Occupational Therapist II - Hand Therapy Clinic

Job Description

The Cedars-Sinai Hand Therapy Clinic works closely with hand surgeons to provide excellent and innovative care to patients with hand injuries. We specialize in the treatment of chronic, repetitive stress injuries and trauma, as well as highly specialized post-operative cases. Our clinic is a fast-paced environment that requires the ability to work independently.

The Occupational Therapist II evaluates and treats patients with a high level medical complexity/acuity in accordance with the prescription of the physician. Provides patient care consistent with Scope of Practice Standards and Code of Ethics; the Plan for the Provision of Care to Patients, the Plan for Corporate Compliance, the Performance Improvement Plan and Patient Education Plan. Participates in the continuous quality improvement process and in the education and training of students, as applicable, and assists in divisional growth and cohesiveness to ensure a high quality of therapy care. Provides care while maintaining safety of the environment, utilizing appropriate communication with sensitivity and attention to special populations, including patients with diverse cultural backgrounds, age, developmental issues and physical disabilities.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for leveraging talent, knowledge, skills, and a strong work ethic to consistently meet and exceed primary Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets at an individual and group level, while maintaining healthy work habits.
• Performs evaluations appropriate to established procedures. Ensures there is a prescription/order for all evaluations and uses relevant tests and standardized measures congruent to best practice. Develops a comprehensive plan of care that is supported by evaluation findings and prognosticate patient outcomes/progress integrating all relevant factors. Manages the occupational therapy care of the patient and coordinates with others to ensure the patient receives the total care they need and completes all required documentation in an accurate and thorough manner within the expected timeframes.
• Utilizes clinical skill and expertise in a specific population and/or specialty area to provide clinical care, and good decision-making/problem solving for patients with a high level of medical complexity/acuity. Utilizes treatment intervention and strategies within the scope of practice and supported by established plan of care and integration of evidence-based practice to maximize patient outcomes tailored to specific patient populations.
• Provides patient education appropriate for patient population and identifies and facilitates patient discharge needs including documentation, communication with care team, and recommendation for follow-up services.
• Identifies safety concerns regarding patient population and institutes appropriate measures to provide a safe environment, including protection of self and others. Reviews identified risks and benefits of therapy and obtains consent from patient and/or caregiver.
• Provides individualized, patient-centered care with respect to personal, cultural, spiritual beliefs and preferences; age-related cognitive and psychosocial needs; social support needs; gender, sexual orientation, and economic background.
• Participates and completes projects that contribute to continuously improve processes, procedures, methods and productivity, and utilizes quality principles for continuous performance improvement. Participates and contributes to program development initiatives for the department.
• Independently engages in self-assessment and creation of personal and, professional goals as it relates to department initiatives and reviews them with leadership.
• Participates in activities that promote professional identity within the clinical environment, the Cedars-Sinai environment and the community at large. Participates in professional organization (committee leadership, leadership officer, conference presentation, etc.) and community benefit activities such as support groups, and community classes.
• Effectively serves as a clinical instructor/mentor in accordance with specific discipline, regulatory and professional context.
• Serves as clinical educator for at least 1 full-time students/residents/fellows/or mentor for staff.
• Participates in continuous learning and professional development and documents evidence.
• Contributes to conversations and activities that positively impact team dynamics, cohesion, and morale and promotes individual and group accountability.
• Leads/Facilitates at least 2 in-services and attends a minimum of 8 hours of educational opportunities.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited Occupational Therapy program required. Master's or Doctorate's degree is preferred.

License/Certifications:

• CA Occupational Therapist License and Basic Life Support certification is required.
• CHT (Certified Hand Therapist) is strongly preferred.
• Highly prefer OT Board of California PAMs (Physical Agents Modalities) advance practice.

Experience and Skills:

• A minimum of 3 years experience as a practicing therapist, with a minimum of 1 year experience in the current or similar practice setting. Hand therapy experience is highly preferred.
• Must be competent by virtue of training and/or experience to perform evaluations, design and implement treatment plans and provide education in a manner appropriate to the age of the patient.
• Experience and/or knowledge of assessment and intervention techniques in a medical and physical disabilities setting.
• Working knowledge of subject matter domain areas in clinical quality, patient safety, regulatory and reimbursement context.
• Ability to deliver safe, appropriate, ethical and evidence-based care in an effective, efficient and professional manner; incorporates feedback, self-reflection, sound clinical reasoning and problem solving to continuously improve quality of care and operational processes.
• Demonstrates good decision-making/problem solving skills. Exhibits good clinical reasoning skills and judgments in managing patients with a high-level of medical complexity/acuity.
• Demonstrate standard computer skills, use of electronic health record, and office skills as relevant to duties.
• Ability to meet the yearly average of established productivity standard for the position.
• Ability to convey and/or receive written/verbal information to/from various audiences in different formats.

Physical Demands:

• Able to push, pull, lift or carry 0-35 pounds on an intermittent basis.
• Able to sit, stand, walk, bend, squat consistently in order to safely administer manual exercises and techniques.
• Able to assist patient with physical activities such as transfers, bed mobility, and ambulation.
• Able to identify need for an arrange assistance to maintain safe techniques.