The Requirements
To meet the basic qualification for this role you will have legal authorization to work permanently in the United States for any employer without requiring a visa transfer or visa sponsorship. To be a good fit for the Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant opportunity, you also should have:- Graduated from an Occupational Therapy Assistant program accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association.
- Current licensure as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant by the California Board of Occupational Therapy. Quick question for you - click here
- Current Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS) or Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation/Automated External Defibrillator (CPR/AED) certification.
- At least one year of clinical experience as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant preferred, but we also will consider qualified recent graduates.
- Experience with home health care is preferred, but at a minimum, you should be able to work, visit patients and follow CVHCare procedures with minimal supervision.
- Sufficient computer skills to operate and complete documentation in a timely manner in an electronic medical record (EMR) application.
- Knowledge of or the ability to learn Medicare regulations. Quick question for you - click here
- Ability to safely assist patients weighing at least 100 lbs, using proper body mechanics in changing bed position, getting up from bed, transferring and walking up to 100 feet as the patient is safely able, with or without devices, and with or without caregiver assistance.
- Bilingual skills are a plus, but we offer translation services in more than 150 languages.
- A passion for excellent patient care.
- Solid interpersonal and communication skills, including:
- A confident and encouraging bedside manner.
- The ability to interact effectively with diverse patients and families. Quick question for you - click here
- A proactive approach to collaborating with multidisciplinary care team members.
- The ability to communicate clinical observations to the physician.
- Strong self-motivation and the ability to organize and prioritize workload independently.
- Flexibility, adaptability and excellent problem-solving skills.
If you drive to visit patients, you will need a current valid driver's license and a registered, insured vehicle.
The Role
You will report to the Director of Rehabilitation or Rehabilitation Manager, and take case-by-case direction from an Occupational Therapist. Typically you will support one or two Occupational Therapists, communicating closely with them.As Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), you will perform only those services planned, delegated, and supervised by the Registered Occupational Therapist. You will aid in the provision of rehabilitative services for people suffering from mental, physical, emotional or developmental impairments, and help clients with rehabilitative activities and exercises outlined in a treatment plan developed by an Occupational Therapist. You also will record the patient's responses to treatment and report the outcome of treatment to the Registered Occupational Therapist.
More specifically, you will:
- Participate in the ongoing evaluation of each patient's functional status (muscle function, endurance, visual coordination, written and verbal communication skills, self-care ability, work capacity, etc.) as delegated by the registered occupational therapist.
- Participate in the ongoing evaluation of the home environment for hazards or barriers to more independent living as delegated by the registered occupational therapist.
- Participate in teaching new skills or retraining patients in once familiar daily activities that have been lost due to illness or injury, in accordance with CVHCare policy.
- Maintain appropriate clinical records, clinical notes, and report to the registered occupational therapist any changes in the patient's condition.
- Submit clinical documentation in accordance with CVHCare policy.
- Follow the treatment program and goals for improved patient function as established by the registered occupational therapist. Document patient's response to the treatment plan and progress toward established goals.
- Maintain contact/communication with other personnel involved in the patient's care to promote coordinated, efficient care. Document such communication in accordance with CVHCare policy.
- Attend and contribute to in-services, case conferences, and other meetings as required by CVHCare’s policy to ensure coordinated and comprehensive plans of care for patients.
- Identify patient and family/caregiver needs for other home care services. Consult with the supervising registered occupational therapist and assist with necessary referrals, as appropriate.
- Participate in instructing the patient's family/caregiver and other CVHCare health care personnel in patient's treatment regime, as delegated by the registered occupational therapist.
- Be supervised by the registered occupational therapist no less than every thirty days. Documentation in the clinical record will reflect ongoing communication between you and the registered occupational therapist regarding the patient's condition, the patient's response to services provided by you, the assistant, any need to change the plan of care, and patient outcomes.
More Good Reasons
'Own' your caseloadIn contrast to most clinical settings, you will enjoy significant one-on-one time with your patients. This will allow you to observe and assess each patient holistically, including hazards in the environment, available support networks and other factors that will shape your care plan. Our patient census is growing rapidly, so you'll carry the caseload you want, whether you're full or part time.
Setting you up for success
At CVHCare, our leaders take pride in being open and responsive to employee input. For example:
- We created an operational support team for clinicians to reduce documentation, like pre-populating the medication reconciliation, Plan of Care formulation, coding, tracking down DME orders, getting MD signatures, chart auditing, lab follow-up, etc.
- We brought in an IT team to develop a proprietary EMR system that will facilitate documentation. It is in the pilot stages but should be in production soon.
- You'll work with a dedicated scheduler, who will get to know your preferences and be a great daily resource.
You'll have a good deal of leeway in scheduling your hours and even days, as long as you accommodate patient needs. You can choose to work Monday through Friday, or work one weekend day and have a weekday free. In general you'll work standard hours, but you also could take a two-hour break between morning and afternoon patients, making up those two hours in the early evening.
Supportive leadership
Your supervisors are happy to take calls or meet with you to answer care questions, brainstorm ideas or help clear up confusion. Our executives take turns in a 24-hour on-call rotation to make themselves available to you at any time. We'll provide the tools you need, including a smartphone, laptop/tablet, visit bag, clinical equipment and field devices.
Professional development
You'll enjoy paid orientation, which includes extensive classroom and hands-on training, and incorporates a simulation skills lab and 1:1 field training with seasoned peers and clinical management. Our dedicated Clinical Training Department offers ongoing learning, and we pay for continuing education and training. If you have the ambition, and once you've proven yourself in this role, you might set your sights on moving up to a clinical trainer, agency manager or division lead role.
Great culture
We are committed to fostering a culture of trust and honesty, recognizing that it helps motivate all of us to provide high quality care. We regularly survey employees regarding job satisfaction, supervisor performance and feedback regarding the workplace. We also recognize and reward top performers.
Full spectrum care
You'll work with clinicians in a variety of specialties, including skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work and registered dietitians. Our patient population is largely geriatric, but may include people of all ages.
Excellent benefits
Full and part-time employees (those who work at least 32 hours per week) can enroll in benefits after 30 days. Health and dental insurance are 100% covered for employees. You'll start accruing PTO on day one, with two weeks offered during the first year. You also can enroll in the 401(k) plan after 90 days.
Keys to Success
If you are new to home health care, we think you will find it very rewarding. At the same time, it is different from working in a clinical setting. Working in the field means you'll need to be resourceful and self-sufficient in solving problems and achieving goals. Flexibility and adaptability are also essential; for example, the schedule you start with in the morning may change during the course of the day.As Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, you will also need to be committed to effective communication and have a strong understanding of the system. For example, you must check the system to ensure that the patient(s) to whom you are assigned for the day have been evaluated. Then you will review the treatment plan. If the patient has not been evaluated, you cannot see him/her. You will take the initiative to ensure everything is in place.
We have created a strong support infrastructure, so you won't feel like you are on an island. Just the same, you should be proactive about communicating with patients, families, physicians, other clinicians, your supervisor, your scheduler and other stakeholders. We have tools to help you do so, but it will be up to you to put them to good use. You should be comfortable incorporating technology into your work routine.
Those who excel at CVH are passionate about patient care, and about making a difference in the lives of patients and their families. In addition, they are:
- Motivated to go above and beyond, and enjoy taking on challenges.
- Honest and forthright while also being respectful and collaborative.
- Highly engaged in the CVHCare mission and vision.