Sr. Occupational Therapist

At Houston Methodist, the Senior Occupational Therapist (OT) position is responsible for formal duties for a service line, shift and/or multiple clinics as well as functioning as a clinical expert. This position performs patient assessments, development of plan of care, and corresponding treatments across a broad range of diagnoses and acuities or for a specialized service line. The Sr OT position manages the collection of metrics, analyzes, and reports on data and develops best practices, identifies and leads process and quality improvement initiatives. This position serves as a mentor and resource to all team members utilizing skills and knowledge to help train and develop others and achieve optimum performance levels for responsible service line, shift, and/or clinics assigned. The Sr OT position conducts quality assurance audits of staff performance, provides feedback to management on staff performance and identifies developmental needs and has responsibility for and provides oversight of patient care delivered by assigned OTs, to ensure optimal patient safety and customer service. This position serves as the liaison between management and staff for routine matters as the primary point of contact for the service line, shift, and/or clinics assigned and coordinates the activities for the service line, shift and/or assigned clinics, participating in expansion of services offered, business development, and research.

FLSA STATUS
Non-exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Graduate of education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certifications, Licenses and Registrations section.

EXPERIENCE

• Five years as an Occupational Therapist or four years experience as an Occupational Therapist with a specialty certification

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required

• OT - Occupational Therapy - State Licensure - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation_PSV Compact license acceptable according to current Board requirements within 90 days and
• BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association

Preferred

• Specialty certification highly preferred

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
• Ability to work independently, capable of handling challenging/difficult therapy procedures and patient care situations; demonstrates sound judgment
• Ability to coach and develop strong interpersonal, teamwork, and leadership skills with all levels of the healthcare team
• Exhibits excellent delivery of customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers; demonstrates ability to establish and maintain highly effective professional relationships with physicians
• Ability to function independently, capable of handling challenging/difficult therapy procedures and patient care situations
• Demonstrates excellent time/project management skills and ability to effectively coordinate efforts and outcomes for the assigned area
• Possesses proficient computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems and standard Rehabilitation equipment
• Demonstrates professional and technical competence in the selection, evaluation, utilization of treatment plans for increasingly complex patient populations

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Leads a positive work environment and team to be a dynamic, focused work unit that actively helps one another to achieve optimal department results. Establishes and maintains professional relationships, trust and credibility with all on the healthcare team, serving as primary point of contact for routine matters with physicians for service area, shift and/or specialty, assisting management with daily operations as assigned.
• Role models therapeutic communication, which includes active listening and teaching, to establish a relationship with patients, families and interprofessional health care team to collaborate on the plan of care. Collaborates with all members of the interprofessional health care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner. Role models to team members effective communication skills, assisting in their development of such skills.
• Effectively implements protocols and objectives with team members to result in optimization of staff performance, teamwork, patient safety, and customer service. Provides feedback to management on team member performance and conduct. Develops skills of team members and continually assists with improving skills, performance and outcomes.
• Serves as preceptor, mentor and resource to other OTs, helping to advance their professional practice, providing guidance with project development, implementation, evaluation, research, and where applicable, publication. Develops and presents educational and formal training programs. Precepts clinical rotations, new employees, and Clinical Fellows. Role models accountability for improvement of department score for employee engagement.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Performs complete and comprehensive evaluation of patients to identify patient’s level of function and to develop the plan of care. Performs highly advanced therapy treatments serving as the clinical expert for complex to high difficulty level patient assessments and treatments for assigned area of practice and/or patient population.
• Provides education to patients, patient’s family members, and/or caregivers, based on learning needs. Consistently evaluates the patient’s comprehension and adapts teaching methods accordingly. Serves as subject matter expert and resource to clinical fellows and nursing in teaching best practices and education.
• Advocates on patient/family’s behalf to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns, utilizing appropriate resources. Drives improvement of department score for patient satisfaction, through role modeling accountability of service standards.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assesses patients regularly, monitors progress towards treatment goals, modifies goals, and plan or program as indicated. Proactively anticipates complications/limitations associated with certain procedures and addresses such for optimum outcomes.
• Coordinates, monitors and reports on various quality and safety metrics for the practice area and/or department. Develops and implements initiatives to improve the patient experience Proactively identifies opportunities for corrective action, leads process improvement providing recommendations, and contributes to meeting departmental and hospital targets for quality and safety.
• Oversees the work flow, caseload and patient processes and treatments for assigned team/area, ensuring quality outcomes and the safety of the patient, adjusting activities as applicable. Coordinates activities for the service line, shift, and/or clinics and as requested for the department.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Monitors the accuracy and completion of documentation of patient education and procedures performed in a timely manner in the patient record. Accurately enters charges for services provided and performs charges reconciliation as applicable. Serves as resource to management for chargemaster item/CPT (Code and Procedure Terminology) code maintenance and development for therapy charges.
• Uses resources efficiently to maximize utilization of time and equipment. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively, minimizing incidental overtime, and prioritize daily tasks for self and area(s) of responsibility/assigned team members to meet the labor productivity standards.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops patient treatment protocols and best practices with research-based evidence and offers innovative solutions for patient population or practice area. through performance improvement projects.
• Leads department projects, programs and shared governance activities. Actively participates in and/or leads HM-related and approved hospital/community teaching opportunities, community services and/or functions.
• Initiates opportunities to identify self-development needs and expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development as a Occupational Therapist, taking appropriate action. Assists management with lower level OTs and program development and/or clinical competencies. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform: No
• Scrubs: Yes
• Business professional: No
• Other (department approved): Yes

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area No
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Graduate of education program approved by the credentialing body for the required credential(s) indicated below in the Certifications, Licenses and Registrations section.

EXPERIENCE

• Five years as an Occupational Therapist or four years experience as an Occupational Therapist with a specialty certification

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required

• OT - Occupational Therapy - State Licensure - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation_PSV Compact license acceptable according to current Board requirements within 90 days and
• BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association

Preferred

• Specialty certification highly preferred