OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST - FLOAT

Position Summary The Float Pool Occupational Therapist is responsible for interpreting all referrals information, evaluating, adjusting, updating, and discharging the treatment of all patients in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code section 4755 in all settings of care at Aultman.

Department Summary The Aultman Therapy Float Pool provides high-quality, patient-centered rehabilitation services to individuals recovering from orthopedic, neurological, and musculoskeletal conditions. Our licensed physical therapists deliver evidence-based care focused on restoring function, improving mobility, and enhancing quality of life. The department operates within the hospitals broader continuum of care and collaborates closely with physicians, nursing staff, and other allied health professionals to ensure seamless, coordinated treatment. Services are delivered in compliance with all applicable regulatory standards and organizational policies. Staff are expected to uphold the mission, vision, and values of the organization while maintaining a strong commitment to clinical excellence, patient safety, and continuous professional development.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an ACOTE accredited school for Occupational Therapy.
• Licensed by the Ohio OT, PT, AT board as an Occupational Therapist - active and in good standing.
• Certified through the National Board for the Certification of Occupational Therapists.
• Obtain and maintain current American Heart Association (AHA) training in Basic Life Support (BLS) utilizing Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI).

Department Qualifications

• Willingness to support practice patterns for inpatient, outpatient, and home health levels of care within the Aultman Health System.

Skills

• Completes thorough occupational therapy evaluations and examinations, establishing treatment plans and goals in accordance with the Ohio State practice act and AOTA professional standards.
• Applies evidence-based practices and sound clinical reasoning in all aspects of occupational therapy care, while fostering innovation and contributing to a positive, solutions-focused work environment.
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal, verbal/written communication, and organizational problem-solving skills to support collaboration with patients, families, COTAs, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Adapts care approaches to meet the developmental, functional, and cultural needs of patients across the lifespan and diverse backgrounds.
• Skilled in delivering manual therapy techniques and prescribing individualized exercise programs with appropriate dosing, aligned with plan of care guidelines and tailored to each patients clinical presentation and goals.
• Leads the therapy team by guiding and supervising Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants (COTAs), ensuring coordinated care delivery and adherence to treatment plans.
• Complies with all hospital policies, safety protocols, infection control standards, and HIPAA regulations to ensure safe and ethical practice.
• Participates in ongoing professional development, competency assessments, and quality improvement initiatives to maintain clinical excellence.
• Demonstrates adaptability and fosters a collaborative team environment by responding effectively to both planned and unplanned changes in daily workflow, which may occur multiple times per day.
• Proactively supports colleagues by offering assistance, adjusting to schedule modifications, and managing fluctuating patient volumes to maintain consistent, high-quality care.
• Proficient in the use of electronic health record systems (e.g., Cerner) and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Teams, Outlook, Shifts) to support documentation, communication, and coordination of care.
• Facilitates observation opportunities for other healthcare professionals, including physicians and students, to promote interdisciplinary understanding and education.
• Technology Adaptability: Willingness and ability to learn new software tools and updates as required by hospital systems and therapy department workflows.
• Adaptability to build skills to support niche services when needed.

Department Skills

• Coordinates care with a wide range of healthcare professionals within the Tusc facility, including other Occupational Therapists across specialties and diagnoses, Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants (PTAs), Speech-Language Pathologists, and Lymphedema Therapists, to ensure comprehensive, patient-centered treatment for individuals who may receive services from multiple disciplines during their care.
• Demonstrate effective and adaptable communication strategies to support seamless coordination within a large, dynamic facility, utilizing both formal and informal channels, including real-time verbal interactions and electronic platforms such as Microsoft Teams, email, and other tools, to ensure timely information exchange among teammates at various levels of care.
• Exhibit cultural sensitivity and adaptability in communication and care delivery, effectively engaging with diverse patient populations ranging from inner-city communities to individuals from affluent backgrounds, while respecting unique values, expectations, and subcultural norms.

Responsibilities Expectations

• Provides care as assigned at any Aultman facility where rehabilitation therapy services are delivered.
• Maintains on-going competency at all assigned practice locations.
• Develops patient plans of care and ensures adherence through effective delegation where appropriate.
• Keeps the Unit Director informed of any significant problems or concerns.
• Responds to patient/family complaints.
• Orients new personnel to charts, forms, and documentation requirements.
• Provides peer review of job performances on at least an annual basis.
• Assists with the quality improvement program by reviewing, recommending, or implementing quality improvement processes as needed or as directed.
• Assists with compliance of facility operations with federal, state, and local rules and regulations.
• Demonstrates flexibility in meeting the needs of the department and responds positively to changes in workflow.
• Complies with infection control and safety policies.
• Maintains Aultman standards of confidentiality, including the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
• Creates and fosters a work environment that is consistent with the Mission, Vision, and Values of the Aultman Health Foundation.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the performance of occupational therapy evaluation and treatment procedures.
• Demonstrates knowledge and use of evidence-based practice: services that scientific, high-quality research has identified will likely provide the best outcomes for a given patient.

Department Responsibilities Expectations

• Greets patients, visitors, and colleagues promptly with a warm smile, friendly introduction, and, when possible, by name, creating a welcoming and respectful environment.
• Anticipates needs and exceeds expectations by asking, "Is there anything else I or a fellow colleague can do for you?", demonstrating a proactive approach to service and support.
• Provides a caring, timely, and compassionate discharge experience, consistently expressing gratitude with, "Thank you for allowing us to care for you."
• Engages in both formal and informal communication using planned and impromptu huddles, direct conversations, Microsoft Teams, email, and other tools to ensure timely information sharing and team alignment.
• Demonstrates a collaborative mindset by proactively offering assistance to colleagues during downtime, fostering a supportive environment that prioritizes optimal patient care and efficient workflow.
• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to prepare patients for discharge through education, support, and clear communication, often initiating the process several visits in advance to ensure a smooth and safe transition.

Working Conditions

• Daily work locations will vary according to needs across the health system.
• Hours of operation with shifts as assigned, including occasional overtime, on-call, or off-shifts (evenings and/or weekends) scheduled as necessary.
• Lunch and break periods must be coordinated with other staff members to ensure patients receive appropriate interventions.
• Subject to frequent interruptions and changes in priority of duties throughout the day.
• Subject to emergency and other crisis situations.

Will vary depending on setting assigned to that day.

Hazardous Exposure Category I - Includes tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues. All procedures or other job-related tasks that involve an inherent potential for spills or splashes of, or mucous membrane or skin contact with blood, body fluids or tissues are Category I tasks. Use of appropriate protective measures is required for every employee engaged in Category I tasks.

Physical Addendum | Demands | Frequency | Remarks | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Lifting 0-10 lbs | Continuous | 66% of the day | | Lifting 10-20 lbs | Continuous | 66% of the day | | Lifting 20-35 lbs | Continuous | 66% of the day | | Lifting 35-50 lbs | Occasional | 10-33% | | Lifting 50-75 lbs | Occasional | 10-33% | | Lifting 75-100 lbs | Occasional | 10-33% | | Lifting over 100 lbs | Occasional | 10-33% | | Forward Reaching | Continuous | 66% of the day | | Overhead Reaching | Frequent | 34-65% | | Standing | Continuous | 66% of the day | | Walking | Continuous | 66% of the day | | Sitting | Continuous | 66% of the day | | Climbing | Occasional | 10-33% | | Stairs/Ladder | Occasional | 10-33% | | Bending/Stooping | Continuous | 66% of the day | | Twisting/Turning | Continuous | 66% of the day | | Kneeling/Squatting | Frequent | 34-65% | | Crawling | Occasional | 10-33% | | Pushing/Pulling 0-10 lbs | Continuous | 66% of the day | | Pushing/Pulling 10-20 lbs | Frequent | 34-65% | | Pushing/Pulling 20-35 lbs | Occasional | 10-33% | | Pushing/Pulling 35-50 lbs | Occasional | 10-33% | | Pushing/Pulling 50-100 lbs | Occasional | 10-33% | | Pushing/Pulling over 100 lbs | Occasional | 10-33% | | Carrying 0-10 lbs | Continuous | 66% of the day | | Carrying 10-20 lbs | Continuous | 66% of the day | | Carrying 20-35 lbs | Occasional | 10-33% | | Carrying 35-50 lbs | Occasional | 10-33% | | Carrying 50-100 lbs | Occasional | 10-33% | | Carrying over 100 lbs | Occasional | 10-33% | | Grasping/repetitive sustained | Continuous | 66% of the day | | Fine motor coordination | Continuous | 66% of the day | | Vision: Near/Far/Color | Continuous | 66% of the day | | Hearing: ordinary conversation/other | Continuous | 66% of the day |

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status. AultCare is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.

AultCare/AHS will provide reasonable accommodations to employees or applicants with disabilities, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, who are otherwise qualified to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without accommodation, unless such accommodation would constitute an undue hardship on AultCare/AHS or poses a direct threat to the health and safety of the individual or others that cannot be sufficiently mitigated by reasonable accommodation. Any applicant or employee who requires an accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment should notify the Aultman Human Resource Department and request such an accommodation.