.
Perform in clinic interdisciplinary assessments and treatment planning of clients.
Perform professional and timely documentation and record keeping to fulfill standards of the clinic.
Plan
Plan, implement, and evaluate patient care plans to restore or maintain patient well-being.
Prescribe
Prescribe aids, assistive devices and wheelchairs.
Present
Present minimum of 1 in-service per year in the program and / or NMH staff.
Promote
Promote Agency philosophy and administrative policies to ensure quality of care.
Promote and maintain a high customer service level.
Promote
Promote and support the physical, psychosocial and spiritual well being of clients and families.
Provide
Provide advice and education to patient and family.
Provide attractive compensation.
Provide clear, concise patient care documentation as per departmental standards.
Provide clinical direction to Activity Aides, Rehabilitation Assistants and Volunteers.
Provide clinical supervision to and evaluation of students.
Provide education and support to clients and their families.
Provide education and support to clients, families and caregivers.
Provide education to the staff on specific topics related to OT / PT.
Provide exceptional counseling services to address client needs.
Provide home visit and attend medical clinics depending on the student and family needs.
Provide intervention to deficits and elicits responses.
Provide leadership and support on RAI / MDS coding, auditing and data management.
Provide leadership and support to fellow colleagues.
Provide preventive maintenance to Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy equipment.
Provide recommendations for assistive technology and equipment.
Provide / recommend / fabricate adaptive devices, orthotics or prosthetics.
Provide report and feedback on assessment results and recommendations.
Provide site team with specific information on children's physical development.
Provide skilled, timely and effective patient care.
Provide summary of strategies / techniques to develop students' skills.
Provide supervision according to state, federal and professional association standards.
Provide the best outcomes and discharge recommendations.
Reach
Reach with hands and arms.
Recommend
Recommend, construct and / or provide adaptive equipment for residents.
Research
Research and market opportunities for personal and company growth.
Research and provide consultation regarding adaptive equipment and technical aids.
Respond to
Respond to requests in a positive and helpful manner.
Review
Review medical file(s).
Screen
Screen residents for potential benefit from OT intervention.
Seek
Seek out and maintain skills and knowledge relevant to rehabilitation in the home care setting.
Submit
Submit all documentation according to agency established timeframes.
Submit billing, payroll and expense documentation in an accurate and timely manner.
Submit weekly visit schedule of assigned patients.
Suggest
Suggest adaptations to the environment to support student access and participation.
Supervise
Supervise para-professional staff and provide programming input for Educational Assistants.
Supervise and direct COTA in the implementation of the treatment plan.
Supervise students and volunteers as appropriate.
Supervise work of support personnel.
Take
Take on a clinical caseload to ensure ongoing efficient and effective service delivery.
Teach
Teach patients how to interact with adaptive technology.
Treat
Treat residents to the physician's treatment plan.
Trust
Trust determination process.
Understand
Understand, support and evolve with clinic processes / procedures.
Use
Use hands and fingers to handle or feel.
Utilize
Utilize practices supported by evidence and research to achieve realistic client-centred outcomes.
Utilize research to establish and support evidence-based practice.
Work with
Work in collaboration with CHSA health care team and community agencies to meet.
Work the school year with school holidays.
Work under the supervision of the Program Manager.
Work with the Clinical Program Manager to continually improve OT service.
Most In-demand Hard Skills
The following list describes the most required technical skills of an Occupational Therapist:
Standing
Valid Driver's License
Rehabilitation
Healthcare
Valid Registration
Licensing Body
Proof of Education & Training Certifications
Counseling
Therapy
Mental Health
Public Health
Assessment
Most In-demand Soft Skills
The following list describes the most required soft skills of an Occupational Therapist:
Written and oral communication skills
Interpersonal skills
Organizational capacity
Problem-solving attitude
Time-management
Work independently with little direction
Flexible
Multi-task
Critical thinker
Decision-making skills
Energetic team player
Prioritize with a focus
Commitment
Creative
Decision-making
Conflict resolution
Initiative
Self-starter
Autonomous
Leadership
