At Houston Methodist, the Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA) is an experienced member of the direct patient care team and provides patient treatments under the direction of a Licensed Occupational Therapist. Performs routine occupational therapy treatments and procedures from basic to moderate complexity as established by the plan of care. Performs related patient care support activities. Works with team members in monitoring and adjusting activities to ensure optimum patient throughput and patient experience. Guides and mentors other OTAs, Technicians, and students to help build confidence in skills, knowledge and abilities. Teaches, orients and precepts other OTAs and Technicians. Delivers exceptional patient care and adheres to safety standards and guidelines to ensure optimal patient safety, customer service, and optimum patient outcomes.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Promotes a positive work environment and contributes to a dynamic, team focused work unit that actively helps one another to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with all members of the patient care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner.

• Guides and mentors Occupational Therapist Assistants, Technicians, and students to help build confidence in skills, knowledge and abilities. Teaches, orients and precepts new Occupational Therapists and Technicians.

• Provides oversight to patient care activity performed by assigned technician.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Obtains applicable and relevant information prior to patient's treatment sessions. Provides education of plan of care to patients, family members, or caregivers

• Implements treatment programs as established by the supervising Occupational Therapist. Communicates and records patient's response to treatment plan.

• Provides care for the physical needs of patients by executing various occupational therapy concepts to maximize performance. This includes: positioning, physiology, procedure preparation, and technical factors. (

• Monitors and adjusts activities and assignments of assigned team members to ensure optimum patient throughput and experience.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Monitors patient's progress and modifies treatment as allowed by the plan of care, recognizing complications/limitations associated with certain procedures. Collaborates and communicates with supervising therapist and other health care staff modifications to patient's treatment process, progress, and discharge planning.

• Ensures all rehabilitation equipment has had QC performed as required and is in safe working order prior to use. Reports any malfunctions to management and regularly practices preventive maintenance procedures; calls for service if needed.

• Identifies opportunities for corrective action and process improvement providing recommendations, and contributes to meeting departmental and hospital targets for quality and safety. Collects and reviews quality metrics and analytics. Identifies and recommends process improvement opportunities within the department.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Schedules patients efficiently to maximize utilization of time and equipment.

• Maintains accurate and complete documentation of patient procedures performed in a timely manner in the patient record. Enters appropriate charges for services provided.

• Uses resources efficiently; self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks to meet labor productivity standards.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Participates in departmental programs, projects and activities such as: staff development, expansion of services and hospital committees.

• Fosters a positive and constructive teaching environment by engaging students and co-workers in learning opportunities that are valuable and in alignment with business objectives.

• Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development as an Occupational Therapist Assistant and of leadership skills.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

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

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 2 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist Assistant preferred; may consider new graduate or entry level Occupational Therapist Assistant.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• OTA - Occupational Therapy Assistant - Certified -State Licensure within 90 days OR
• OTA-Temp - Temporary Occupational Therapy Assistant - Certified - State Licensure within 90 days AND
• BLS - Basic Life Support (AHA)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, 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.

• Exhibits strong interpersonal and team player skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers.

• Possesses basic computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems to include, Hospital and Office software to maintain patient and exam documents.

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 Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital is the first specialty hospital in the Houston Methodist family. Located in the heart of the Katy community, the facility provides a special menu of services for both inpatient and outpatient care by team members called to serve with excellence and compassion:

• Specialized inpatient care for those patients requiring a longer hospital stay
• Outpatient physical and speech therapy
• State-of-the-art diagnostic imaging such as X-ray, MRI, CT
• Women’s Center with advanced mammography