CHT, Hand Therapist II, Occupational Therapist

SUMMARY: Evaluates and treats hand therapy patients.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Evaluates, plans, and supervises patient treatment in accordance with the physician's referral. Reviews patient's program and potential, makes recommendations to the physician relative to the need for continuing or discontinuing hand therapy.
2. Performs treatments and submits written or verbal reports of the patient's progress to the physician.
3. Works in collaboration with the physician and members of the treatment team in determining the needs of patients and in developing their plan of care.
4. Develops appropriate home programming to enhance the progress of the patient.
5. Documents results of patient's assessment, treatment, follow-up and termination of services.
6. Follows billing and reimbursement procedures.
7. Assists billing in obtaining authorization for treatment and splints.
8. Sees that equipment is kept operational and safe. Requests new equipment and materials as needed.
9. Develops and implements on-the-job and in-service training for staff.
10. Attends and contributes to staff meetings.
11. Identifies own continuing education and consultation needs.
12. May supervise other staff, students and volunteers as allowed by his/her scope of license issued by the California Occupational Therapy Board or California Physical Therapy Board.
13. Occupational Therapists may perform other occupational therapy tasks as well as advanced practices (physical agent modalities, swallowing, etc.) if he/she has required advanced practices certifications issued by the California Board of Occupational Therapy.

Note: The job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) of this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
Must meet the educational and experience requirements set forth by the California Board of Occupational Therapy or the California Board of Physical Therapy to ensure licensing as an Occupational Therapist or a Physical Therapist in the State of California. (See additional requirements in Certificates, Licenses, Registrations below).

LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:
Physical Therapists must hold a current California Physical Therapy License. Occupational Therapists must hold a current California Occupational Therapy License with California OT Board certification to practice hand therapy (or working toward certification as allowed by the California OT Licensing Board). Occupational Therapists must also hold a California advanced practice certification in physical agent modalities in order to practice physical agent modalities in conjunction with hand therapy. To qualify as a Hand Therapist II, a Physical Therapist or Occupational Therapist must be certified as a Certified Hand Therapist by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission. Those staff who must drive on the job must hold a current California driver's license and appropriate auto collision insurance.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Must be CPR certified.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch and climb. The employee must be able to smell.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

For those employees who must drive on the job, they may be required to sit and drive; must be able to safely operate a motor vehicle.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

To perform this job successfully, the employee(s) will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an at will relationship.