Houston Methodist is at the forefront of stroke rehabilitation research, committed to advancing knowledge and improving patient outcomes. We are seeking a dedicated and innovative Research Occupational Therapist to join our team. The OT in this role will be conducting research projects focused on stroke rehabilitation and recovery. They would develop and implement research protocols with the guidance of principal investigators, ensuring compliance with ethical standards. They would collaborate with a multidisciplinary research team to efficiently cover multiple projects. This role would include the opportunity to publish research findings in reputable journals and present at national and international conferences. This ideal candidate would be able to provide mentorship and guidance to junior researchers and clinical staff, maintain accurate and detailed documentation of research activities and outcomes, have experience in publication in scientific journals (preferred), and would be expected to stay current with advancements in stroke rehabilitation research and incorporate new knowledge into ongoing projects.

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

• Contributes to teamwork, consistently offering assistance, and responding positively to requests for assistance. Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment. Offers guidance to interprofessional health care team, when appropriate, and applies feedback to improve patient outcomes.

• Uses therapeutic communication, which includes active listening and teaching, to establish a relationship with patients, families and interprofessional health care team to collaborate on the plan of care. Partners with members of the interprofessional care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner.

• Teaches and provides guidance to nursing, and support staff. Orients new team members and assists with precepting students in clinical rotations and clinical fellows. Uses peer-to-peer accountability towards improvement of department score for employee engagement.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Performs complete and comprehensive evaluation of patients across a broad range of diagnosis and acuities to identify patient's level of function and to determine the treatment plan. Develops the plan of care based on evaluation findings and implements the occupational therapy treatment plan. Provides service to complex patient populations. Practices in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity and inclusion principles.

• Provides education to patients, patient's family members, and/or caregivers, based on learning needs. Consistently evaluates the patient's comprehension and adapts teaching methods accordingly. Serves as resource to clinical fellows and nursing in teaching best practices.

• Collaborates and communicates with the healthcare team modifications to patient's treatment plan, progress, and discharge planning for achievement of identified patient specific goals. Advocates on patient/family's behalf to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns, utilizing appropriate resources.

• Balances and adjusts as needed the caseload for the assigned team members to result in optimum patient care and outcome. Initiates improvements for department score on patient satisfaction, through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assesses patients regularly, monitors progress towards treatment goals, modifies goals, and plan or program as indicated. Recognizes complications/limitations associated with certain procedures and proactively addresses such for optimum outcomes.

• Provides oversight of occupational therapy-related activities completed by interprofessional health care team, and if necessary, adjusts the plan to improve quality of outcome and maintain the safety of the patient.

• Proactively identifies opportunities for corrective action and assists in process improvement by providing recommendations and contributes to meeting department and hospital targets for quality and safety. Identifies areas of practice improvements with research-based evidence and assists in development of treatment protocols and best practice for certain population or practice area to achieve patient safety outcomes, supported by accurate documentation.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

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

• Uses resources efficiently to maximize utilization of time and equipment. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively, minimizing incidental overtime, and prioritize daily tasks, assisting coworkers as needed. Meets labor productivity standards by effectively managing established patient load assignments.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Initiates innovative solutions through evidence-based practice/performance improvement projects. Actively participates in and may lead department projects and/or hospital committees. Participates in HM-related and approved hospital/community teaching opportunities, community services and/or functions.

• Identifies and presents areas for innovation, efficiency and improvement in patient care or unit operations using evidence-based practice literature. Assists higher level OTs with program development and/or clinical competencies.

• Seeks opportunities to identify self-development needs and expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development as an OT, taking appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

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 Certifications, Licenses and Registrations section.

WORK EXPERIENCE

•  
• Must have one of the following:
•       ◊ Three years experience as an Occupational Therapist
•       ◊ Two years of experience as an Occupational Therapist with a Doctorate degree
•       ◊ Completion of HM or comparable Occupational Therapy Fellowship/Residency program

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• BLS - Basic Life Support (AHA) AND
• OT - Occupational Therapy - State Licensure -- Compact license acceptable according to current Board requirements within 90 days OR
• OT-Temp - Temporary Occupational Therapist - Registered - State Licensure -- Compact license acceptable according to current Board requirements within 90 days

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

• Strong assessment, organizational and problem-solving skills as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components

• Demonstrates increasing expertise and executes experienced clinical skills in treatments provided and/or for a particular patient population

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

• Ability to function independently, capable of handling challenging/difficult therapy procedures and patient care situations

• Demonstrates sound judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team and patients and their families

• Possesses proficient computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems and standard Rehabilitation equipment

• Demonstrates professional and technical competence in the selection, evaluation, utilization of treatment plans for increasingly complex patient populations

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 No
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Houston Methodist Research Institute was formed in 2004 to rapidly and efficiently translate discoveries made in the laboratory and the clinic into new diagnostics, therapies, and treatments. The research institute was created to provide the infrastructure and support for these endeavors, and to house the technology and resources needed to make innovative breakthroughs in important areas of human disease. A 540,000 square foot building dedicated to research, the research institute houses over 1,500 staff and trainees, 284 principal investigators and has more than 570 ongoing clinical trials.