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JOB DESCRIPTION: CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT (COTA)
Position Overview
- Location: Field-Based (Home Health) – Baltimore/Anne Arundel County
- Department: Direct Care / Clinical Services
- Reports To: Licensed Occupational Therapist (OT)
- Employment Class: Full-Time (FT), Part-Time (PT), or Per Diem (PRN)
Position Summary
The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) delivers high-quality, patient-centered rehabilitative care in the comfort and safety of the patient’s home. Working under the general supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist (OT), the COTA implements customized treatment plans designed to enhance functional independence, safety, and overall quality of life. This role requires clinical autonomy, exceptional communication, and a passion for community-based care.
Key Responsibilities & Clinical Duties
Direct Patient Care & Modalities
- Plan Implementation: Execute therapeutic interventions and modalities tailored to patient goals, age-specific needs, and functional status as outlined in the OT’s initial plan of care.
- Functional Mobility & ADLs: Guide patients through activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and specialized compensatory strategies.
- Pain Management: Assess patient pain levels using standardized metrics; administer and educate patients/caregivers on safe, non-pharmacological pain management techniques.
- Home Exercise Programs (HEP): Establish, progress, and reinforce customized home exercise plans to ensure continuous recovery between visits.
Care Coordination & Communication
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Maintain active communication with the supervising OT, physicians, nurses, and office staff regarding changes in the patient’s physical, emotional, or clinical status.
- Resource Connection: Identify and access community or internal resources to assist patients and families with long-term wellness, transition, and discharge planning.
- Team Conferences: Participate regularly in interdisciplinary case conferences to optimize holistic patient outcomes.
Documentation & Quality Compliance
- Clinical Records: Complete and submit accurate, timely point-of-care documentation (including visit verifications) via the electronic medical record (EMR) system.
- Regulatory Compliance: Adhere to all federal, state, and local home health regulations, the State Practice Act, and established professional codes of ethics.
- Patient Advocacy: Protect patient rights by strict adherence to HIPAA guidelines and maintaining absolute confidentiality.
Job Requirements & Qualifications
Licensing & Education
- Graduate of an ACOTE-accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program.
- Current, unrestricted state license as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).
- Current NBCOT certification preferred.
Experience & Skills
- Minimum of one (1) year of clinical experience as a COTA required.
- Prior experience in home health, hospice, or community-based care preferred.
- Solid understanding of home health regulations, clinical safety measures, and adaptive equipment.
- Exceptional time management, organizational skills, and clinical problem-solving.
Additional Requirements
- Current CPR/BLS certification.
- Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and active automobile insurance.
- Health certificate/physical examination clearance and current TB screening.
- Successful completion of a criminal background check.
Physical Demands & Environmental Conditions
- Physical Effort: Medium work. Requires the ability to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 lbs. occasionally, and up to 20 lbs. frequently to assist with patient transfers and mobility.
- Mobility & Posture: Frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and repetitive hand/wrist motions.
- Visual & Sensory: Requires close visual acuity for documentation and data analysis, motor vehicle visual acuity for field travel, and acute tactile perception for clinical assessments.
- Environment: Direct patient care is performed in private home residences. Exposure to varying home environments, varying indoor temperatures, and potential exposure to infectious diseases or bloodborne pathogens is anticipated. Occasional interactions within mental/behavioral health contexts may occur.