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JOB DESCRIPTION: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST (OT)
Position Overview
- Location: Field-Based (Home Health) – Northern Virginia
- Department: Direct Care / Clinical Services
- Reports To: Therapy Manager
- FLSA Status: Exempt
- Employment Class: Full-Time (FT), Part-Time (PT), or Per Diem (PRN)
Position Summary
The Occupational Therapist (OT) conducts comprehensive evaluations and develops customized, evidence-based plans of care to help patients regain independence and safety in their own homes. This role requires an advanced level of clinical reasoning, diagnostic skills, and autonomous decision-making. The OT manages the patient’s rehabilitative journey from initial intake through discharge, supervising Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs) to deliver high-quality, community-based care.
Key Responsibilities & Clinical Leadership
Evaluations & Plan of Care Development
- Comprehensive Assessments: Conduct functional, cognitive, and safety evaluations of patients in their home environments, establishing realistic, measurable goals.
- Care Planning: Design customized occupational therapy regimens focusing on activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and home safety modifications.
- Physician Collaboration: Secure initial physician orders, manage clinical certifications/recertifications, and coordinate care adjustments based on shifting patient needs.
Clinical Intervention & Delegation
- Therapeutic Modalities: Deliver age-specific interventions designed to restore physical, sensory, and cognitive capabilities.
- Supervision & Teamwork: Direct and supervise COTAs, ensuring seamless execution of the established care plan and reviewing clinical progress regularly.
- Pain & Fall Management: Assess pain levels and safety risks; implement non-pharmacological pain strategies and home safety/fall prevention plans.
- Caregiver Training: Educate patients and families on compensatory strategies, adaptive equipment, and personalized home exercise programs (HEP).
Care Coordination & Quality Compliance
- Case Management: Lead interdisciplinary care coordination, actively participating in team conferences with physicians, nurses, and speech/physical therapists.
- EMR Documentation: Complete and submit thorough point-of-care documentation and visit verifications in compliance with Medicare and private insurance regulations.
- Discharge Planning: Proactively facilitate transfer and discharge processes, connecting patients with necessary community and internal resources for long-term safety.
Job Requirements & Qualifications
Licensing & Education
- Graduate of an ACOTE-accredited Occupational Therapy program (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate).
- Current, unrestricted state license as an Occupational Therapist (OT).
- Valid NBCOT certification.
Experience & Skills
- Minimum of one (1) year of clinical experience as a practicing OT required.
- Prior home health, hospice, or acute rehabilitation experience strongly preferred.
- Deep knowledge of home care regulations, Oasis documentation parameters, and adaptive equipment.
- Superior problem-solving skills, logic, and capability to manage a field-based caseload.
Additional Requirements
- Current CPR/BLS certification.
- Valid driver’s license, reliable personal vehicle, 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 safely support and transfer patients during evaluations.
- Mobility & Posture: Frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and repetitive hand/wrist motions.
- Visual & Sensory: Requires close visual acuity for computer charting and clinical data analysis, motor vehicle visual acuity for field travel, and acute tactile perception for hands-on physical assessments.
- Environment: Care is delivered inside private home residences across the service area. Expect exposure to varying household environments, temperature fluctuations, and potential exposure to infectious diseases or bloodborne pathogens. Occasional interactions within mental/behavioral health contexts may occur.