Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) provides direct patient care, working under the supervision of and following a plan of care established by an Occupational Therapist. This process focuses on meeting patient/family needs and goals, and documenting the patient's subjective and objective response to care and the patient's progress toward outcomes.

PRINCIPAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. *Commits to the mission, vision, beliefs and consistently demonstrates our core values.

2. *Performs and documents occupational therapy treatments as delegated per practice act in coordination with the supervising Occupational Therapist; communicates regularly with Occupational Therapist regarding patient problems or progress.

3. *Follows the plan of care established by the Occupational Therapist, working towards functional goals based on identified patient needs.

4. *Provides and documents patient/family instructions regarding the use of assistive/adaptive devices (orthotics, prosthetics, reachers, etc).

5. *Communicates relevant patient care information with other health care professionals.

6. Participates in personal and professional development by attending and/or presenting inservices (required or voluntary), department staff meetings, seminars, community education programs and seeking ongoing developmental and educational opportunities.

7. Maintains clinical competencies per department guidelines.

8. Uses quality improvement processes, programs or outcomes to help improve department operations.

9. Assists with data collection under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist.

10. Performs other related duties as assigned.

(Essential Job functions are marked with an asterisk "*". Refer to the Job Description Guide for the definition of essential and non-essential job functions.) Attach Addendum for positions with slightly different roles or work-specific differences as needed.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Knowledge of the practice and implementation of occupational therapy.

2. Knowledge of computer hardware equipment and software applications relevant to work functions.

3. Ability to prioritize work demands and work with minimal supervision.

4. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

5. Ability to react appropriately and perform work under stressful and in emergency situations.

6. Ability to cooperate with other care givers in order to help ensure optimal patient care.

7. Ability to counsel and educate patients and families regarding therapy procedure being performed.

8. Ability to treat and work with patients of diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

9. Ability to counsel and clinically advise students and assistive personnel on therapy techniques and procedures following Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines.

10. Ability to practice proper body mechanics to ensure personal and customer/patient safety.

11. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of personnel, medical staff, volunteer and ancillary departments including diverse patient populations.

12. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment related to changing patient needs and patient volumes including working with patients with acute, subacute, chronic and complex disease processes and those who are dying.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Graduation from an Occupational Therapist Assistant (AOTA) program. Current licensure or eligibility for licensure in State of Nebraska required.

OTHER CREDENTIALS / CERTIFICATIONS:

Basic Life Support (CPR) certification required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

(Physical Requirements are based on federal criteria and assigned by Human Resources upon review of the Principal Job Functions.)

(DOT) - Characterized as medium work requiring exertion 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.