Occupational Therapist Weekend

Requisition Number: 6221

Position Title:

External Description:

Nuvance Health is a family of award-winning nonprofit hospitals and healthcare professionals in the Hudson Valley and western Connecticut. Nuvance Health combines highly skilled physicians, state-of-the-art facilities and technology, and compassionate caregivers dedicated to providing quality care across a variety of clinical areas, including Cardiovascular, Neurosciences, Oncology, Orthopedics, and Primary Care. Nuvance Health has a network of convenient hospital and outpatient locations — Danbury Hospital, New Milford Hospital, Norwalk Hospital and Sharon Hospital in Connecticut, and Northern Dutchess Hospital, Putnam Hospital Center and Vassar Brothers Medical Center in New York — plus multiple primary and specialty care physician practices locations, including The Heart Center, a leading provider of cardiology care, and two urgent care offices. Non-acute care is offered through various affiliates, including the Thompson House for rehabilitation and skilled nursing services, and the Home Care organizations. For more information about Nuvance Health, visit www.nuvancehealth.org.

VASSAR BROTHERS HOSPITAL
JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Occupational Therapist
DEPARTMENT: Physical Therapy
REPORTS TO: Director - Physical Therapy

Summary:

Evaluates, treats and educates following a medically prescribed occupational therapy program, neonate, pediatric, adolescent or geriatric patients who have disabilities, traumatic injuries, pain, disease or any dysfunction, and helps them reach their maximum performance and assume a place in society while learning to live within the limits of his/her capabilities. Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide appropriate care to the age of the patient served on the nursing unit or by patient care departments.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND STANDARDS
Responsibility I

1. Provides direct patient care services to ensure the effectiveness of occupational therapy programs.
1.1 Evaluates appropriately patients and establishes an effective treatment plan to achieve set goals.
1.2 Handles consistently an assigned patient caseload and provides treatment to all patients within the assigned caseload during each eight hour shift, when appropriate.
1.3 Prioritizes independently caseload and available treatment times to provide for maximum efficiency.
1.4 Utilizes correct modalities of treatment and suggests variations to written protocol if appropriate.
1.5 Recognizes contraindications to continuing with scheduled treatment, and consults with the responsible physician.
1.6 Involves family or relatives in treatment protocol or preparations for home care to the extent possible.
1.7 Respects patient modesty, confidentiality of patient information and exhibits behavior consistent with that of a health care practitioner.
1.8 Demonstrates the knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status.
1.9 Interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to his or her age-specific needs.
1.10 Provides the care needed as described in the department's policies and procedures.

Responsibility II

2. Demonstrates knowledge of occupational therapy procedures and equipment allowing for safety and maximum patient benefit.
2.1 Attends all department in-services related to set up, operation and achieving maximum benefit from occupational therapy modalities.
2.2 Remains current on specifics of electrical safety precautions and procedures as listed in the department Policy and Procedure manual.
2.3 Inspects all equipment before use to guarantee patient safety.
2.4 Instructs patients adequately before each treatment session as to purpose and effects of treatment.
2.5 Assists in keeping track of inventory items required for smooth operation, and initiates ordering process when appropriate.
2.6 Attends continuing education seminars to maintain an up to date knowledge of procedures, trends and advanced clinical skills.

Responsibility III

3. Performs appropriate documentation to maintain the departmental standard.
3.1 Documents accurately progression and outcome following each patient treatment, along with patients reaction to session and any progress noted, if appropriate.
3.2 Documents accurately information necessary to initiate charges for above treatment sessions.
3.3 Monitors circumstances surrounding patient treatment and documents occurrences which are not consistent with departmental policy procedure.
3.4 Documents information necessary, and participates in problem/resolution functions of the departmental program.
Comments: Please see Comment Section referencing these individual standards.

Responsibility IV

4. Participates in communication with other involved hospital personnel to provide for quality patient care and cost efficient programming.
4.1 Communicates efficiently and effectively on an ongoing basis with nursing personnel to coordinate patient scheduling and to prevent excessive missed appointments.
4.2 Cooperates with social workers in providing information relative to patient discharge, and makes suggestions regarding placement/level of care required upon discharge.
4.3 Provides treatment specifics including patient’s level of function and reaction to treatment, to attending physicians.
4.4 Communicates to departmental administration any suggestions which may improve operations.
4.5 Provides confident instruction to patients and family members in preparation for discharge or for carry over of home exercise programs.
4.6 Prepares and delivers in-service programs of departmental personnel in areas of personal expertise.
Comments: Please see Comment Section referencing these individual standards.

Responsibility V

5. Performs other duties as outlined to improve the overall effectiveness of the department as both a treatment facility and an educational environment.
5.1 Coordinates authorized ordering of equipment with vendors.
5.2 Helps maintain a neat and orderly department. Suggests reordering of equipment when appropriate.
5.3 Completes daily census and the corresponding billing information in a timely fashion.
5.4 Conducts lectures to various hospital groups and in the community whenever requested.
5.4 Attends all staff meetings and in-services and actively participates.
5.6 Provides supervision to occupational therapy aides, students and volunteers as appropriate.
5.7 Performs other duties that may be necessary in order to fulfill the responsibilities of the position.
5.8 Strives to make good use of time; seeks out work which needs to be completed, reports free time to Physical Therapy Director.
5.9 Demonstrates a complete understanding of hospital fire and safety procedures. Reviews regular employee handbook to maintain a complete understanding of hospital policies and regulations.
Comments: Please see Comment Section referencing these individual standards.

Responsibility VI

6. Promotes a safe and efficient working environment by adhering to hospital and department policies and procedures.
6.1 Adheres to Infection Control and Quality Assurance Policies and Procedures at all times.
6.2 Adheres to all safety regulations reporting any variances to supervisor immediately.
6.3 Reports immediately all incidents, irregularities, unsafe conditions, equipment and/or unusual occurrences to supervisor.
Comments: Please see Comment Section referencing these individual standards.

Responsibility VII

7. Guest Relations: Demonstrates regard for the dignity and respect of all patients, family members, visitors and hospital personnel as defined in the philosophy of Vassar Brothers Hospital.
7.1 Displays a caring and courteous attitude and represents the hospital in a positive manner to all persons noted above.
7.2 Promotes and contributes positively to intra-departmental and inter-departmental relationships with no more than two complaints in a six-month period.
7.3 Maintains the confidentiality of employees and departmental information with no infractions.
7.4 Adheres to departmental and hospital dress codes as observed by supervisor, and wears a VBH picture identification badge, 100% of the time.
Comments: Please see Comment Section referencing these individual standards.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Graduated from an accredited occupational therapy school with a B.S. or M.S. degree.

Experience: None.

License: New York State license or eligibility with temporary permit.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL FACTORS
Physical: Requires light physical effort on a regular basis, as in frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping or reaching and/or occasional lifting of light items (i.e. up to 20 lbs.). Periodic eye or ear strain included in this level (less than 50% of the time).

Mental: Workload demands may impose home and social life inconvenience, even though predictable on most occasions and regular volume of work and deadlines impose strain on routine basis, or work location imposes occasional unwelcome interruptions.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Frequent exposure to occupational hazards or contagious disease which requires routine precautions.

ADDENDUM TO PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL

In keeping with the spirit of Vassar Brothers Hospital and the principles of teamwork, the following standards have been incorporated into the appraisal process as part of this review.

I. TEAM WORK Meets

1. Presents self in a friendly manner in interactions, greeting everyone with a smile and a friendly acknowledgment.
2. Deals with problems directly as they occur, offering criticism constructively and in private.
3. Relates to others (patients, families, visitors and fellow employees) equally, without evidence of bias, prejudice or demeaning assumptions.
4. Shows pride in work. Compliments others for their work.
5. Anticipates needs of others (patients, families, physicians, visitors and other staff), takes the initiative to find solutions and helps to implement them.
6. Admits mistakes, apologizes and seeks opportunities for growth and improvement.
7. Preserves and protects the dignity and privacy of patients, families, visitors, physicians and fellow employees.
8. Separates personal from professional issues.
9. Shows sensitivity to others' priorities. Refrains from being critical when those priorities are different. Demonstrates a positive attitude towards other staff and departments.
10. Maintains constructive, positive, helpful and effective working relationships with others, including patients, families, visitors, physicians and fellow employees on a consistent basis.

II. DEPENDABILITY

1. Enhances team effectiveness through dependability. This means maintaining proper attendance in accordance with hospital policy. More than a 2.5% absenteeism rate in a year is considered excessive.
2. Enhances team effectiveness through punctuality. This means reporting to work on time in accordance with hospital policy. More than a 5% lateness rate in a year is considered excessive.

III. CORPORATE COMPLIANCE

1. Adheres to the Code of Ethical & Legal Behavior and Corporate Compliance Policy as observed by supervisor

 

City: Poughkeepsie

State: New York

Community / Marketing Title: Occupational Therapist Weekend

Company Profile:

Health Quest and Western Connecticut Health Network have combined to form a new nonprofit health system. The name for the new health system will be Nuvance Health. The new health system was created to provide communities across New York’s Hudson Valley and western Connecticut with more convenient, accessible and affordable care.

EEO Employer Verbiage:

Location_formattedLocationLong: Poughkeepsie, New York US

Job Number: 37891